— Official News Release, ND Game & Fish —
North Dakota Game and Fish Department fisheries personnel will stock a record number of walleye lakes in the coming weeks.
Fisheries production and development supervisor Jerry Weigel said 130 waters are scheduled to receive a share of 9 million fingerlings.
“We need every available pond at Garrison Dam and Valley City fish hatcheries to meet a 9 million walleye fingerling request,” Weigel said.
The growth of walleye lakes, according to Weigel, is directly correlated to the rapid increase in the number of public fishing waters in the state.
“We now manage about 420 waters and 346,000 acres, excluding the Missouri River System,” Weigel said. “In the last five years alone we have stocked more than 48 million walleye fingerlings in the state, in addition to salmon, trout, pike, bass and panfish.”
Department personnel spent an additional three weeks of spawning efforts to meet this year’s record production. In addition, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s hatchery staff plays a vital role in the growth of the state’s fisheries.
“There is no doubt we have had a successful operation because of the great relationship we have with both hatcheries,” Weigel said.
