Native New River Walleye Restored

With the catch of a large number of trophy individuals, the walleye fishery in the New River has increased in importance. Recent research findings showed persistence of a presumptive native stock, which motivated an eight-year program of hatchery-based restoration of the native stock.  Candidate spawners were collected from spawning areas, and DNA from fin clips was assessed genetically. Walleye exhibiting genetic variants that characterize the presumptive native stock were spawned.  Their young were reared at Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries hatcheries. Approximately 600,000 fry and over one million fingerlings were stocked in riverine sections of the New River.  Walleye have become more abundant at spawning areas and in spring electrofishing and fall gill-net samples. Creel surveys in 2002 and 2007 showed increasing angler effort directed toward walleye and increasing catch.

For more information, contact  ehallerm@vt.edu

9/19/08