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Walleyes in the Elkhart RiverWalleyes in the Elkhart RiverWalleyes are coming to the Elkhart River.

Elkhart biologist Dar Deegan shows off a nice walleye he captured below the Elkhart Dam during a fish survey. Deegan says there are walleyes like this in the Elkhart River and he hopes more will turn up in a few years after a planned stocking effort.

That’s the plan of the Elkhart River Restoration Association (ERRA), a non-profit group that hopes to stock 2,000 advanced fingerlings between Elkhart and Goshen and another 1,100 for the river above the Goshen Dam yet this fall.

The project hinges on whether a Wisconsin fish farm can produce the fish given this summer’s unseasonably warm weather.

“The hatchery that raises the fish is concerned about the quality of fish they’re trying to grow in this hot weather,” said Dar Deegan, an ERRA board member. “We may have to hold off until next fall.”

In addition to his volunteer work for the ERRA, Deegan is the Elkhart/South Bend aquatic biologist who monitors river stream quality and its fish community.

The ERRA is dedicated to improving water quality, wildlife and community recreation on the Elkhart River that feeds into the St. Joseph River in Elkhart.

Deegan says walleyes are native to the river and he hopes that stocking efforts will provide yet another walleye fishery for area anglers.

He’s shocked up walleyes in the Goshen area while doing fish surveys, including a few 6-pound-plus fish. He suspects they are escapees from lakes Sylvan, Wabee and Dewart located upstream.

“The Michiana Walleye Association and the DNR have done such a good job of getting walleyes into the St. Joe downstream of Elkhart that we hope to accomplish the same thing on the Elkhart River,” he said.

There is a dam on the river in Goshen and another in Elkhart, about a half-mile upstream of the Elkhart/St. Joe River confluence.

“Maybe we are over-optimistic about reestablishing them, but we think it would work and want to help boost recognition for the Elkhart, get more anglers interested in fishing and gain their support to help protect it,” Deegan added.

The ERRA has the financial assets to make this stocking, Deegan said, “but to make it a sustainable project, we’ll have to raise money to keep it going.”

That’s where anglers can help. The group’s website (www.elkhartriverrestorationassociation.org) offers a link where you can make donations online.

“We figure every $2 donated buys a fish,” said Deegan.

The plan calls for stocking the Elkhart biennially, just as the St. Joe is stocked. They would be the same 6- to 8-inch fingerlings from the same hatchery that is used for the St. Joseph River.

“Of course, we are talking to the DNR to establish our strategy and we don’t want to compete with the St. Joe for the same hatchery fish,” said Deegan.

Brush pile planted

Deegan says the ERRA planted a brush pile in the Goshen pond two months ago to help attract gamefish.

“The pond (on the river in Goshen) has decent smallmouth, largemouth crappies and other panfish in it,” he said.

A map specifying the brush pile location can be found on the ERRA’s website.