DNR Assesses Sylvan, Winona Lakes Walleyes

DNR assesses Sylvan, Winona lakes walleyes.A pair of ongoing studies at northern Indiana lakes will help biologists determine the future of walleye fishing on those waters.

The studies at Sylvan Lake in Noble County and Winona in Kosciusko County will help biologists estimate the number of anglers who fish there and the number of fish they catch.

Winona has become a walleye hotspot in recent years. Fish researchers were there this spring netting and fin-clipping walleyes to determine the overall population. They will be doing a creel survey this summer.

“Our preliminary figures from the netting tells us there are about 4,000 walleyes in Winona, and believe me, there are some nice ones,” said DNR District Fisheries Biologist Jed Pearson. “Winona and Sylvan are two good lakes.”

Sylvan, located in Rome City, Ind., is of special interest since it’s been a popular walleye fishing spot for more than a decade.

“We have stocked nearly 150,000 walleye fingerlings in Sylvan Lake since 2001 at a cost of $225,000,” said Pearson. “We need to take a good look at how fishermen are benefiting from that investment.”

Survival of walleyes in Sylvan has been exceptional, based on samplings conducted by Pearson each fall to assess the stockings. Anglers report plenty of walleyes in the lake.

“But we don’t have a current measure of walleye fishing interest and walleye harvest,” Pearson said.

To estimate the amount of walleye fishing, a DNR creel clerk will be stationed at the lake periodically from now through October. The clerk will interview anglers and inspect their catch.

“We did a similar survey seven years ago at Sylvan,” Pearson said. “At that time, we estimated only 650 walleyes were harvested. Now that more adult walleyes are present in the lake and more fishermen know about them, we expect the harvest figure to be much higher.”

The survey also will provide baseline information should walleye regulations be adjusted in the future. Biologists are considering increasing the current 14-inch minimum size limit to 16 inches at some northern Indiana lakes where walleyes are stocked.

If passed, the increased size limit should improve fishing for bigger fish.

“In theory, a larger size limit should result in greater numbers of bigger walleyes,” Pearson said.

In addition to walleye fishing, the survey will provide information on the overall quality of fishing at Sylvan, including the lake’s most popular species: largemouth bass and bluegills.

If the walleye size limit is increased, the research projects will provide biologists with a baseline to compare against future walleye populations and growth rates after the regulation change.

That regulation, along with several others that include a bag limit on bluegill, awaits a review process and the final decision won’t be announced until mid-summer.