Walleye spawning surveys conducted in several locations have revealed a low abundance of adult spawners.  Some populations have experienced substantial declines from historical levels of abundance.  In a number of areas where the abundance of spawning fish has increased in recent years, most fish are from relatively young year classes, indicating that the populations are in the early stages of rehabilitation.  Walleye populations that are in the early stages of rehabilitation or are reduced to very low numbers are very sensitive to exploitation.  The lack of closed seasons and early season openings where they currently exist have meant that northern pike are vulnerable to angling especially in early spring when spawning has just completed.

The recommendations put forward by the Council  are an attempt to reduce the mortality rates being experienced by walleye and northern pike and enhancing opportunities for population recovery.  On average, recreational anglers typically harvest fewer than the legal number of fish available in the daily limit.  Without the additional requirement of size restrictions on fish that could be harvested, an approach that a majority of Council members felt would not be well received by the stakeholders they represent, the daily creel limit needed to be reducing mortality rates.  For anglers who are fishing for several days and are staying at local resorts, lodges, parks or other accommodations, the recommended possession limit provides anglers with an option to possess more than a single days' limit of fish.

An effort has also been made to make season openings more consistent with adjacent inland fishing divisions.  In some cases, particularly in Division 17, where no closed seasons for walleye or northern pike exist, recommending seasons consistent with adjacent inland divisions will ensure that current fishing activity is not displaced to other areas and that more protection is afforded to those populations without closed seasons.  For some time, the season opening for walleye and northern pike in Georgian Bay has been May 1st.  Many local lodge and marina operators have developed a clientele that look forward to this opening date.  With the recommended reduction in daily catch and possession limits, as well as further protection for pre-spawning walleye and northern pike through an earlier ice fishing closure, the Council is recommending that May 1st season opening for walleye and northern pike be retained.

McGregor Bay Walleye
In one instance, the walleye population of McGregor Bay, in northern Georgian Bay, is currently at a critically low level of abundance.  A recent spawning survey conducted in the area revealed very few spawning fish remain in the population, and those that are left are large and old fish.  It is likely that this population of walleye has been reduced to a level where natural reproduction is insufficient to increase the abundance of walleye.  A sustainable level of walleye harvest from this population does not likely exist at current levels of abundance.

The McGregor Bay Association has requested a walleye closure for seven years in this area in order to allow walleye abundance to increase and to eventually re-establish a self-sustaining walleye population.  A strategic walleye stocking plan has been developed by MNR to assist in the rehabilitation of this population.  The Council is in support of a recommendation to close the walleye fishery in McGregor Bay in order that the rehabilitation of the population may proceed.