Table of Contents Executive Summary .........................................................................................................................5 Chapter 1: Introduction ..................................................................................................................6 Plan Purpose...................................................................................................................6 Objectives ......................................................................................................................6 Chapter 2: Management History ...................................................................................................8 The Warmwater Rationale (1976) ................................................................................ 8 Warmwater Fisheries Project (1977) ............................................................................ 8 The Strategic Plan for Pennsylvania’s Warmwater/Coolwater Fisheries (1984) ........ 9 The Lake Examination Manual (1989) ......................................................................... 9 The Walleye Plan for Pennsylvania (1988) ...................................................................9 Resource Categories .......................................................................................................9 Saugeye ........................................................................................................................10 Sauger ..........................................................................................................................10 Chapter 3: Walleye Management in Flowing Waters ................................................................11 Stocking History ..........................................................................................................11 Warmwater Streams .....................................................................................................12 Small Rivers .................................................................................................................12 Major Rivers ................................................................................................................22 Evaluation ....................................................................................................................22 Sampling Options.........................................................................................................22 Young-of-the-Year ...................................................................................................... 22 Adults ...........................................................................................................................23 Electrofishing ...............................................................................................................23 Gillnets .........................................................................................................................24 Reporting......................................................................................................................24 Post-2012 Management ...............................................................................................25 Post-2012 Reporting ....................................................................................................26 Analysis........................................................................................................................27 Prioritization of Waters for Evaluation ........................................................................27 Stocking .......................................................................................................................27 Tailwater Fisheries .......................................................................................................28 Chapter 4: Walleye Management in Lakes and Reservoirs ......................................................34 Stocking History ..........................................................................................................35 Research History ..........................................................................................................35 Small Reservoirs ..........................................................................................................36 Medium Reservoirs ......................................................................................................42 Large Reservoirs ..........................................................................................................50 Prioritization of Sampling ............................................................................................53 Sampling Options.........................................................................................................57 2 Catch Rates ..................................................................................................................57 Adults ...........................................................................................................................58 Early Spring, Night Electrofishing ..............................................................................58 Early Spring, Night Electrofishing: Medium Reservoirs ............................................59 Early Spring, Night Electrofishing: Large Reservoirs ................................................59 Trapnets........................................................................................................................60 Spring Trapnets: Medium Reservoirs ..........................................................................60 Spring Trapnets: Large Reservoirs ..............................................................................61 Fall Sampling ...............................................................................................................61 Fall Trapnets: Medium Reservoirs ...............................................................................61 Fall Trapnets: Large Reservoirs ...................................................................................61 Gillnets .........................................................................................................................61 Spring Gillnets: Medium Reservoirs ...........................................................................62 Spring Gillnets: Large Reservoirs ................................................................................62 Fall Gillnets: Medium Reservoirs ................................................................................63 Fall Gillnets: Large Reservoirs ....................................................................................63 Fall Night Electrofishing..............................................................................................63 Fall Night Electrofishing for Adult Walleye: Medium Reservoirs ..............................63 Fall Night Electrofishing for Adult Walleye: Large Reservoirs ..................................63 Young-of-the Year .......................................................................................................64 YOY: Medium Reservoirs ...........................................................................................65 YOY: Large Reservoirs ...............................................................................................66 Reporting......................................................................................................................66 Management Options ...................................................................................................66 Stocking Rates for Medium Reservoirs .......................................................................66 Stocking Rates for Large Reservoirs ...........................................................................66 Achieving Production Goals ........................................................................................67 Angler Demand and Satisfaction .................................................................................69 Angler Use ...................................................................................................................69 Future Additions to the Plan ........................................................................................69 Literature Cited ..............................................................................................................................70 3 List of Tables Table 1. Status of Walleye Fisheries in Pennsylvania’s Small River Sections ............................................14 Table 2. Major River Sections that Contain Quality Walleye Fisheries ......................................................23 Table 3. Status of Walleye Fisheries in Pennsylvania’s Major River Sections ...........................................29 Table 4. Potential for Walleye Management in Pennsylvania’s Small Reservoirs (20 – 50 acres) Listed in the PFBC’s Agency Resource Database .........................................................................38 Table 5. Status of Walleye Fisheries in Pennsylvania’s Medium Reservoirs ..............................................43 Table 6. Status of Walleye Fisheries in Pennsylvania’s Large Reservoirs ..................................................51 Table 7. Last Chance Walleye Waters .........................................................................................................54 Table 8. Priority Walleye Waters .................................................................................................................55