Walleye Culture Manual 

Robert Summerfelt, Managing Editor 

A publication of the North Central Regional 

Aquaculture Center (NCRAC) 

in cooperation with 

United States Department of Agriculture 

(Grant 91-38500-5900) 

North Central Regional Aquaculture Center 

NCRAC Culture Series 101 (First edition, 1996) 

NCRAC Culture Series 101 -Walleye Culture Manual 
This book is available as a perfect bound version (EDC-79A) 

or as a 3-hole punch notebook insert (EDC-79). 

Either version may be obtained for $24.95 ($19 plus $5.95 

shipping and handling) from ISU Extension Distribution. 

International -either version for $34 ($19 plus $15 shipping 

and handling). 

Send your order to: 

ISU Extension Distribution 

119 Printing and Publications 

Iowa State University 

Arnes, Iowa 50011-3171 

Phone: 5 15-294-5247 

Fax: 515-294-2945 

E-Mail: pubdist exnet.iastate.edu 

Suggested Citation Formats 

Entire Book 

Summerfelt, R. C. 1996. Walleye culture manual. NCRAC culture series 101. North Central Regional Aquaculture 

Center Publications Office, Iowa State University, Arnes. 

Chapter or Case Study 

Malison, J. A., and J. A. Held. 1996. Reproductive biology and spawning. Pages 11-18 in R. C. Summerfelt, editor. 

Walleye culture manual. NCRAC Culture Series 101. North Central Regional Aquaculture Center Publications Office, 

Iowa State University, Ames. 

Printed by Iowa State University Printing Services, Ames, Iowa 

ii 

NCRAC Culture Series Walleye Culture Manual 
North Central Regional Aquaculture Center 

The North Central Regional Aquaculture Center As an administrative unit, NCRAC serves 12 states in 

(NCRAC) was formed in February 1988. It is one of the Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, 

five regional aquaculture centers administered by the Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, 

U.S.Department of Agriculture (USDA). The mission South Dakota, and Wisconsin. It relies on leaders in the 

of these centers is to support aquaculture research, aquaculture industry for in its programs. The 

development, demonstration, and extension education Industry Advisory Council (IAC) sets priorities. A 

to enhance viable and profitable U.S. aquaculture Technical Committee, researchers and extension 

production which will benefit consumers, producers, specialists, works with the IAC to formulate program 

service industries, and the American economy. They priorities. Regional programs are meshed with those of 

work together within the broader, integrated aquacul- the other Centers to avoid duplication. Teams of 

ture program of the USDA to promote a well-developed research and extension aquaculture specialists from 

and sustainable aquaculture industry in this country. regional universities and public agencies develop and 

NCRAC programs are jointly administered by Michigan execute work plans to investigate priority problems 

State University (MSU) and Iowa State University identified by the IAC. A Board of Directors oversees 

(ISU). The Office of the Director is located at MSU the administration and management of NCRAC’s 

while the Associate Director’s Office is at ISU. pro grams . 

Questions about the programs of NCRAC may be directed to: 

Dr. Ted R. Batterson, Director 

North Central Regional Aquaculture Center 

Department of Fisheries and Wildlife 

Michigan State University 

East Lansing, MI 48824 

Telephone: 517-353-1962 

FAX: 517-353-7181 

E-mail: batters2 edu 

The NCRAC Publications Office at ISU serves as the outlet for regional 

aquaculture communications. The Associate Director of NCRAC is in 

charge of this office. 

