WalleyeHarvest

The recently completed 2006 walleye harvest this year went without a hitch. However it was very disappointing with the number of fish harvested. It was extremely low considering the number of work hours put in and the expenses. Expenses were normal but dollar ratio per fish was disappointing. Chairman Supon did everything right and practically by the book. Don has a strong desire to make this effort much more successful for the next crop and is already preparing the ponds for next year.

This year was a first. Don had recruited some teen boys to come out and lend a hand. Boy were they ever a huge help! They were unbelievable. Sorry I don't have all their names at this point but for sure Don will get them to me for posting. What a relief! we didn't need 60+ and 70+ year old men climbing in to do the net dragging.

The pictures kind of tell the story here. The first picture shows how the fry come from the hatchery, in bags that hold 10,000 fry. The next one shows the volunteers each holding a bag of 10,000. They are acclimatized with the pond water and then the bag is opened and they are released. The 3rd. picture shows the fry when they are harvested and released. The next pics show the pond before during and after pumping and the pumps doing the job. Every year we borrow pumps from the Town Of Lewiston and they have been the biggest outside help of all. We all agree without them we would be up the creek without a paddle. Thank you Lewiston.

The pumped water goes down the ditch between the ponds and finds its way into Four Mile Creek which flows to Lake Ontario. Any fry pumped up has a chance for survival in that water flow.

Now the boys you see working in the pictures. These young men were the biggest help of all. Names are: Andrew Atkinson, Mark Bigley, Aaron Atkinson, brother of Andrew and Paul Dubois. Big Thanks boys! Boys names are not in order:

The rest of the pictures explain for themselves. Be sure to click on the pictures for a nice larger look at them.

Chairman Supon will have complete and full report in the September 2006 News & Views.


10,000 Walleye Sac Fry in one bag	50,000 Sac Fry Ready to release to ponds	This is typical size when harvested	A look at a pond waiting to be pumped
Pump hose in pond being pumped. Notice the weeds	Pumps working and sitting on the service road between the ponds	Oops! Popped a leak in the hose! Had to change hoses.	Outflow of water from 4 inch pump
This is where the water goes. Down the drainage ditch.	Boys getting instructions from Don Supon.	Boys readying the nets The guy on the far right is Volunteer Jim Till	Off they go!
Thank goodness for the young guys help!!! Boys names are not in order: Andrew Atkinson Mark Bigley Aaron Atkinson Paul Dubois	Harvesting from the net	Till & Supon Pounding the stake	Roger Adamson & Don counting the fish before they go in transport tank
Boys taking a rest	Hoppie Leggett, Harry Boggs, Roger Adamson on a break.	Harry Boggs has been doing this more than anybody!	Hoppie Leggett is always there on workdays to work!
Supon climbing out of the muck. oohh, my!	Volunteer Jim Till on left Chairman Don Supon on right.	Lots of turtles were caught and released