MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES UPDATE

MNR Conducts Aerial and On-Water Surveys During Opening Weekend of Walleye Season

The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) launched its annual open-water angling survey for the Bay of Quinte on the opening day of walleye (yellow pickerel) season again this year. Surveys were conducted using a small aircraft to count boats, and on-water Ministry crews to interview anglers.

Flight crews reported good weather conditions for this year’s opening weekend, and as a result, fishing pressure was higher compared to last year. The highest boat count occurred on Saturday morning, May 2. Aerial survey crews counted nearly 2,600 boats at that time. The highest fishing pressure occurred in the Long Reach/Hay Bay area (583 boats), followed by the Trenton (489 boats) and Deseronto (330 boats) areas.

An estimated 74,000 hours of fishing effort occurred over the weekend, up 25% from 1997 but down 20% compared to the previous 5-year average. Anglers caught and harvested 5,512 and 4,172 walleye respectively, down about one-third compared to last year.

Ministry field crews interviewed nearly 600 anglers in 265 boats, and indicated that the walleye fishing success was generally poor. It took anglers, on average, 13 hours to catch one walleye. Fisheries technician, Dale Dewey reported that the best catches occurred in the back-waters of Hay Bay and the Napanee River where water conditions were muddy. The average size of walleye harvested, 1.7 lb, was small compared to last year.

Anglers also caught 68,000 yellow perch and about 1,200 northern pike—both higher than last year.

About 70% of those anglers interviewed were participating in local walleye tournaments and derbies.

For more information:                    

Jim Hoyle, Assessment Biologist

Lake Ontario Management Unit