Document Type
Article
Abstract
Winter kill events, marked by extensive fish mortality due to hypoxic conditions under the ice, are a common phenomenon in shallow eutrophic lakes, especially in the northern lakes in the northern United States. These events can drastically alter fish communities and often result in the elimination of top predators. Though these lakes will typically slowly bounce back to what they were in a couple of years. This study evaluates the effectiveness of walleye, Sander vitreus, stocking in lakes after a winter kill. For this study, four known winter kill lakes that are consistently stocked with walleye were studied. Pre- and post-winter kill walleye data were analyzed. Results showed that stocking did not significantly change the typical walleye dynamics in these lakes, walleye populations were not significantly affected by stocking after a winter kill. Further understanding of how every different ecological factor affects walleye stocking and walleye population dynamics will have a heavy influence on stocking decisions and how lakes are further managed. This study was to test a possible idea that could further improve these management decisions.
Publication Date
2026
Recommended Citation
Haus, Tyler, "Effectiveness of Walleye Stocking in Winter Kill Lakes" (2026). Journal of Earth and Life Science. 91.
https://pines.bemidjistate.edu/j-earth-life-sci/91
Included in
Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons, Biology Commons, Environmental Monitoring Commons, Laboratory and Basic Science Research Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Population Biology Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons, Water Resource Management Commons
Comments
Faculty sponsor: Dr. Andrew Hafs, Department of Biology, Aquatic Biology Program