Westonka Walleye Program

[Rick]

Here is a request for your help:

My name is Johnny Range, and I started a fund to raise money to stock walleye in Lake Minnetonka.

The original plan was to stock yearling walleye in the Fall of 2014, and every even numbered year that followed... The plan was to stock yearling fish to overcome the predator factor, and by stocking 1 year old fish when the DNR was stalking 0 year old fish would allow the DNR to determine the success rate of stocking the larger size fish. This is done by counting the rings on the scales, like you would with a tree, when the annual gill net surveys are conducted each spring. The DNR currently only stocks on even numbered years and only stocks fingerling. Counting the rings on the scales allows the DNR to determine the amount of fish that are born naturally in the lake.

Currently 5%-15% of the walleye in Lake Minnetonka are the result of natural reproduction. Now with Zebra mussels in the lake, the natural reproduction could come to a stop. Zebra mussels filter plankton, and plankton is the primary food for walleye in the first few months of their lives. Year of young walleye could starve and natural reproduction could stop. That is why the DNR changed their mind and asked us to move our program up one year. We are now planning to stalk 1 year old fish on odd years to keep the non-stocked year class free from stocked fish… This will allow the DNR to get an accurate read on natural reproduction.

We thought we had a year to raise 5K for the first stocking, but now we have 2-3 weeks…

This means the Westonka Walleye Program needs to raise the funds in the next few weeks, and we really need donations to make this happen!!! We are 30% of the way there, but need to raise $5,000 by early October. West Central Bait has 1,800 yearling walleye ready to get delivered to the west side of Lake Minnetonka! The MN DNR has approved the permits to allow these fish to be stocked in the lake.

Westonka Walleye Program needs your donation now.

Every dollar donated goes directly towards the purchase of yearling walleye for Lake Minnetonka’s west side. Everyone’s time and operating costs are donated. 100% of the donations are used to purchase walleye.

Please seriously consider this request and let your neighbors, your customers, and your community know that you are joining them in the cause to increase the walleye population in Lake Minnetonka.

Thank you in advance for the support!

Here is a link for the pay pal donation button.