With so much great fishing already under our belts this summer and more still to come, the question that might come to mind is, will it always be this good? The short stereo typical answer is, it’s called fishing :). I thought this would be a good time to touch on a bit of science to help answer that question, and understand how year class and environmental characteristics play a role in the great fishing we are experiencing.

Year class strengths indicate how successful spawning was in a particular year. The higher the number, the greater percentage of young of the year (or fry) were able to survive. In 2002 for example, yearlings made up for 20% of the Fall Walleye Index Net Catch (FWIN) at one of our local lakes. This means that 2001 was a very successful year for fry. Some of you may be wondering what 2001 has to do with 2012 or 2013. I know it seems like a while ago, but when you consider the average walleye takes 5-8 years to mature and close to 20 years to reach full size it is important…..I didn’t realize they get that old! So having a successful year in 2001-2002 means a greater chance for bigger fish in the future.

As with many species, surviving the first year is only half the battle in the life of a walleye. There are other factors such as temperature, water quality, and availability of food that impacts a walleye’s chances of reaching maturity. Luckily for our guests, Northern Ontario has the ideal conditions required for walleye: moderate temperatures, an abundance of clean fresh water, and plenty of natural food. The optimal temperature for walleye growth is 18-22°C much like the average summer temperatures for our lakes on the Ogoki and Albany watersheds. Spawning occurs in water temperatures between 5-8°C and requires well oxygenated water with low to moderate currents. The deep cool waters and moderate temperatures of Northern Ontario also support a wide variety of food sources, from insects like burrowing mayflies to bait fish such as sculpin and yellow perch, creating the perfect habitat. The ideal walleye habitat also creates the ideal environment for northern pike.

As some of our guests found out at Striker’s this past week, where there are big walleye you will find big northerns lurking close behind, waiting for the right moment to strike. Thanks to responsible conservation fishing practices carried out by our guests, the likelihood of anglers continuing to land trophy walleye and northerns at “our lakes” for many years to come is quite high. The rest is up to you 🙂

Congrats to a fresh class of master anglers, and, as always, it’s nice to hear from you!
Keep in touch,
Alan