Angling pressures continue to grow

Ken Johnston
Editor

Keeping a close eye on one of our most precious resources is a big job and recently the Ministry of Natural Resources released their latest edition of the Ontario-Minnesota Boundary Waters Fishery Atlas to let the public in on how the fishery’s health is.
Heavy angling pressures exist in several places on Lake of the Woods and they are not all on the U.S. side of the lake.
In the Kenora area annual walleye target harvest levels for 1997-2002 were 48,900 lbs. The actual annual harvest was 85,000 lbs. with that part of the lake only having a potential yield of 56,200 lbs.
In the Sioux Narrows to Nestor Falls portions of the lake the target harvest levels for 97-02 were 88,000 lbs. Actual annual harvest levels were 126,900 lbs. with the potential yield being 112,000 lbs.
On the U.S. side in the Baudette to Northwest Angle areas the annual target harvest is 450,000 lbs. per year. Actual annual harvest from 97-02 was 560,300 lbs. The potential yield is 450,000 lbs.
In the Morson to Rainy River area 117,700 lbs. of walleye were harvested annually. The annual target was 145,300 lbs. and the projected yields are 186,200 lbs.
In the Aulneau Peninsula part of the lake actual harvests were 85,600 lbs., exceeding the target of 74,000 lbs. and the potential yield for walleye of 77,600 lbs.
In the Kenora area MNR says that despite efforts to protect the fishery in the past; efforts like buying out commercial fishing operations in the 1980s, “the effects of increased (walleye) angling exploitation are beginning to erode past gains.” However, MNR said that the fishery is healthy there.
In the Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls area some of the intense fishing pressure there have come from a huge expansion in winter fishing by mainly local residents. “(They) presently account for 12-15% of the total annual effort and harvest.”
MNR said, “Recent assessments indicated that walleye abundance has remained relatively stable since the late 1980s. Although there has been a slight shift towards younger fish...The management objective of 75,200 lbs./yr reflects the intent to reduce current harvest levels, in order to manage for long term stability and a quality walleye fisher in this sector. This may require additional management intervention (e.g. regulation).”
In the Morson to Rainy River area the last MNR fisheries atlas (1998) reported the walleye population to be in decline. However, recent data (2001/2002) has indicated that the walleye populations have improved. “There has been an increase in the overall abundance and mean catch of older, mature fish.” MNR still feels this fishery is in recovery and has recommended that a management objective of 100,000 lbs./yr. be used. “Once the population is fully recovered, the long-term management objective for walleye is to manage for a quality fishery and provide subsistence, commercial fishing and angling opportunities.”
Despite fishing exceeding targets on the Baudette to Northwest Angle, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has said that, “None of the six Biological Performance Indicators...indicated that walleye populations were experiencing signs of stress, due to over-harvest.”
DNR said 65% of the walleye harvest occurs from May to September. Winter fishing accounts for 25% and spring and fall fishing 10%.
DNR also said that less than 1% of all Baudette based anglers target Canadian waters where NW Angle anglers harvested 43% of their walleye in Ontario waters.
DNR said that the high harvests in the past several years are a result of an abundant walleye population and strong walleye classes over the same period.