Was always curious!!

[wall_guy_101]

Are there walleyes in alaska?? Never hear much mention of them if there is.....

[fivebucks]

I never heard of them when I lived up there, no pheasants either.

[fishermann222]

5bucks there is a very fast growing pheasant population around Homer. They are not protected and can be hunted at any time. However they like to hang out in the city limits.

No eyes that I am aware of.

[Muskycrazy]

Years ago I walked into a Meat Market in my Hometown of Duluth , MN. In the display case was " Alaskan Walleye Fillets - 8.99 LB. " . I asked what part of AK they were caught in because I lived in AK for years and never heard of a Walleye being caught . After a long uncomfortable pause the butcher admitted that it was Cod . Cod we used to sell to the Cannery for 7 cents a pound he was calling Walleye and selling for 8.99 a Lb . Shameful .

[Hap Shaughnessy]

My Brother is a Fisheries Biologist with Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game, and based in Sitka. He reports that there are no walleyes in Alaska, anywhere.

[fishermann222]

Hap can you get him to email you the exact difference along with photos between dolly varden and arctic char? If so can you put a post on here? I have been having a heck of a time getting a fish and game bio to give exact definations of each, and how to tell them apart. I know what I have read about some go to the ocean some don't etc... But I have also heard they take large areas and classify all the dolly's-char in that area one or the other. I would like clarificaiton on that if you could get it.

[Hap Shaughnessy]

He's currently on vacation, until Mid march or April, then off to the rivers to trap minnows. He rarely gets time in the office until winter. He may pass biefly through here in the next week or two, and if the opportunity exists, I'll see if he wants to answer your question.

You might also look at the 2 links here:

http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/pubs/notebook/fish/a%5Echar.php

http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/pubs/notebook/fish/dolly_v.php

[fishermann222]

have read both of those in the past. What seperates a Anadromous arctic char with a dolly varden? I have been told by a few bios I know in FBKS that very few fish and game bios can look at one and tell the difference.

[Hap Shaughnessy]

Virtually all his work the past 30 years has been in Southeast. I think the farthest north he's worked has been Yakutat. So I'm guessing he may have not see a wild Char in his work.

[Ufatz]

There are no walleyes in Alaska. Arctic Char and Dolly Varden are essentially the same fish. A trained biologist can tell the slight difference in the vomer, a portion of the throat. Char will color up sllightly more perhaps than a dolly varden. Char will often get much larger although I have seen some BIG sea run dollies. Incidentally, the brook trout is also a member of the Char family.

Walleyes will not make it in AK for several reasons, one of which is the state has a very rigid policy regarding introduction of foreign species. Please don't whine to the AK, Dept. F&G about walleyes! Trust me, they've heard it all before!! Ha!!

[fivebucks]

Fisherman,

It's been 15 years since I lived in Seward, I guess I moved back outside too soon. It would have been a long drive to hunt rooties but I would have done it - the spruce hens are not too sporting most of the time and it was a long hike to get the ptarmigan. I'll just have to settle on slammin some salmon when I visit.

[fishermann222]

Alaska has PLENTY to hunt fish and trap without eyes. I get my eye fishing in when I come back to MN for a week every year. I love fishing eyes, but I would rather have a butt or a salmon in a river on the line anyday.

[wall_guy_101]

Well i guess that more than answers my question...Thanks for the info gentlemen. Have a great day!

[Hap Shaughnessy]

Ufatz, did you work for Alaska F&G ?

If so you may know of my brother's work on the Chinook taggings. In recent years he's been spending his springs around the Keta River area near Ketch. His name is Dave, if that rings a bell.

[Ufatz]

Yes. Know about the Keta of course. Did not have the pleasure of meeting him.