Walleye News from the Fisheries Committee

Erin McLean posted this notice on Facebook on April 25, 2025, and updated the information on April 30:  We received another one million walleye fry last night from MDNR that have also been stocked in the lake for a total of 2.2 million.  

Happy Walleye Eve, Black Lake:

As the walleye season opens tonight at midnight, we have some good news for Black Lake.

Many of you know the Black Lake Association has been working with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and the area Tribes to build our walleye population over the last 20 years.

With the uncertainty of obtaining spring fingerling walleyes to stock in Black Lake like those that have been planted in years past, the MDNR are trying a new approach for us at Black Lake.

Following a successful trial stocking program in Minnesota and Wisconsin, the MDNR have stocked walleye fry in Black Lake. These little walleye are just hatched and are very small but did really well in the trial stockings in those states and are much more attainable than the older and pond-raised spring fingerlings.

Today April 25th 2025

The MDNR, with an assist from the Black Lake Association, have successfully stocked 1.2 million walleye fry in Black Lake. These walleyes are from the Muskegon River strain, were hatched at the Platte River Hatchery in Benzie County, then delivered and stocked in Black lake this evening.

The Black Lake association would like to thank the MDNR for all their hard work helping us to better the walleye fishery in Black Lake. Especially Tim Cwalinski and Neil Godby for their dedication to bettering all the fisheries in northern Michigan.

Thanks also to the fisheries Techs that do the dirty work behind the scenes and don’t get much credit: Emmett Sweeney, Ed Melling, and Kynzie House. we see you guys and appreciate you.

Any questions can be emailed to me:

Erin McLean
Muskymclean@gmail.com

Posted on April 28th, 2025 in Uncategorized.