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April 23, 2024Des Moines, Iowa |  By: Jeremy Werner

Iowa DNR completes walleye broodstock collection

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DES MOINES, Iowa - In a yearly ritual crucial for maintaining Iowa's walleye population, the Department of Natural Resources has completed its walleye broodstock collection and spawning operations across several key locations in the state.

Over a span of 14 nights, DNR crews netted a total of 3,318 adult female walleyes from lakes and other water sources.

This effort ensures the availability of walleye eggs for hatching, which are essential for stocking Iowa's lakes and reservoirs.

Despite initial concerns due to mild winter conditions, DNR officials expressed satisfaction with the efficiency of this year's operations.

A total of 1,889 quarts of walleye eggs are currently being incubated, surpassing the target of 1,738 quarts.

The walleye fry produced from these eggs, estimated at around 155 million, will be crucial for replenishing Iowa's water bodies.

With limited natural reproduction in most lakes and rivers, Iowa's walleye populations heavily rely on stockings.