Dr. Joseph E. Morris, Associate Director 

North Central Regional Aquaculture Center 

Department of Animal Ecology 

124 Science Hall 

Iowa State University 

Ames, IA 5001 1-3221 

Telephone: 5 15-294-5280 

FAX: 515-294-7874 

E-mail: iastate.edu 

iii 

NCRAC Culture Series 101 -Walleye Culture Manual 
iv 

NCRAC Culture Series Walleye Culture Manual 
Walleye Culture Manual 

A project of the North Central Regional Aquaculture Center (NCRAC) 

Steering Committee 

Robert C. Summerfelt, Chair 

Jeffrey A. Malison 

Jeff Gunderson 

Ronald E. Kinnunen 

Joseph E. Morris, Associate Director, NCRAC 

Managing Editor 

Robert C. Summerfelt 

Technical Editor 

Douglas Tave 

Editorial Assistant 

Richard D. Clayton 

Series Editor: Joseph E. Morris, Associate Director, North Central Regional Aquaculture Center 

Production designer, Dennis Melchert, Ames Best Communications 

Originally published by Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 

V 

NCRAC Culture Series 101 -Walleye Culture Manual 
Contents 

Preface .......................................................................................................................................... ... 

1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. Robert C. Summerfelt, Department Animal Ecology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa -3221 1 

2 Reproductive Biology and Spawning ........................................................................ Jeffrey A. Malison and James A. Held, University Wisconsin-Madison Aquaculture Program, 

Department Food Science, 123 Babcock Hall, Madison, Wisconsin 53706 

11 

Case studies 

Walleye Spawning Operations at Bonny Reservoir, Colorado ......................................................................... Charles D. Bennett and James Melby, Colorado Division Wildlife, 2126 N. Webel; Colorado 

Springs, Colorado 80907 

19 

Walleye Spawning in Michigan ........................................................................................................................... James A. Copeland and Martha M. Wolgamood,Michigan Department Natural Resources, 

Fish Health Laboratory, 34270 CR 652, Mattawan, Minnesota 49071 

21 

Collection and Spawning of Walleye Broodfish and Incubation of Fertilized Eggs ....................................... James E. and Shyrl E. Hood, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Linesville Fish 

Culture Station, Box 127, Linesville, Pennsylvania 7 

25 

Incubation of Walleye Eggs at Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery ........................................................... David Paddock, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Garrison Dam Fish Hatchery, Box 530, 

Riverdale, North Dakota 58565 

29 

Stripping, Fertilizing, and Incubating Walleye Eggs with Big Redd Incubators ............................................ Elizabeth Greiff, Croix Tribal Natural Resources Department, 0.Box 287, Hertel, 

Wisconsin 54845 

31 

Stripping Walleye Eggs Collected from Speared Fish and Incubation of Eggs using 

Big Redd Incubators ............................................................................................................................................. Michael P. Gallinat, Tribal Fisheries Biologist, Red Cliff Fisheries Department, 0.Box 529, 

Bayfield, Wisconsin 54814 

37 

Stripping, Fertilizing, and Incubating Walleye Eggs at a Minnesota Hatchery ............................................. Doug Thompson, Minnesota Department Natural Resources, 1429 Grant Mcmahon Blvd, Ely, 

Minnesota 55731 

41 

Comparative Storage Methods and Fertility Studies of Walleye Semen ......................................................... George G. Brown, Department Zoology and Genetics, Iowa State Ames, Iowa 5001 I, 

and Alan A. Moore, Rathbun State Fish Iowa Department Natural Resources, 

RR 2, Moravia, Iowa 52571 

45 

Use of Semen Extenders for Walleye ................................................................................................................... Alan Moore, Rathbun Iowa Department of Natural Resources, RR2, Moravia, Iowa 52571 51 

Field Utilization of Extended Semen ................................................................................................................... Keith D. Koupal, Colorado Division of Wildlife, 6060 Broadway, Colorado 80216 55 

vi 

NCRAC Culture Series Walleye Culture Manual 
Hormone Induced Spawning of Walleye ............................................................................................................. Roy C. Heidinger, Bruce L. Tetzlaff and Ronald C. Brooks, Fisheries Research Laboratory, 

Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois 62901 I 

59 

3 Collection and Care of Broodfish.............................................................................. James R. Jr., Colorado Division of 6060 Broadway, Denver; Colorado 80216 

and Stephen A. Department of Fishery and Wildlife Biology, Colorado State 

University Fort Collins, Colorado 80523 

63 

Case studies 

Collection of Walleye Broodstock, Egg Take, Incubation, and Fry Production at the 

