The DNR is stocking larger walleyes in the fall.You get the sense from Hoosier biologists that good things are beginning to happen for northern Indiana walleye anglers.

Not that they aren’t improving, but biologists seem to be getting a better handle on what it takes to produce even better fishing.

One of those is how fish are stocked. There is very little evidence of natural reproduction in our waters so a fine-tuned stocking approach is required.

Historically, Indiana has thrown a lot of tiny walleyes in the lakes then kept their fingers crossed that they would survive. Some did. Most didn’t.

But a more pointed approach with plants of bigger yearlings stocked at smaller numbers in June and the fall is beginning to yield interesting results.

We’ve seen that on the St. Joseph River, where fall walleyes measuring 6-8 inches appear to be doing much better than the tiny fry or the 2 to 3 inch “June” fingerlings that go into some lakes during the summer. The bigger fish, despite lower stocking numbers, are making it through the winter and suffering less predation from other gamefish already in the lakes.

The problem is cost. Presently, Hoosier hatcheries can’t meet the requirements for the larger “fall” fingerlings because of their temperamental requirements of space, food and water temperature. That means they must be purchased from private hatcheries.

However, not every lake is the same and some still respond well with smaller, less expensive June fingerlings or tiny fry, the latter of which is stocked in larger amounts.

Because of the success with fall walleyes, experiments are underway to maximize Hoosier hatcheries to increase production, but frankly, modern day facilities are needed.

On the other hand, the larger fish are yielding much better results and lend a bright future for improving walleye fishing in northern Indiana.

Here’s an overview of biologists’ opinions regarding some of the better lakes in this region and how they are being stocked:

Northeast Indiana

Northeastern biologist Tom Bacula oversees Lake of the Woods at Bremen, Lake Maxinkuckee at Plymouth, and Bass Lake near Knox.

He rates all three as good walleye lakes in their own ways.

Lake of the Woods may be showing the most promise. It previously was stocked with 100 June fingerlings (2-3 inches) per acre, but a reduction to 50 per acre has actually helped the lake.

“The past couple of years, our surveys have looked pretty good,” he said. “The lake has a lot of nice 15- to 17-inch walleyes and I think it’s one of the best lakes to fish.”

The bass population is below average because of marginal habitat but the lake sets up well for walleyes, Bacula said.

White bass, stocked illegally there a few years ago, compete with walleyes and have hampered growth. However, concentrated efforts by locals to remove them have helped. Reducing the number of mouths feeding on tiny forage has given survivors a better chance to grow.

Maxinkuckee: Walleyes have long been stocked in Maxi, but the results have been inconsistent for a lake with great habitat and size (1,800 acres).

It’s one of northern Indiana’s finest fisheries with a diverse forage base, excellent bass population and a variety of other quality fish.

“Our creel studies show low walleye harvest numbers so we had to rethink our stocking strategy,” explained Bacula. “This year, we started going to the advanced fall walleyes (6-8 inchers) and next year will hit it with the June fish and alternate each year. It will be interesting to see if we can get a better fishery out of it.”

Bacula said spring net samplings didn’t turn up many adult walleyes, but proved that the lake is loaded with bass and perch.

“We caught more perch than walleyes and some of those perch were big females pushing 2 ½ pounds,” he described. “We also had a net that had 200 smallmouth in it, all above 12 inches long. It’s a tough lake to fish but it has a lot of nice ones.”

Biologists believe it could be an excellent walleye lake once they hit the right stocking formula.

Bass Lake: The 1,000-acre lake is one of the few in the state that responds well to fry, so there are no plans to change how it is stocked.

“It’s got a high catch rate of walleyes, especially through the ice, but legal fish are hard to come by even though we know they are out there. “

Bass Lake walleyes show a normal growth rate but don’t seem to grow to larger sizes. Biologists attribute slow summer growth to the lake’s shallow nature and the fact it gets too hot in the summer.

“It also gets a lot of fishing pressure for walleyes, including through the ice, so we think a lot of keepers are being harvested,” Bacula noted. “We hope to do a creel survey next year to see what kind of pressure and harvest we have out there.”

Oddly enough, the lake also produces good crappie fishing, yet bass fishing is marginal. Bacula believes a lack of proper habitat is the reason for Bass Lake not living up to its name.

North central Indiana

Winona: Biologists grew concerned walleyes in the 562-acre lake near Warsaw weren’t doing as well as they had done previously, so they reduced stocking of larger fall fish from 20 to 10 per acre.

Fall surveys revealed that not only has the size structure improved some, but survival remains consistently above the state average the past two years.

“Winona has a very good size structure, and although it doesn’t have the numbers we see at Sylvan, the overall size is bigger,” said district biologist Jed Pearson. “Winona’s variety of forage (gizzard shad and suckers) may help growth, but it also has northern pike which preys on the walleyes, so there is predation on the smaller fish we stock.”

If the fishery can be maintained and growth improved by stocking fewer fall fish, it frees up other fall fingerlings for stocking elsewhere, he added.

Sylvan: Perhaps no other Hoosier lake has responded as well to walleye stockings as Sylvan, although overall size structure remains below that of Winona.

The 669-acre lake has an excellent walleye population and is a good place to catch “keepers” (14 inches) or longer, but larger ones aren’t as common.

In an attempt to boost size structure, biologists reduced the number of fall fish it plants. Despite stocking reductions, the number of young fish showing up in fall surveys continues to far exceed state averages.

Pike Lake: You don’t hear much about this 203-acre Kosciusko County lake, but Pearson believes it’s one of the sleepers in northern Indiana.

The Warsaw city lake gets 2-inch June walleyes each year and appears to be doing well with them.

“Although I haven’t surveyed it recently, we get several reports that that it’s pretty good, and we’ve heard that for years,” said Pearson. “We also get a lot of good reports about walleye fishing from ice fishermen.”

Pearson said rumors have circulated that the DNR plans to discontinue the stocking program there.

“That’s just not true,” he said. “We’re pleased with the results we’re getting.”

Launch ramp improved

The Indiana DNR has improved the launch ramp on Lake Maxinkuckee, extending the cement pad out another 15 feet. There are also plans to add a handicap pier next spring.

Now, if they could only improve the parking area. It’s sad that one of the state’s finest and largest natural lakes has limited access due to meager, roadside parking.