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Stocked Smallies

EBass

By EBass
in Bass

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EBass Grand Master

EBass

Posted
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We've all heard that stocked walleye relate to weeds, so do stocked smallies relate more so to weeds as well? Thinking about Tonka, but Mille Lacs has smallies and they relate to the rocks. Hmm... thoughts

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Deitz Dittrich Grand Master

Deitz Dittrich

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where did any fish come from? Smallies have been in Minnetonka as long as I can remember. According to the DNR, Neither Largmouth or Smallmouth are stocked, unless a lake is being re-stocked after a fish kill. I am fairly sure all the fish in Minnetonka and Mille Lacs are natural spawn.

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Pherris Mentor

Pherris

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Deitz,

You are correct that stocked walleyes will be more weed related then natural reproduction walleyes. The reason is because the rearing ponds in most instances do not have "traditional" walleye structure. The fingerling and fry in rearing ponds learn at a very early age that the cover will help them be protected and the only cover they have in 99% of rearing ponds is weeds. Hence stocked lakes will usually have a decent "weed related" walleye population. I am not aware of any stocking programs in Minnesota for smallies. smile.gif

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Hoffer Mentor

Hoffer

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I grew up in Fergus Falls and lived on an area lake - and my parents still live there. That lake for sure has been stocked with smallies - and the DNR has turned it into a really terrific smallie lake. From what I can tell they are relating to any and all structure in the lake. I have caught them on the sunken Islands, in shallow and trolling in deeper water for walleyes. The only problem is the lake used to have great walleye fishing - and still does - but probably not for long... the DNR is not stocking it anymore for walleyes - just smallies.

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Walleye Guy Mentor

Walleye Guy

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I don't know if this is true or not. I was told that smallmouth were not native to MN and that they were introduced during the building of the railroad systems. I was told they came in barrels from the east coast somewhere.

Again I don't know if this is exactly true but the guy who told it to me is generally a very credible source.

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Maximum12 Mentor

Maximum12

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Yup, I know there's a small pond near my old house in St. Paul where they were stocking a fair amount of smallies. Couldn't ever figure out why they were putting them in a 9 acre pond but I'm sure they had their reasons.

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Black_Bay Veteran

Black_Bay

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Posted

Quote:

Yup, I know there's a small pond near my old house in St. Paul where they were stocking a fair amount of smallies. Couldn't ever figure out why they were putting them in a 9 acre pond but I'm sure they had their reasons.

Oh they had a reason. It just wasn't a good one.

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Wayne Ek Mentor

Wayne Ek

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Hoffer, not to worry. If it's the lake I fish alot then the lake is just going thru a down cycle on the walleye. I did not help that an outdoor writter mentioned it two years running in his top 10 pick for opening walleye lakes. But it still produces alot of fish.

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Hoffer Mentor

Hoffer

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Agape-

Hey, thanks for the reply...I am not sure if we are talking about the same lake?? Mine starts with a P.

The DNR isnt stocking it anymore for eyes - and apparently it doesnt have any natural reproduction for the eyes. The walleye fishing was actually very good this last Summer - but i cant imagine it staying that way for long without the stocing. On the otherhand, the smallies are sure taking off! The DNR also sunk down 55 smallie "beds" for nesting...

The reason I dont think this is the same lake we are talking about is that it is the last to freeze and last to thaw in the entire area - maybe even state...it has never been good for opener - due to the lake still being so cold.

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