At the same time, some Northwoods walleye and sauger rode the crest far southward where they are setting up permanent shop. Benjamin is satisfied that more than enough walleyes and sauger remain in the upper reaches of Ole Miss so the migrants will not be missed. The upswing may also be due, in part, to the fact state conservation authorities are giving Mississsippi management greater emphasis. In addition, Wisconsin established a 15-inch length limit on Mississippi walleyes in 1989 to stop premature harvest. Biologists from Minnesota to Illinois predict 1997 will be a banner year for walleye, if Mother Nature cooperates.
Floods are always the unpredictable X factor.
More good news is that an ever-increasing percentage of the river's perch population is comprised of the larger walleyes rather than smaller sauger. This is due, primarily, to improving water clarity and aggressive stocking programs like Commonwealth Edison's intense effort in pool 14. The power company is adding 140,000 to 500,000 two-inch, marked walleye fingerlings each year. Branded so they can be identified later, the stocked fish are being found both upriver and down. Walleyes accounted for 15 percent of the Mississippi River's perch in the Illinois section during the early 1980s.