DNR to host series of Winnebago walleye management meetings this summer

Aim is to collect input for next 20 year management plan

GREEN BAY – The Winnebago System walleye population and its world class walleye fishery are the topic of four public meetings in northeastern Wisconsin in July and August as the state starts updating its plan for managing both.

“We’ve worked closely with the public to improve the walleye fishery on the Winnebago System for the last 20 years, and the result has been a tremendous success,” says Kendall Kamke, a Department of Natural Resources senior fisheries biologist in Oshkosh.

“But it is time to take a thorough look with the public at the progress we have made in understanding and managing our walleye population and fishery and look ahead to the next 20 years.”

So DNR will be holding four meetings in July and August to provide people information about the status of the Winnebago System walleye population, fishery, and management program and to collect public input to update the Winnebago Walleye Management Plan.

The Winnebago System, which includes lakes Winnebago, Butte des Morts, Winneconne and Poygan, and the connected rivers upstream, the upper Fox and the Wolf, is known nationally for its outstanding walleye fishery. A 2007 study (exit DNR) by the UW Extension and DNR showed that anglers annually spend up to 2 million hours on the Winnebago System pursing primarily walleye, as well as other gamefish in a fishery that generates a total economic impact of $234 million annually and 4,300 jobs.

Topics to be discussed at the meetings include walleye population and harvest estimates, adult walleye size and age distributions by sex from springs 1989-2010, the impact of spring water flows and levels on walleye recruitment, the walleyes’ movement and migrational patterns, and the assessment techniques DNR uses to develop population estimates.

The meetings are set for the following dates and locations:

•July 13, Shiocton, 7 p.m., River Rail, N5547 River St.
•August 10, Menasha, 7 p.m., Germania Hall, 320 Chute St.
•August 11, Quinney, 7 p.m., Quinney Fishing Club, Quinney Road.
•August 12, Fond du Lac, 7 p.m., Marghael’s Hall, N7688 Van Dyne Rd.