Michigan DNR collecting 24M walleye eggs from Muskegon River

Muskegon River walleye egg collection

The Michigan DNR collecting walleye eggs at the Pine Street access site on the Muskegon River. The DNR will begin 2022 collection the week of March 20.

NEWYAGO COUNTY, MI — Michigan fishery managers plan to collect 24 million walleye eggs during the Muskegon River spring spawning run.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says the fishing and egg collection will begin the week of March 20 and finish by April 14, depending on conditions.

Walleye will be collected below Croton Dam using electrofishing boats. Anglers are asked to use caution near the collection boats and those using waders should exit the water.

Collected eggs will be sent to hatcheries to raise for future stocking. The fish will be raised to fingerling size, about 1.5 to 2.5 inches, before release.

The DNR is expecting to remove sperm and eggs from about 350 out of the 40,000-50,000 walleye estimated in the river for the annual spring run. The fish are then release. About 60 are sent to Michigan State University for testing.

“This adult population consists of mostly stocked fish,” said Ed Pearce, DNR fisheries technician supervisor who coordinates the egg take. “The Muskegon River has the largest run of walleye in the Lake Michigan watershed south of Green Bay.”

Stocking occurs in late spring or early summer at lakes and rivers throughout the Lower Peninsula. Lake Michigan and many inland lake walleye populations depend on the fingerlings from Muskegon River eggs, the DNR said.

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