Got a phone call today regarding otoliths..
First of all, annular ring is present.
2 techs each with an otolith, one says approx. 255 days, the other says 252 days.
Calculates out to around October 1st.
I was hoping to see no annular ring but maybe it's even stranger to have a fall hatch. I have NO experience with YP and I have NO data available that says this has ever happened with walleye but we aren't (I have never) pulling otolith from WAE in a pond.
One thing about using otolith that is nice is you have 2, and 2 sides of each to verify so you can't change it to be what it's not.
I hope someone has an understanding of this as the bio's I work with are almost in disbelief and 2 of them frequent this site and have asked if someone has an explanation, their ears are open.