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Since 1963 Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) has been conducting an on-going post impoundment reservoir study focusing mainly on the fisheries of Lake Powell. The goal of sustaining a healthy fishery and promoting a great angling experience can be challenging as changing angler expectations as well as changing fish assemblages can make goals a moving target. The 50-year dataset has provided an unprecedented look into this unique fishery and the impact that UDWR regulatory actions have had on guiding and development of the fishery.

Since 1963 Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) has been conducting an on-going post impoundment reservoir study focusing mainly on the fisheries of Lake Powell. The goal of sustaining a healthy fishery and promoting a great angling experience can be challenging as changing angler expectations as well as changing fish assemblages can make goals a moving target. The 50-year dataset has provided an unprecedented look into this unique fishery and the impact that UDWR regulatory actions have had on guiding and development of the fishery.

Richard Hepworth and Utah Wildlife Migration Initiative team working with Walleye at Lake Powell in the Fall of 2018 utilizing sonic tags to help track Walleye movements and populations.

Richard Hepworth and Utah Wildlife Migration Initiative team working with Walleye at Lake Powell in the Fall of 2018 utilizing sonic tags to help track Walleye movements and populations.

Powerpoint presentation by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources explaining and advocating the proposed Nero-Red Fleet Management plan to treat the water of Brush Creek and Red Fleet Reservoir with rotenone to kill Walleye and restock them with Colorado River Cutthroat Trout.

Powerpoint presentation by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources explaining and advocating the proposed Nero-Red Fleet Management plan to treat the water of Brush Creek and Red Fleet Reservoir with rotenone to kill Walleye and restock them with Colorado River Cutthroat Trout.

Two new locations, one new fish species at an existing advisory location, and one modification to an existing advisory have been added to Utah's Mercury Fish Consumption Advisory list. The advisories are being issued after state officials found elevated levels of mercury in fish tissue in these waterways.

Two new locations, one new fish species at an existing advisory location, and one modification to an existing advisory have been added to Utah's Mercury Fish Consumption Advisory list. The advisories are being issued after state officials found elevated levels of mercury in fish tissue in these waterways.

Fish consumption advisory brochure about the high levels of mercury that have been found in Largemouth Bass and Walleye from Red Fleet Reservoir, Utah.

Fish consumption advisory brochure about the high levels of mercury that have been found in Largemouth Bass and Walleye from Red Fleet Reservoir, Utah.

Mercury contamination has been a historical problem in the Upper Wisconsin River and was presumably caused by the use of phenyl mercuric acetate as a slimicide by the pulp and paper industry. Elevated levels of other n~tals in bed sediments have also been observed. Common carp and walleyes were collected from five sites in the main study area of the Upper Wisconsin River extending from the Brokaw area to the Lake DuBay Dam. Walleyes collected from the Rainbow Flowage and common carp from Range Line Lake, two relatively uncontaminated sites in northcentral Wisconsin, were used as reference samples. Four metals were analyzed, each in a selected tissue of the two species: zinc in gill filaments, cadmium and lead in liver, and mercury in axial muscle. Concentrations of mercury in common carp from the main study area were significantly higher than those in carp from the reference site. However, mercury levels in walleyes from the main study area were similar to those in walleyes from the reference site, Rainbow Flowage. Mercury concentrations in axial muscle of both species were similar to mercury levels in fish of similar size, analyzed during 1970-1973 from the same reaches of the Upper Wisconsin River. Mercury availability and cycling through biota of this system may be enhanced by rapid rates of methylation in surficial sediments, even though the most heavily contaminated sediments have been buried by subsequent deposits. In general. cadmium and lead concentrations in liver and zinc concentrations in gill filaments were not elevated in fish from the main study area, relative to values in reference samples.

Creating self-sustaining predator-prey interactions with a combination of native and exotic predators in highly altered reservoir systems has been a difficult challenge to fisheries managers. The inability to accurately assess predator and prey abundance and production is partially responsible for the difficulties in managing reservoirs. Recently however, several techniques are available that have improved our ability to understand predator-prey interactions, including hydroacoustics, bioenergetics models, and stable isotope analysis. Walleye has often been chosen as a predator to stock in western reservoirs to enhance angling opportunities because of life history characteristics of this species are conducive to the cool waters of mountain reservoirs. However, walleye productivity in Utah reservoirs has not met the expectations of anglers nor fisheries managers. Starting in 1966, research has been conducted using several techniques mentioned above to understand walleye-prey interactions in several mid-elevation reservoirs. These studies have documented that walleyes are responsible for the depletion of forage fish abundance in Starvation and Yuba reservoirs, which ultimately has reduced walleye production. Results from these studies led to the recommendation to actively reduce walleye abundance in Starvation and Yuba reservoirs in hopes to recover the forage fish populations and increase walleye production.