Oneida Fish Cultural Station ............................................................................................................................... Richard T. Colesante, New York State Department of Environmental Oneida Fish 

Cultural Station, Constantia, New York 13044 

71 

Development of a Domestic Walleye Broodstock ............................................................................................... Tim Nagel, London Fish Hatchery, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, 

London, Ohio 

75 

Wild Broodstock Collection in Iowa ................................................................................................................... Wallace D. Jorgensen, Spirit Lake Hatchery, 61I Avenue, Spirit Lake, Iowa 51360 77 

4 Transportation and Handling of Walleye Eggs, Fry, Fingerlings 

and Broodstock ........................................................................................................... Richard T. Colesante, New York State Department of Environmental Oneida 

Fish Cultural Station, Constantia, New York 13044 

79 

Case study 

Distribution of Walleye Fry and Fingerlings ...................................................................................................... James D. Lilienthal, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources-Fisheries Section, Route 4, 

Box Little Minnesota 56345 

85 

5 Walleye Fingerling Culture in Drainable Ponds ...................................................... Robert C. Summerfelt, Christopher Clouse, Lloyd M. Harding, and James 

Department of Animal Ecology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 

89 

Case studies 

Pond Production of Fingerling Walleye at Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery ..................................... John E. Call, U.S.Fish Wildlife Service, Box 530, Riverdale, North Dakota 58565 109 

Walleye Fingerling Production Techniques in Drainable Ponds on the Lac Du Flambeau 

Indian Reservation .............................................................................................................................................. Larry J. Wawronowicz and G. Allen, Lac Flambeau Tribal Natural Resource 

Department, 0.Box 67, Lac Flambeau, Wisconsin. 54538 

111 

Fertilization Procedures for Pond Culture of Walleye and Saugeye .............................................................. David A. Culver, Department of Zoology, The Ohio State University, 1735 Neil Avenue, 

Columbus, Ohio 4321 0-I293 

115 

Fingerling Production in Drainable Ponds at White Lake Fish Culture Station .......................................... David D. Flowers, Ontario Ministry Of Natural Resources, White Lake Fish Culture Station, 

RR2 Sharbot Lake, Ontario, CANADA, 

123 

vii 

NCRAC Culture Series 101 -Walleye Culture Manual 
Walleye Culture in a 100-acre Drainable Pond in Northern Michigan ......................................................... Gregory M. Wright, Sault Marie Tribe Chippewa Indians, Nunns Creek Fishery Enhancement 

Facility, HC 47 Box 8100, Hesel, Minnesota 49745 

129 

Culture of Advanced Fingerling Walleye in Minnesota Ponds ....................................................................... Gregg Raisanen, Aquaculture Department, Alexandria Technical College, Jefferson 

Alexandria, Minnesota 56308 

131 

6 Walleye Fingerling Culture in Undrainable Ponds ............................................... Ronald E. Kinnunen, Michigan State University - Upper Peninsula, 702 Chippewa Square, 

Michigan 49855 

135 

Case studies 

Pond Culture of Fingerlings in Undrainable Ponds ........................................................................................ John B. Daily, 3501 Louisiana Ave. Apt. 220 Crystal, Minnesota 55427 147 

Extensive Culture of Walleye Fingerlings ......................................................................................................... Wallace D. Jorgensen, Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery, 611 Avenue, Spirit Lake, Iowa 51360 

151 

Pond Culture of Walleye in Michigan: Fry to Advanced Fingerling ............................................................. Gustafson, Michigan Department Natural Resources, 350 Ottawa N. Grand Rapids, 

Michigan 49503 

153 

Walleye Fingerling Culture in Undrainable, Natural Ponds .......................................................................... Jeffrey Gunderson, Minnesota Sea Grant Extension, University Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, 

