Chautauqua Lake Walleye 2008 Opening Day
Chautauqua Lake Walleye 2008 Opening Day
New York State Department of Environment officials have announced that Chautauqua Lake will again receive a stocking of walleye from the State's rearing ponds and Oneida Hatchery. New York State DEC Senior Fisheries Biologist, Paul McKeown announced that Chautauqua Lake will receive roughly 130,000 walleye fry during the 2008 season.“With this years 130,000 walleye fry being stocked in Chautauqua Lake the five year total of stocked walleye the Lake has receive is over 500,000 hatchery reared walleye over the past five years”, stated McKeown. “Later this year the Lake will get an additional number pond reared walleyes from the Oneida Hatchery.”The summer of 2007 season saw Chautauqua receiving 200,000 State stocked walleye fry, during the fall of 200 85,000 additional walleye were stocked. While not all the
stocked fish have been “fin clipped”, some that have, are showing up in ice fishing creels and annual shocking surveys.Between the recent daily creel limit changes from 5 walleye and a 15” minimum, to new daily limits of 3 walleye and an 18” limit and aggressive stocking programs, walleye anglers have been starting seeing an increase in the Lake's walleye population this season.
With the official start of the fishing season starting at mid-night on May 3 rd, walleye anglers should be more then happy with the increase numbers of walleyes in Chautauqua Lake. Early spring net surveys are seeing a good number of 3-5 pound walleye being caught.
Spring in Chautauqua County gives sportsmen a wide variety of fishing and hunting opportunities. Between fishing the Chautauqua Lake for crappie and walleye, the recent catch and release bass season and spring turkey season; there is more then enough opportunities for sportsmen to get out and take advantage of their favorite outdoor passions.
Chautauqua County Fishing and Hunting Hotline 800-242-2469 or email Craig Robbins @crobbins11@sprint.com or call 716-969-9059