Nice article on fish samplings!

[Camp-N-Fish]

From today's OWH,

"Crappie densities in Zorinsky Lake appeared lower than Jackson expected. He and Porath also didn't see many crappie more than 10 inches long. Anglers at Zorinsky Lake can keep crappie that are at least 10 inches long, except during April when any size crappie may be kept.

Only a few walleye came up in the Zorinsky Lake nets. Game and Parks stocked Zorinsky with 1- to 5-inch walleye fingerlings in June. Jackson and Porath conducted an electrofishing survey for walleye less than 8 inches long earlier this month. They found no fingerling survival."

Maybe Daryl can give us some insight on future NGPC plans to improve the Crappie and Walleye situation at Zorinsky!

Omaha.com Outdoors Section

[Huskeron]

I really enjoyed this article. I never knew what a gill net and a trap net were. Based on the HUGE and abundant catfish pictured in the article I will be giving Zorinski a try this week.

Jim

[Vikes forever]

After seeing that article it made me realize that I didn't know Z had feeders.

[Camp-N-Fish]

Maybe Daryl can give us some insight on future NGPC plans to improve the Crappie and Walleye situation at Zorinsky!

Do not know that I can tell you any insights other than the same ole' messages I have said before.

First of all, on the walleye front. The best habitats for walleyes are large rivers, large natural lakes and large reservoirs. Zorinsky is not large enough. Sure, we have walleyes in a bunch of small to medium-size reservoirs in eastern Nebraska. Sure, we continue to try a variety of stocking strategies to provide some walleyes in those smaller bodies of water. We will always have a few walleyes in those waters; we even have some natural reproduction in many of them. But, the walleye fishery you can expect in a small to medium-size reservoir in eastern Nebraska is one where you will occasionally catch a walleye, maybe even a big walleye, but most catches will be incidental and seldom will there be consistent catches of numbers of walleyes. If you want to experience some good walleye fishing, our larger reservoirs out west are by far our best walleye habitats and our best walleye fisheries.

Let me refer to one other thing that was mentioned in that newspaper story. As I recall it mentioned that few or no small walleyes were sampled in spite of stockings. Keep in mind that walleye populations wherever walleyes are found typically DO NOT have consistent recruitment where numbers of small walleyes enter the population each year. Walleye populations are typically supported by big year-classes that are produced once every 3-5 years or perhaps even longer. That is just the nature of walleyes and that is the case regardless of stocking strategies or lack thereof.

On the crappie front, reservoirs like Zorinsky are a prime example of what I call the "crappie conundrum". Those reservoirs are ideal habitats for crappie reproduction. Unfortunately small to medium-size reservoirs can have a lot of competing species and not enough largemouth bass to control crappie numbers. The result is growth rates can be relatively slow and natural mortality rates relatively high. On the other hand, and part of the conundrum, is the fact that in eastern Nebraska all of these waters are heavily-fished so that almost all crappies that reach a quality size are rapidly harvested. On one hand we need to thin crappie numbers, but on the other hand we have too much harvest of the largest crappies. On one hand we need to protect the crappies and give them a chance to grow up, but on the other hand more protection does not necessarily improve the quality of the fishery because growth rates are not fast enough and the fish die any way. We will continue to try new ideas, but I do not have any sure-fire answers for improving the crappie fisheries on Zorinsky or any other similar eastern Nebraska habitat.

How's that for insights?

Daryl Bauer
Lakes and Reservoirs Prograrm Manager
Nebraska Game & Parks Commission
daryl.bauer@nebraska.gov

P.S. Feel free to share this message with others if you wish.

[Mark P]

Two things to add to Daryl's comments. First, on walleye stocking strategies, the best bet for establishing a year class in these eastern flood control has been the stocking of advanced fingerlings (8"-9") with the exception of Branched Oak (which is truly an enigma because of the white perch). Unfortunately, because of the cost to raise these guys it is very unlikely that we will ever have enough of a budget to produce many (or any as of late).

Second, the crappie problem at Zorinsky is further complicated by the presence of gizzard shad which is a primary competitor for food with young crappie and juvenile predators, a double whammy.

[holdemplyer]

Originally Posted by Mark P

Second, the crappie problem at Zorinsky is further complicated by the presence of gizzard shad which is a primary competitor for food with young crappie and juvenile predators, a double whammy.

Mark, how's that wiper study coming? Any updates?

[Harold]

Thank you, Mr. B.

"conundrum"

Harold F.


(I highly recommend a SHOWER FIRST when removing "Depends" and replacing with a "Conundrum".)

[OldBaldGuy]

Originally Posted by Harold

The "Word" for Today is...

Puzzling, isn't it, Harold?

[Mark P]

Originally Posted by holdemplyer

Mark, how's that wiper study coming? Any updates?

To which one are you referring?

[adammd]

This article is right, all the crappie there are under 10 inches and there are few walleye. Don't believe the hype on the cat, if they are in there they don't bite anyway, your better off at Wherspann. Trust me, been on the Z 40+ times this year, there is a reason its usually just my boat, and maybe a couple more max.

STAY AWAY, fish Wherspann, it has all the big eyes, crappie, and cats.

[junkman]

Would saugeye be better suited in a small lake like zorinsky?