Few things in Minnesota match the spectacle of the walleye spawn.
Every spring, the MN DNR sets nets in a bottleneck of Little Cutfoot Sioux Lake to collect and fertilize eggs from the thousands of males and females making their yearly journey to their spawning beds.
The goal of this practice is to meet statewide needs for stocking fish in small lakes that otherwise would not have a self-sustaining walleye population, and the amount of eggs collected varies from year to year. In 2019, roughly 80 quarts of eggs were harvested, mixed with a fine silt to prevent the fertilized eggs from clumping together and increase their probability of hatching.
These fish have been running to spawn for over a week, with over 2000 fish reaching the DNR nets to be handled before being released in the water. Low oxygen levels in the water were a large concern for the biologists, as pockets of the suffocating water can endanger the fish.
Despite the snow, rain and cold, the strip was fast and efficient this year and it was fascinating to watch these professionals perform their duty.
Soon they will return 16 million walleye fry to the waters of Lake Winnibigoshish and Cut Foot Sioux, bolstering yet another year class in our fishery.