Walleyes are the second most popular fish that angler’s fish for in Minnesota. They rank just behind fishing for sunfish. But, over the last 20 years we have seen a significant decrease in the size and number of walleyes in Lake Garfield and we should be concerned about it.  This decrease is shown by looking at the DNR Fish Survey that is done every 5 years on Garfield. Shown below is a comparison of the Fish Survey done in 2000 and the one done in 2015. A most recent one was done in 2020 the results will be available in May of this year.

By using the 2000 survey as a base line for the walleye population and comparing those numbers to 2015 we see some concerns for the walleye population.

In the 15 years between fish surveys there has been a large change in the walleye fishery and not for the good. The total number in the 2000 survey was 107 walleyes. In 2015 the total number of walleyes was 73. This represents a 32% decrease in the number of walleyes. Also, the size of the walleyes is decreasing. In 2000 there were 18 walleyes in the 20 – 24 inch range. In 2015 there were 3, and there were none in 25 – 29 inch range. In 2000 there were 5 in this range.

One probable reason for this significant walleye decrease is the huge increase in the northern pike population. Here is a chart showing the MN DNR Fish Survey for northern pike and yellow perch over the same time period.

As you can see in the 2000 survey, total northerns were 139 fish. In 2015 there were 286 fish. Northerns eat small walleyes. This is one reason the DNR has increased the bag limit on northerns. But we believe that fishermen do not take more northerns, so the increased bag limit does not help. We also believe that fisherman do not take smaller northerns as they believe they are too small; less meat and harder to clean.  There are many uses and ways to cook or pickle small northerns which are on the Garfield Lake Association website. I encourage you to go look in this blog.  

We encourage you to start keeping these small northerns and will be publishing more information on this over the months ahead.

Also, please note the same chart shows a similar huge decrease in the population of Yellow perch. Just like walleye, Yellow perch are an important forage for northerns, and the same thing is happening. In the 2000 fish survey there were 538 yellow perch. In the 2015 survey there were 182 yellow perch. That is a decrease of 66%.  We need to do something about this, and our first encouragement is for our Garfield fisherman is to start keeping more northern pike, especially the smaller ones.

As soon as last year’s, 2020, DNR Fish Survey is available to us I will get that information to you.  I expect this to be sometime in the spring, 2021.  Happy Fishing!!

Mark Warisch