Pond Boss Forums Thread Like Summary - Stunted walleye?

No real reason to ask other than curiosity...

I know what an over populated crappie pond looks like. Tons of 7in crappie that are cardboard thin. What would an over populated walleye pond look like (in the off chance that a stocking class had some successful spawns and they overpopulated)?

A little fish porn...

You guys are killin' me.. :-))
This is where Saugeye shine-where WAE grow less than expected in a pond/small lake impoundment.
We have stocked out around 3000 or so in Central KS in the private sector last fall.. The results will show the story that I am already aware of from years of state projects in small impoundments.
It's not snake oil, it's fact.

Monday night, provided I get home safely, with my Grandson driving, SAE will be residing and earning their keep cleaning out SF in my two, two acre ponds. (Strong GSH population also ) I'll let you know the results. Both ponds have WE also, 3 years so far, the comparison will be informational. Thank you very much , Snipe !!!

Notice the blotched molting between spines in dorsal fins? This is the indicator of Saugeye. This fish has taken the traits of the Sauger with the extremely dark patterns.
Most people "think" they are catching WAE.

I am told by fish hatchery guys experienced with walleye that they very rarely get bigger than 5 lbs in pond habitats. A 5 lb walleye is a very nice fish when they are around 24-25 inches long. However IMO in pond habitats this takes probably numerous years of growth even with the presence of proper species and sizes of prey foods. And as snipe says WE may just have a propensity for some reason to thrive better in large impoundments.

My experience with WE from large and small waters is until they are 14" long the appearance of body shape and condition of WE is usually a slender fish that shows little if any plumpness and IMO very similar to the shape of a big fat Havana cigar.

As an experiment I looked up the length - weight of several WE and saugeye. Results are very similar for these two fish.
WE = 12" 0.62lbs, 13" 0.79lbs, 14" 1.01lbs, 15" 1.25lbs, 16" 1.54lbs, 17" 1.87lbs, 18" 2.24lbs, 19" 2.66lbs, 20" 3.13lbs
SUGR= 12" 0.58lbs, 13" 0.76lbs, 14" 0.96lbs,15" 1.21lbs, 16" 1.49lbs, 17" 1.81bs, 18" 2.19lbs, 19" 2.61lbs, 20" 3.08lbs.

This type of fish is thin bodied, thus they look skinny compared to bass. However experiences are showing their feeding habits and preference for food types are noticeably different.

My customers, that I've had opportunity to speak to, are excited , also excited to catch our WE. I'm pumped up , see you Monday morning, and the experiment shall begin. SAE vs WE in a small pond enviroment.

Found a heartbreaker today. Stocked 1st 100 WE in my upper 2 acre pond 04/08/21 , second batch was October that year .As DD is fond of saying "go to sleep with mouth open, wake up with full tummies" . Over 100 lbs of FH and GSH stocked over the year before + hundreds of 2-4' YP and 4-6' YP. Today while feeding The Optimal found a 23" WE with excess stomach skin, would have been a fatty if the skin had been filled out. Possibly, ??possibly ??, a plastic bait swallowed and blocking intestines?? It was a beautiful fish for almost exactly 3 years in a 2 acre farm pond.(23" measured flat, not over curvature ) If SAE outperform, watch out .

Notice the extended aft dorsal (soft) on Saugeye.
And yes, the WAE is from my pond.
Lusk is going to be upset that I got my Cedar Mills hoodie wet! :-))

And a WAE. similarities and yet differences...

P.S. Did anyone break the YP State Record at your pond this spring during the spawn?
Had 4 shortly after ice-out over 2lbs. but nobody get's a new record until wife says so..

Snipe, I think we're dying to get these Saugeyes into someone's pond!!!!

Me, me, me, pick me! haha. I have some localish lakes with DNR stocked Saugeye that I believe I will make my way to to bucket stock a couple. I have YP and SBS in my tiny pond, planning to add pure RES with my tilapia stocking this year since I added male YP this spring.

You've got a lake, Jake!!! Over 10 acres....

Boy yer puttin a lot of cash into that one! :-))

1/2ac.
Walleye is right at 3 yrs old, Saugeye is 2-that was last year.