More on the walleye’s misfortune

Dear sir:
With full knowledge of how our fishery has developed over my 57 years as a guide on the waters of Lake of the Woods, as well as many surrounding lakes and rivers, I know the highest targeted fish by anglers is the walleye.
Without a doubt, it is the best-eating fish that’s tops over any other fresh or saltwater species.
With almost all anglers, getting a limit of walleye is their first priority—and that will never change unless they become obsolete due to the pressures put on them.
Nowadays, the ever-increasing walleye tournaments being held across the country have to be our concern. Whether people know it or not, these will spell depletion of the stock to the point where future generations will definitely pay for it.
First of all, walleye are a delicate fish and, as such, not classified as a tournament species.
For instance, most livewells on bass boats are in the back while in walleye tournaments, where many smaller craft are used, they are located in the bow, which everyone knows takes the bumpiest ride—and definitely not suitable for a delicate fish such as the walleye.
Livewells in the bow should be disallowed at any tournament.
Unfortunately, the latest misfortune to befall the walleye involves tournament organizers, as well as the Ministry of Natural Resources, allowing anglers to participate when the fish are deeper than 30 feet.
How many anglers are aware of “fizzing” a fish? Only the ones who participated in the Red Lake walleye tournament.
Fish coming out of deep water experience an over-inflated gas bladder, which means certain death once they are released.
To overcome this “fizzing,” every boat purchases a needle for $3 so they can execute what only an experienced biologist is capable of doing safely, without injury to internal organs such as the kidneys or intestines.
How many small walleyes are released without anglers taking the time to perform the fizzing, and how many are fizzed the safe and proper way? There cannot be an accurate percentage of a mortality rate with this method and definitely should be disallowed.
Is it necessary to have the tournament under these adverse conditions? And why is the Ministry of Natural Resources allowing it to happen knowing the consequences?
How long will walleye’s misfortunes continue? When it is too late?
This seems to be the answer on anything that becomes obsolete. Will it stop in time to save future consideration? Hopefully so.
Just because a fish swims towards the bottom doesn’t mean it will survive!
Signed,
Michael Baranowski
Nestor Falls, Ont.