By Louie Stout

PNA Club Stocks Walleyes in Diamond Lake

The P.N.A. Fisherman’s Club – one of the oldest in Indiana – stocked walleyes in Diamond Lake at Cassopolis recently.

The club pays for stocking walleyes in a Michiana lake each year, a generous act it’s been doing for more than 20 years. This year, 550 fall fingerlings measuring 6 to 8 inches were planted in Diamond.

“We had hoped to stock them in Indiana’s Fish Lake near North Liberty, Ind., but the Indiana DNR said we couldn’t get the permit unless each fish was tested for a virus,” said club spokesman Ted Wasielewski. “That was going to cost an extra dollar per fish.”

When P.N.A. officials contacted Stoney Creek Fisheries in Grant, Mich., with the dilemma, the hatchery was able to procure the club a Michigan DNR permit to stock Diamond Lake in 24 hours. Stoney Creek is the hatchery that raises the fish for Diamond.

“We try to alternate our annual stocking with Indiana and Michigan, but it just didn’t work out this year so we had to go back to Michigan,” said Wasielewski.

The money comes from the club fund-raisers raised throughout the year.

“The price of each fish has really gone up,” said Wasielewski. “We used to be able to stock closer to 1,000 fish with the $1,500 we raise, but not anymore.”

Those aren’t the only walleyes in the lake. There have been other stockings by PNA and the Michigan DNR over the years. Although walleyes aren’t prominent in Diamond, they are caught and by anglers who are targeting them.