Minnesota 55812, Phil Goeden, Purewater Aquaculture Corporation, Minnesota 56332, 

and Tom Hertz, Brandon Fisheries, Brandon, Minnesota 56315 

157 

7 Intensive Culture of Walleye Fry ............................................................................ Robert C. Summerfelt, Department Animal Ecology, Iowa State Ames, Iowa 

161 

Case studies 

Intensive Culture Of Larval Walleye On Formulated Feed ............................................................................ G. Eric E. Moodie, Department Biology, University Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 

R3B 2E9 CANADA, and John A. Mathias,Department Fisheries and Oceans, Freshwater 

Institute, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg R3T 2N2 CANADA 

187 

Intensive Culture of Walleye Using Brine Shrimp and Formulated Diets ................................................... Richard T. Colesante, New York State Department Environmental Conservation, Oneida Fish 

Cultural Station, Constantia, New York 13044 

191 

Intensive Culture of Walleye Fry on Formulated Feed ................................................................................... Alan A. Moore, Rathbun State Fish Hatchery, Iowa Department Natural Resources, RR 2, 

Moravia, Iowa 52571 

195 

8 Habituating Pond-Reared Fingerlings to Formulated Feed ................................. Jeffrey A. Malison and James A. Held, University Wisconsin-Madison Aquaculture 

Program, Department Food Science, 123 Babcock Hall, Madison, Wisconsin 53706 

199 

Case studies 

Intensive Culture of Fingerling Walleye on Formulated Feeds ...................................................................... Tim Nagel, London Fish Hatchery, Ohio Department Natural Resources, Division 

London, Ohio 43140 

205 

viii 

NCRAC Culture Series Walleye Culture Manual 
Extensive-Intensive Production of Advance Fingerling Walleyes at the Spirit Lake 

Brian Bristow, Department Animal Ecology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 5001 

State Fish Hatchery ............................................................................................................................................ 209 

Intensive Walleye Culture In Ontario: Advanced Fingerling Production Methods ..................................... David D. Flowers, Ontario Ministry Natural Resources, White Lake Fish Culture Station, 

RR2 Shurbot Lake, CANADA, KOH 2P0 

213 

9 Aquaculture of Walleye as a Food Fish .................................................................. Steven T. Summerfelt, The Conservation Fund’s Freshwater Institute, I? Box 1746, 

Shepherdstown, WV 25443, and Robert C. Summerfelt, Department Animal Ecology, 

Iowa State Ames, Iowa 1-3221 

215 

Case studies 

Culture of Walleye to Food Size ......................................................................................................................... James A. Held and Jeffrey A. Malison, University Wisconsin-Mudison quaculture Program, 

Department Food Science, 123 Babcock Hall, Madison, Wisconsin 53 706 

231 

Production of Food Fish ..................................................................................................................................... Stephen A. Flickinger, Department and Wildlife Biology, Colorado State 

Ft. Colorado 80523 

233 

Sensory Evaluation of Fillets from Intensively Cultured Walleye .................................................................. Timothy K. Yager and Robert C. Summerfelt, Department Ecology, Iowa State 

University, Science Hull 11,Ames, Iowu 

237 

Live Weight-Dressed Weight Relationships of Walleye and Hybrid Walleye ................................................ Robert C. Summerfelt, Richard D. Clayton, Timothy K. Yager, Steven Summerfelt, 

and Kent L. Kuipers, Department Animal Ecology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa I-3221 

241 

10 Cage Culture of Walleye .......................................................................................... David L. Bergerhouse, Quud Cities Spray Canal Project, Commonwealth Edison, 

Illinois 61242 

251 

Case studies 

Cage Culture of Walleye and Walleye x Sauger Hybrids ................................................................................ Richard Bushman, Resource Conservation and Development Northeast Iowa, 

0.Box 348, Postville, Iowu 52162 

Training Walleye to Formulated Feed in Cages ............................................................................................... Tom Harder, McCruw Wildlijk Foundation, I? 0.Box 9, Dundee, Illinois and 

Robert C. Summerfelt, Department Animal Ecology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 