Creating self-sustaining predator-prey interactions with a combination of native and exotic predators in highly altered reservoir systems has been a difficult challenge to fisheries managers. The inability to accurately assess predator and prey abundance and production is partially responsible for the difficulties in managing reservoirs. Recently however, several techniques are available that have improved our ability to understand predator-prey interactions, including hydroacoustics, bioenergetics models, and stable isotope analysis. Walleye has often been chosen as a predator to stock in western reservoirs to enhance angling opportunities because of life history characteristics of this species are conducive to the cool waters of mountain reservoirs. However, walleye productivity in Utah reservoirs has not met the expectations of anglers nor fisheries managers. Starting in 1966, research has been conducted using several techniques mentioned above to understand walleye-prey interactions in several mid-elevation reservoirs. These studies have documented that walleyes are responsible for the depletion of forage fish abundance in Starvation and Yuba reservoirs, which ultimately has reduced walleye production. Results from these studies led to the recommendation to actively reduce walleye abundance in Starvation and Yuba reservoirs in hopes to recover the forage fish populations and increase walleye production.

Fisheries investigations on Lake Powell began in 1963, shortly after impoundment, and have continued to the present. Initial work included physical and chemical descriptions of the filling reservoir, plankton development, life history studies of introduced game fish, and an estimation of fishing pressure and success. These studies were funded, in part, by federal monies provided under Section 8 of Public Law 485, the Colorado River Storage Project Act, and were completed in 1971. Investigations since 1971 have been funded by Federal Aid to Fish and Wildlife Restoration, Project F-28-R, and by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Lake Powell Fisheries Investigations was redesignated as Project F-46-R in 1985.

Fisheries investigations on Lake Powell began in 1963, shortly after impoundment, and have continued to the present. Initial work included physical and chemical descriptions of the filling reservoir, plankton development, life history studies of introduced game fish, and an estimation of fishing pressure and success. These studies were funded, in part, by federal monies provided under Section 8 of Public Law 485, the Colorado River Storage Project Act, and were completed in 1971. Investigations since 1971 have been funded by Federal Aid to Fish and Wildlife Restoration, Project F-28-R, and by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Lake Powell Fisheries Investigations was redesignated as Project F-46-R in 1985.

Item donated by the Upper Mississippi River Conservation Committee (UMRCC) to Murphy Library in 2018. Part of the UMRCC Collection housed at Murphy Library, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

A creel survey of walleye was conducted in Pool 9 of the Upper Mississippi River from June 1, 1983 through May 31, 1984 to assess the walleye harvest and to estimate the economic impact of the walleye fishery to the area. Estimated annual walleye fishing expenditures in the pool approached 1.2 million dollars. The projected dollar value of walleye angler's boats, motors, and boat accessories in Pool 9 was an additional $1,066,740. Nearly 30,000 angler tips were made during the year in the pool by walleye fishermen. Walleye anglers fished an estimated 104,515 man-hours (mh) or 43 mh/ha/yr, heavy by regional standards. The average catch rate for walleye during 1983 and 1984 was relatively high at 1.05 fish/mh. The total estimated harvest was 130,086 fish, or 53 fish/ha. The estimated weight of the total harvest was 94,585 kg or 38.8 kg/ha, high by regional standards. A total of 135 walleyes was sampled from the creel survey during 1983 for age and growth determinations. The total length-weight relationship was expressed by the equation log W= -6.3000 + 3.4876 log TL. Mean condition factors for walleye by size ranged from 0.68 to 1.11, and averaged 0.96. Age and growth calculations were determined from the annuli method using scales and dorsal fin spines. The estimated back-calculated total lengths of walleye using the scale method at annuli I through VI were determined to be 179, 305, 401, 477, 519, and 564 mm, respectively. Similar data were obtained from analyses of dorsal fin spines. The walleye growth rate in Pool 9 was favorable when compared to growth rates from several other waters. The average size of walleye harvested during the year was 406 mm and 727 g. Approximately 15% of the walleyes creeled and harvested by anglers were less than 330 mm (13 in). Nearly 75% of the walleyes harvested under 330 mm occurred in the tail waters of Lock and Dam 8 during the spring and fall seasons. However, there appears to be no biological basis for implementing a minimum siz, Item donated by the Upper Mississippi River Conservation Committee (UMRCC) to Murphy Library in 2018. Part of the UMRCC Collection housed at Murphy Library, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Mycue, 77, of Milaca holds up a 7-pound walleye that he caught in Mille Lacs. The temperature is noted at ten below zero.

Larson, a Hallock bank cashier, is pictured with a 12 pound, 9 ounce walleye that he caught in Lake of the Woods.

Bergh, outdoor writer for the Bloomington Sun, has been hitting walleyes consistently in the open water where the St. Croix runs in to the Mississippi at Prescott, Wisconsin. He shows his catch here.

Case caught the fish at Mille Lacs lake

Joe Scallion of Minneapolis holds up a 13 pound, 10 ounce Walleye he caught while fishing near Ottertail, Minnesota.

John Berg of Wayzata holds up a 12-pound, 4-ounce Walleye he caught in Brown's Bay at Lake Minnetonka. In the past 10 days, more than half a dozen Walleyes over 10 pounds have been caught in Brown's, Maxwell, and Lafayette bays.

Minnesota Game Warden, Jerry Liemandt of Excelsior, holds up a Walleye he caught worth $33 an ounce or $1,000 total. He took a one-day vacation with his wife, Monica, after seeing the advertisement she is holding. The fish was one of 14 tagged and planted in lakes near Park Rapids, Minnesota, by a sugar company promoting a $10,000 fishing derby.

Clarence Bouk holds up a 10-pound Walleye caught at midnight while fishing in Lake Minnetonka on the last night of the season.