There's something lurking in Lee's Summit lakes: tons of walleye
The results are in and one thing is clear: you don’t have to go far to find a great walleye fishery in the KC Metro.
The Missouri Department of Conservation recently completed its annual walleye surveys in Lake Jacomo and Longview Lake. Results were promising for anglers looking for both quantity and size.
The survey at Longview Lake took place on April 5, overseen by local fisheries biologist Jake Allman. The night started along the dam. The survey crew first informed anglers they would be passing through, allowing those fishing the area a chance to retrieve their lines.
The sampling method began by lowering a “boom” into the water. The boom puts out an electric current just under the surface of the lake. The current doesn’t reach far underwater, instead attracting fish up to it. When they rise to investigate, the electricity temporarily stuns them long enough to be netted and measured.
“We convert the AC current from the generator to DC current,” Allman said. “Our output averages 250 volts and 12 amps.”
In under an hour, more than 50 walleye were shocked along the rocky, east bank all the way to the spillway. Among the first fish to rise was a giant female, measuring 27 and a half inches and estimated to weigh over 8 pounds. Some fishermen observing from the bank asked if the fishing would slow down after the electroshocking.
As it turns out, it might have improved.
“Many times when fish are shocked, they regurgitate what is in their stomach and they immediately start feeding again,” Allman told the fishermen.
In the past, Allman has tagged walleyes at the marina only to have them caught 30 minutes later back at the dam.
When all of the night's samples were completed, the catch rate was 63 fish per hour on Longview Lake. In years with better water clarity, that would be higher. Lake Jacomo sampling yielded 89 fish per hour, its highest rate since the 1990s.
“Over 20 percent of our catch included fish 15 inches and smaller, which bodes well for the future,” Allman said. “I think both (lakes') populations are in good shape.”
For reasons unknown, the conditions aren’t quite right for walleye spawning efforts at Longview or Jacomo. To offset this lack of natural reproduction, both lakes are now stocked annually with 20 two-inch fingerlings per acre. In the past, stocking rates were as low as 30 per acre every two to three years.
If you’re like me and have hesitated to keep a big, female walleye from either lake, you shouldn’t worry because they aren’t naturally reproducing anyway. Stocking efforts alone are responsible for maintaining the population.
The next time you catch one of these elusive fish, snap that photo and don’t feel bad about taking it home to the frying pan.
This story was originally published April 12, 2018 at 3:36 PM with the headline "There's something lurking in Lee's Summit lakes: tons of walleye."