Regulations for Lake Oahe Walleye

Lake Oahe walleye regulations include a daily limit of 4 walleyes, which may include no more than one walleye 20 inches or longer, per day, year-round and the possession limit is 8.  The regulation is the same as the standard statewide regulation. 

Walleye Fishing Trends for 2008

Walleye fishing usually peaks at different times for each zone on Lake Oahe.  Fishing in the upper region of Lake Oahe usually peaks from late May through June.   The middle and lower regions of Lake Oahe peak during June and July.  During peak fishing times, catches of walleye by anglers will be higher in upper and middle Oahe than lower Oahe.  Angler catch rates, or fish caught per hour, should be similar to the past few years, lower than the years of 1997 to 2001, when the food supply was low.  The average size of walleye caught by anglers has continued to increase each year and this trend should continue in 2008.

Walleye abundance is indexed using the average number of walleye caught per gill net.  In 2007, the walleye abundance index, was 16 walleye per net.  This is similar to the last few years, but lower than the peak of the mid-1990’s.  In 2007, the walleye abundance index was slightly below the average for Lake Oahe. 

Walleye abundance in Lake Oahe is higher upstream than downstream because of higher natural production of young walleyes in the upper section of the reservoir during most years.  Abundance is currently the highest in the middle region of Oahe.  Walleye fishing should be good in all areas of Oahe in 2008, but catch rates will be higher in the middle and upper regions. 

The sizes of walleye decreases as you move upstream from the lower end of the lake. Fish less than 15 inches will be more common in catches as you move upstream, while the proportion of the catch larger than 18 inches is higher in the lower third of the lake.  Larger fish will be more common as the walleye population matures in the future.  Your best chance to catch a larger walleye will be in the spring or fall in the lower portion of Lake Oahe.  Walleye production in the middle portion of Lake Oahe occurred in 2005 and 2006 and has increased the number of smaller walleye (less than 15 inches) in that portion of the lake. 

Lake Oahe has a wide assortment of fish species that serve as prey for larger predators.  In the cold, deep water, rainbow smelt and lake herring are the primary prey fish.  The shallows contain a different array of fishes including gizzard shad, emerald and spottial shiners, yellow perch, freshwater drum, and white bass. 

Walleye condition, or plumpness, is a good indicator of growth.  The ideal range for the condition index is 90 to 100.  Walleyes were generally in the ideal range until 1996, with condition reaching a low in 2000.  Condition has improved since 2000 and is approaching the ideal range.  Higher condition means faster growth and faster growth means larger fish in the population.

Information on how long it takes an angler to catch a walleye and the average size of walleye kept are used by biologists to determine the quality of a fishery.  Catch rates are simply the average number of walleye caught per hour.  For example, if the catch rate is 0.5 walleye per hour, it takes 2 hours for an angler to catch one walleye.  The walleye catch rate peaked during the 1997-2001 period when the food was low and fish were hungry.  The catch rate during the 1997-2001 period exceeded 0.7 walleye per hour, indicating low availability of food for walleye.  When food was plentiful, such as before 1997, the average hourly catch of walleye was 0.35 walleye per hour.  In 2007, the average walleye caught per hour fished was at 0.6, signifying an improvement in the balance between predators and their available food.

Though water levels in Lake Oahe are low, the quality of the walleye fishery is improving and Game, Fish and Parks will continue to work hard to maintain access to all areas of the reservoir during 2008.  Don’t let low water levels keep you from enjoying the excellent fishing Lake Oahe has to offer.