Native kentucky walleye genetics

[JoeB]

Ever thought of contacting the KDFWR and asking the biologist in charge instead of a public message board?

[JimDicken]

The answer I gave was from Benjy Kinman at a seminar several years ago. BUT I will ask again.
Jim

[DaveD]

I am the KDFWR biologist in charge of the native strain walleye research on the Rockcastle River. Benjy Kinman asked me to respond to this thread in response to Jim Dicken’s inquiry. Through extensive genetic testing we have determined that the walleye in the Rockcastle River are “pure” southern strain walleye that are native to Kentucky. Since 2002, we have been conducting a supplemental native walleye stocking program in the Rockcastle River and have also been stocking native strain walleye in Wood Creek Lake (a tributary of the Rockcastle River). The native strain walleye population in Wood Creek Lake is now a source of mature walleye broodstock and frees us from having to remove as many walleye from the low density population in the Rockcastle River. These are the ONLY two water bodies where native walleye have been stocked. All other walleye stocked by the KDFWR around the state are northern strain or also called “Erie” strain.

The KDFWR collects northern strain broodfish from shoal areas of the Big South Fork arm of Lake Cumberland each spring. Northern strain walleye from the lake typically migrate only as far as the first or second shoal. Fish collected in these areas are genetically tested before being used for broodstock. How far up the Big South Fork arm these collections take place is determined by the level of Lake Cumberland at the time. Several native strain walleye have been collected in the Big South Fork in years when the lake has been high and electrofishing boats have been able to get above Yamacraw into places that are normally above lake influence. An extensive electrofishing survey looking for walleye in the upper Big South Fork has not been conducted because of inaccessibility, but there is a fair likelihood that a native strain walleye population exists there. We have no indication that native strain and northern strain walleye have interbred here either.

For many years the KDFWR stocked the upper Cumberland River (above the falls) with northern strain walleye. We discontinued all walleye stockings above the falls in the Cumberland River after 2004. We intend to monitor the river for any natural reproduction of existing northern strain walleye. Barring this, we may be able to re-introduce native strain walleye to the upper Cumberland River in a few years. We are also examining other rivers in the state where native strain walleye were native and have suitable conditions for re-introduction. The main condition that we are trying to avoid is a situation where the two strains could hybridize in large numbers and then contaminate our pure stock. Some may wonder about that because I already mentioned that they have been found together in the Big South Fork and there is nothing keeping northern strain walleye from migrating out of Lake Cumberland up into the Rockcastle River. The speculation is that there are aspects of their respective reproductive biology that keeps them apart in these specific situations (or at least hybridize so rarely we cannot detect it). We feel it is prudent to not push the envelope by stocking native strain walleye in areas where northern strain walleye are already present, specifically Lake Cumberland. Hybridization could occur on a large scale in the lake and then these hybrid walleye may have more of a propensity to migrate into the Rockcastle River in large numbers, thereby contaminating our pure native strain walleye stock and potentially permanently losing this genetic integrity.

Dave Dreves
Fisheries Research Biologist
KY Dept of Fish and Wildlife Resources

[GeoFisher]

I'm glad someone with authority and UNDERSTANDING of the walleye situation has responded.

While the discussions are always nice to read, I get TIRED of people speculating on the walleye situation.

I'm especially glad that KY seems to care about the situation, is on top of it, and seems to have a plan. I understand this is TOUGH work.......

Keep it up.

Thanks,

GeoFisher

BTW.......any help on catching those tasty morsels would be GREAT. I've tried 10-15 times, in a few spots, including Nolin, Green, Cumberland, and Dale, and have yet to hookup with a walleye.

[know1]

What an informative and educational response that is. Here's my question, why aren't walleye listed in the Wood Creek Fishing Forecast?

[DaveD]

Native walleye will appear in the KDFWR 2007 Fishing Forecast for Wood Creek Lake. Southeast Fishery District biologist John Williams has ranked it as "Fair" and states "Native strain stockings (annually since 2002) have established a viable fishery. Some large fish (6 lbs+) are available, although the overall population remains relatively low."

Dave Dreves
Fisheries Research Biologist
KY Dept of Fish and Wildlife Resources

[know1]

Awesome. Thanks!

[fishincreek]

Thank you for a VERY informative post!!!!

[SSKY]

Kentucky sturgeon, I did read the article about those fish and I understand there would be an effort to stock them for what was said I would belive 20 years to get a population to get a possible spawning class of fish. Where do they spawn? What would happen with a 20 year stocking effort for the native walleye in their native water?

[SSKY]

I really do not like it, but one would have to know that fish swim and that will happen if you stock a river that feeds the lake over time. tell me if I am stupid, I can take it.The two populations are seperated by nothing and over many years that plan will not work and there will be "cross breeding". With the current situation i cannot see how it could it could not happen. That being said, The genetic influx of stocking only native strain in the lake for at least 20 years like we plan to do for the strurgeon may turn the tide for the native walleye as we have planned it for the sturgeon. Pure strain doubtful but it would be close and how long do we plan that the lake will be here?And we have established that the erie strain as of yet from what we have been told does not cross with the fish in the rockcastle so we do not know if they will do so in the lake?? Sorry for the rant, for those that are tired of it.

[SSKY]

Go back to the KY afield article winter 2001 page 16, and then read the rest of the artticle and see where we are today?

[SSKY]

So would you say that there is no chance that native strain walleye could ever be stocked where they were native in the lake area from where they came from? I still do not understand how the native sauger can be here as of now, how can they be here still? When the white bass are gone as of now.