Fishing

In order to maintain a healthy fish population it is important that there are a large number of fish mature enough to reproduce. Time to maturity for Lake Nipissing walleye is 5-6 years. In lieu of the closure of the Lake Nipissing Fisheries Assessment Unit, a number of tourist operators from the south shore are promoting the voluntary release of walleye over 18 inches (45 cm) in length. The number of eggs a female walleye produces is directly related to her size. Most females of this length will produce more than 62,000 eggs. It is extremely important to maintain these larger fish in the reproductive population if we are to ensure a healthy hatch of fry each year.

The sustainability of the Lake Nipissing fishery has relied heavily on intensive surveys in the past by the Lake Nipissing Fisheries Assessment Unit (LFNAU). Creel (fish catch) surveys, index netting programs and habitat surveys were monitored annually over the past 25 ctly to fishing.

Fortunately the Lake Nipissing Partners in Conservation (LNPC) realize the importance of constant monitoring of the fishery. This non-profit organization has recently assumed the role of data-collectors for the Lake. Winter creel surveys are currently being conducted by Family Resource Inc. Various funding scenarios by the LNPC are being considered to generate funding to continue surveys into the open water season.

Walleye Biology

Each lake is a distinct ecosystem, the lake's ecology determining to a large extent the biology of the members living there. Biology of a fish species in any lake will vary according to population dynamics, nutrient availability, water temperature and genetics.

Nipissing walleye spawn in the spring, usually starting with the ice melt. A female will lay 25,000 to 700,000 eggs usually over a gravel bar or shoal where they are fertilized by the milt of the male fish. Spawning usually occurs at the mouth of a stream or river. The flowing water serves as a constant supply of oxygen and flushes away waste products. Walleye are commonly seen spawning at the mouth of the Wasi and Sturgeon Rivers although they can be seen near most rocky shoals near shore as well.

Nipissing walleye are smaller on average than walleye from other lakes. Time to maturity is 5-6 years in Nipissing while in Lake Erie walleye mature in 2-3 years. A weight of 1.5 pounds is attained by lake Erie walleye in 2 years but not until 4 years in Nipissing. This smaller size of Lake Nipissing fish may be attributed to a couple of reasons. Lake Nipissing has a shorter growing season relative to more southern habitats. Being a cold-blooded animal, a fish's metabolism is regulated by the temperature of its environment. During cold periods, growth slows down but speeds up again during warm temperatures. Greatest growth occurs during the shadfly emergence when pickerel gorge themselves on this very abundant food item.

Hybridization of two species of walleye may provide a second explanation for the small size of the Nipissing fish. Interestingly, it has been speculated by biologists that before stocking programs began in the 1920's by the Lands and Forests, yellow walleye may not have existed in Nipissing. Genetically distinct from the yellow pickerel, another species, the blue pickerel was documented by W. Harkness in the 1920's. Now rare, it has been suggested that this smaller species hybridized with the stocked yellow pickerel. The lasting genetic effects of hybridization of the two species may account for the slower growth of the pickerel now inhabiting the lake.

Yellow perch which are also abundant in lake Nipissing, are a valuable food source for the walleye.

Tips for fishing
walleye on Nipissing:

• Walleye fishing is best near twilight. Light sensitive walleyefeed in the early morning and evening. However, overcast conditions produce good catches during the daytime.
• While the water is still relatively cold, the walleye will remain in shallow water, from two to five meters (six to 15feet).
• Still fishing with a live shiner, trolling or casting with a worm harness or bouncing a jig with a worm off the bottom while drifting all entice walleye to bite in the spring.
• Let the big ones go! Although it can heartbreaking to see that big one swim away, any walleye over 18 inches in length should be released as these large fish produce the most young. This will ensure that fish stocks remain at a high level for the future.
• If practicing catch and release, use a rubber net and keep the fish out of the water for as little time as possible. Barblesshooks do less damage to the mouth of the fish and are easy to remove.
• Keep pliers on hand to remove hooks that are difficult to get out by hand. Hooks pulled from the fish will result in a fatality the fish. It is better to leave a hook in the fish as it may work itself out in time.
• Any tag fished should be reported to the Ministry of Natural Resources as they rely on this data for making future fisheries management decisions to ensure a healthy, sustainable walleye population.