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Home , Largemouth bass, Walleye

Lake Ronkonkoma and Fort Pond Stocking Program Fact Sheet

WHY WALLEYE? GOALS FOR Walleye are popular freshwater LAKE RONKONKOMA AND FORT POND: native to New York Restore and maintain balanced and stable fish communities in both State. Walleye are voracious lakes with size structures that afford desirable opportunities predators that prefer spiny rayed for largemouth , , yellow , and , such as sunfish. The development of a secondary fishery for walleye would be and white perch. In many waters, desirable, but not necessary if the primary goals are met. walleye have demonstrated the ability to control over abundant BACKGROUND:Lake each other for food. Their primary yellow perch populations without Ronkonkoma, at 240 acres, is the food source is zooplankton, small adversely affecting largest lake on Long Island. The that live in the water. The or smallmouth bass populations. lake formerly had a reputation as a zooplankton feed primarily on good largemouth bass lake, with algae, the single celled plants that DESCRIPTION: Walleye are the good fishing for yellow perch and drift in the water and give it a green largest members of the perch fam- sunfish as well. The quality of or brown color. If the algae is not ily. Mature fish commonly exceed fishing in the lake has declined controlled it can be responsible for 2 feet in length and can approach a substantially over the past 20 years. “blooms” that make the water look weight of 20 pounds. Fort Pond, a 173 acre pond in the like pea soup. village of Montauk, has a similar The walleye’s most striking physi- history. The trends observed are A dense perch population can over cal characteristics are its large likely the product of multiple, graze zooplankton, eliminating the glassy eyes. These eyes, with their interrelated changes within the primary food source for young reflective linings, allow the wall- lakes and their watersheds. Of bass and the main means of algae eye to see and hunt effectively in particular importance is the control. The result is small perch, dim light. Sharp, well-defined teeth dramatic expansion of the white low numbers of and are another characteristic of this perch population. Presently, the algae blooms. Algae blooms reduce predator. fish communities of both lakes are water clarity, thereby shading out dominated by small white perch and eliminating rooted aquatic Walleye are olive green in color and yellow perch. How does this plants. Largemouth bass, especially with gold flecks on the side, darker situation affect fishing and water young ones, depend on rooted green on the back and white on the quality? aquatic plants for cover. belly. The spiny dorsal fin lacks spots, but has a black blotch at its When perch dominate a fish rear end. The lower lobe of the tail community, they compete intensely fin has a white tip (see box on the with young largemouth bass and back of this page).

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Long Island Freshwater Fisheries Management Unit Building 40, SUNY, Stony Brook, NY 11790-2356 SPORTING QUALITIES: Because their flesh is white, flaky, Lake Ronkonkoma and Fort Pond. Walleye are one of the most popular and mild in flavor, walleye are This will encourage the game fish in New York popular table fare. Also, they grow establishment of walleye State. They strike hard and can put large enough to yield boneless fillets populations of sufficient size to up a solid fight on light tackle. of generous proportions. effectively control the yellow perch Walleye prefer low light conditions and white perch populations in the WALLEYE STOCKING: The because their specialized eyes are lakes. Anglers can help by properly walleye stocking program began sensitive to bright light. Therefore, identifying their catch and gently in 1994 in Lake Ronkonkoma. In is best at dawn or releasing walleye under 18 inches. 1997, Fort Pond was added and dusk or on cloudy days. Walleye Remember that walleye, unlike stocking rates were boosted. Since also prefer cool water, so they will yellow perch, have sharp teeth and 1997, Lake Ronkonkoma has be offshore in the cooler water in lack vertical stripes (see box below). received 10,000 fingerlings per the summer. As the water cools in year and Fort Pond has received the fall they move inshore and can Anglers began catching walleye of 8,000. If program goals are be easily caught from the shore. legal size on both Lake realized, stocking will continue as Walleye are also active in the winter Ronkonkoma and Fort Pond in the necessary to maintain the walleye and can be caught through the ice. year 2000. The largest fish caught populations. Night crawlers are probably the was 24 inches. Growth rates have most popular bait used for walleye, REGULATIONS: The walleye been excellent with walleye but and leeches are also season runs from the first Saturday reaching legal size in under four effective. Popular lures include in May through March 15. A special years. With an established jigs, spinners and plugs. Swimming 18 inch minimum size limit and a population of mature walleye plugs that imitate the forage fish 3 fish daily limit are in effect for present, we anticipate more anglers available are especially effective at hooking up with these toothy provoking an aggressive strike. For More Information Contact: predators over the next few years. The current New York State record NYSDEC, Region 1 More importantly, we expect to for walleye is 16 pounds 7 ounces. Freshwater Fisheries observe reductions in perch This fish was caught on May 22, Management Unit abundance in these waters. It is 1994 in Kinzua Reservoir in Bldg. 40, SUNY this criteria, and its associated western New York. Stony Brook, NY 11790-2356 benefits, by which we will measure (631) 444-0280 the success of the program.

KNOW YOUR CATCH Yellow perch Walleye White perch Perca flavescens Stizostedion vitreum Morone americana

l Eyes normal size l Large glassy eyes l Eyes normal size l No sharp teeth l Numerous sharp teeth l No sharp teeth l Distinct vertical bands l Irregular or saddle shaped l No vertical bands l Usually green bands on a blotches l Uniform silver or grey color, yellow background l Usually olive green in color can have horizontal bands l No minimum size l Lower lobe of tail has white tip l No minimum size l Daily Limit: 15 fish l Minimum length: 18 inches l No daily limit l No closed season l Daily limit: 3 fish l No closed season l Anglers are encouraged to l Open Season: first Saturday in l Anglers are encouraged to keep yellow perch from Lake May to March 15 keep white perch from Lake Ronkonkoma Ronkonkoma and Fort Pond

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