[ezbite]

Went out to mosquito this morning met a few old friends. These guys should get a lot of credit for keeping the walleye and saugeye population well stocked. Both boats came back covered in ice, they dropped off their fish and headed back out to clear the rest of the nets. Been a good week so far collecting well over 500 quarts of eggs.

 

[ezbite]

Collecting eggs

 

[ezbite]

Adding sperm to the eggs

 

[ezbite]

Then they add water which opens up the egg to accept the sperm and gently mix with a feather so they don’t break the eggs while mixing.

 

[ezbite]

I saw some VERY nice walleye today and was told these are small in comparison to some of the fish they’ve gotten from the nets this week.

 

[c. j. stone]

One word-WOW! Where do those big girls “hide”out? I once gaffed an 8#er there for an ice angler! Never saw another even close to that there when I was fishing! Anyone on here ever make the “big” score?

 

[wivywoo]

I was also out there today. I did talk to one of the workers. Said they only had saw one 8 incher today, which that would be from last year's stock. Still concerning about where all the small ones are going. I also watched them pull the net. Amazing the number of bait fish they were towing back. They were also throwing all the males back today, as they were using Sauger sperm for the eggs to get saugeye today. Said they will probably be done by Tuesday.

 

[joekacz]

Certainly was hoping for better news of younger year walleye in the nets…one 8” is not very promising again…well it looks like if you do get any walleye it will be a good one anyway…thanks for the post

 

[Backwater]

Very interesting post, Ezbite. Do the guys from ODNR have any idea how many fertilized eggs they end up placing in the lake, and how many actually hatch and survive to reach maturity (defined by me as catchable sized fish) Also wonder if releasing them all in the same place (boat ramp) makes any difference in how many survive. Not sure what might eat the fry or infect the fertilized egg as they develop/hatch, but if they are all released in the same area, I would imagine that selecting the release point would be important to improve the odds. Just the way my goofy mind works, always have to ask questions that probably have no answers

 

[One guy and a boat]

I'm pretty sure they don't release at that moment. They take back to the hatchery, let grow to different sizes and use for future stockings NE Ohio lakes.

Kip

 

[One guy and a boat]

I hope a tub saugeye wasn't spilled into mosquito

Kip

 

[ezbite]

The eggs go to 3 different hatcheries to grow, Senecaville, Hebron and st Mary’s

 

[bountyhunter]

biggest out of mos ten years back,6# 2oz off the bridge with a crappie jig.40 yearsago you would catch dinks a bunch ,now no more dinks.

 

[Dovans]

Very informative thread... Tks for being there the both of you.

 

[Vinnyt]

Looks like they are making some sort of sick breakfast 😂

 

[ezbite]

Looks like they are making some sort of sick breakfast 😂

I actually eat my roe a lot of times from my walleye, it’s sweet and delicious

 

[Vinnyt]

I tried it once minus the sperm. Not for me I’ll stick to chicken eggs

 

[bountyhunter]

I,ve watched them before great bunch of people cold job. but they don,t complain.

 

[ezbite]

I,ve watched them before great bunch of people cold job. but they don,t complain.

Nope didn’t hear one complaint

 

[Hatchetman]

Nope didn’t hear one complaint

Been on the trap net boats several times with them on the MWCD lakes all in the fall. You woud be very surprised to see all the BIG saugeye that a lot of people say aren't there!! Can't give those guys enough credit. Great group of guys !!