If you catch a walleye in Iowa, there is a very good chance it came from one of the state’s hatcheries. The species often does not naturally reproduce in Iowa’s inland rivers and lakes and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) maintains a healthy population through their stocking program. Millions of eggs are collected from broodstock each year in Big Spirit Lake, East and West Okoboji Lakes, Clear Lake and Storm Lake. The DNR is reminding anglers that in the ongoing efforts to protect these populations, there will be limit changes going into effect Jan. 1. Currently, the protected walleye slot limit at Big Spirit, East and West Okoboji, Upper Gar, Minnewashta, Lower Gar and Storm Lakes is at 17 to 22 inches. All walleye 17 to 22 inches must be immediately released. At Clear Lake, there is a minimum length limit, and anything below 14 inches must be returned. And right now, there is a three walleye per day limit and only one can be over 22 inches. On Jan. 1, this changes to a slot limit of 19 to 25 inches at Big Spirit, East and West Okoboji, Upper Gar, Minnewashta, Lower Gar and Storm Lake. Clear Lake will have a 17-to-22-inch protected slot limit. Daily bag limits remain the same at three walleye and only one over the slot limit each day. “Walley populations in these broodstock lakes are some of the most studied in the region,” says Mike Hawkins, DNR fisheries biologist. “Biologists monitor the lakes to evaluate the effectiveness of different regulations and predict changes to the population to improve the angler experience and ensure that Iowa has a strong broodstock population.”