267 

Cage Culture of Walleye and Its Hybrids to Food Size ................................................................................... Charles G. Stevens, 1405 West Howard, Knoxville, Iowa 50138 

273 

Cage Culture of Walleye at Mormon Trail Lake, Iowa ................................................................................... Kevin Blazek, Aduir County Conservation Board, 705 NE 6th Street, RR 2 Box 

Greenfield, Iowa 

275 

11 Engineering Design a Water Reuse System ....................................................... Steven T. Summerfelt, The Conservation Fund’s Freshwater Institute, PO Box Shepherdstown, 

West Virginia 25443 

277 

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NCRAC Culture Series 101 -Walleye Culture Manual 
12 Hybrid Walleye 

Case study 

Pond Culture of Hybrid Walleye Fingerlings ................................................................................................... James A. Held and Jeffrey A. Malison, University of Wisconsin-Madison Aquaculture Program, 

Department of Food Science, 123 Babcock Hall, Madison, Wisconsin 53706 

311 

13 Diet and Nutrition .................................................................................................... Frederic T. Barrows, S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fish Technology 4050 Bridger 

Canyon Road, Bozeman, Montana 5971 5, and William A. Lellis, National Biological Service, 

Research Development Laboratory, R.D. 4, Box 63, Wellsboro, Pennsylvania 16901 

315 

14 Genetic Markers and Stock Identification ............................................................. Neil Billington, Fisheries Research Zoology Department, Southern Illinois University, 

Carbondale, Illinois 

323 

15 Selective Breeding of Walleye: Building Block for Closed 

System Aquaculture ................................................................................................. Anne R. Kapuscinsh, Mark Hove, Wansuk Senanan, and Loren M. Miller, Department of Fisheries 

and Wildlife, 200 Hodson Hall, University of Minnesota Paul, 

331 

16 Diseases and Chemotherapeutics 

Case studies 

Strategies for Fish Health Management of Tank-Raised Walleye .................................................................. Rodney Homer, Illinois Department of Conservation, 254 I0 Fish Hatchery Rd, Topeka, Illinois 339 

Disease Investigation of Tank-Reared Triploid Walleye .................................................................................. Myron J. Kebus, Wisconsin Aquatic Veterinary Service, 2027 E. Miflin St., Madison WI, 53704 343 

Chemicals and Drugs .......................................................................................................................................... Rosalie A. Schnick, Michigan State University, 3033 Edgewater Lane, La Crosse, WI 54603-1088 

347 

Viruses Associated with Diseases of Walleye, Sauger, and Walleye x Sauger Hybrids ................................. Philip E. McAllister, S. Department of the National Fish Health Research 

1700 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, West Virginia 25430 

355 

Observed Diseases of Walleye in Minnesota ..................................................................................................... Joe Marcino, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife Pathology 

Box 25, 500 Lafayette Rd., Paul, Minnesota 55155 

369 

17 Economic Analysis for Walleye Aquaculture Enterprises .................................... Patrick D. O’Rourke, Department of Agriculture, Campus Box 5020, Illinois State University, 

Normal, 61790-5020 

371 

Case studies 

Cooperative Walleye Culture Programs in Michigan ...................................................................................... Thomas E. Hamilton, Hamilton Reef Fisheries Services, 2785 Weesies Road, Montague, 5 

Michigan 49437 

385 

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NCRAC Culture Series 101-Walleye Culture Manual 
Cooperative Walleye Culture Programs: the New York State and Province of 

Ontario Experiences ........................................................................................................................................... 389 

Joseph K. Buttner, Centerfor Applied Aquatic Science and Aquaculture, Department of 

Biological Sciences, State University of New York, College at Brockport, Brockport, New York I4420 

Appendix 

A. Common and Scientific Names of Fishes ..................................................................................................... 395 

B. English -Metric (Conversions and Mathematical Formulas) ................................................................... 397 

Index 

.............................................................................................................................................................................. 403 

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NCRAC Culture Series 101 -Walleye Culture Manual 
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NCRAC Culture Series Walleye Culture Manual