Most likely the walleye measured and aged by Dr.Willis was very close to one of the larger ones that were stocked at abt 8". Let's do a little back calculation. An 8" WE weighs close to 0.17 lb (std wt) and the 13.2" tested WE weighed 0.77 lb, growth of around 5.2" and gain of 0.6 lb in one year. If we assume a fish needs to eat 10 lbs of fish to gain a pound then this fish gained 0.6 lb and ate 6 lbs of fish to gain that 0.6 lb. For 2.25" FHM there are around 250 per lb which calculates to the WE eating 1500 2.5" FHM in one year. Now does this help understand why one needs a lot of forage fish to grow bass and other predators such as walleye?
