Rock substrate in 2-4' of water is good walleye spawning habitat but the element missing in "most" small ponds is wind/wave/current that is required to keep embryos from suffocating. I'm involved in walleye egg take in KS and we literally have to keep current flowing on water hardened eggs after removing the adhesive membrane or we can lose 5-10% before ever loading to go to hatchery. It takes a fairly good, consistent wind quartering into the rocky shore substrate or flow on a constant basis to have any hatch of any number. I would venture to guess your reproduction would be zero in most cases. It also requires a certain number of mature males (usually more than 1 or 2) releasing the hormone that triggers the female to actually release her eggs.
Edit: I do have some data on altitude and success rates, which may or may not apply, depending on the variables listed above. What is your pond elevation??
Last edited by Snipe; 11/16/18 08:21 PM.
