Ten Mile Lake Walleye Heads Needed for DNR Study

by Scott Gustafson

Fisheries managers of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are asking Ten Mile Lake anglers to save walleye heads as part of an ongoing study on Ten Mile Lake. Anglers who keep walleye from Ten Mile are asked to set aside and freeze the heads of their walleye catch for examination by DNR personnel. Walleye heads received by DNR will be measured to estimate the length of each fish, and a bony structure will be removed to determine the fish's age. Fisheries workers also want to check these heads for the presence of a tiny magnetic tag inserted into the head of stocked fish. By determining how many fish carry one of the magnetic tags, fisheries workers can learn to what extent stocked walleye contribute to Ten Mile Lake's walleye population.

"We encourage anglers to practice catch and release," stated Walker Fisheries supervisor Harlan Fierstine, "but for walleye that anglers wish to keep and eat, we're requesting that the heads be saved and frozen for us to examine." Fierstine said that the frozen walleye heads could be dropped off at the Area Fisheries Headquarters south of Walker during business hours. Bag the heads by month and label the bag. Frozen walleye heads may also be dropped off at the home of Larry Urbanski of the Ten Mile Lake Association. Larry Urbanski has volunteered a spare freezer as a temporary collection site for the samples, which will then be forwarded to the DNR. The Urbanski residence is at 5376 County 71 NW, Hackensack.

Anglers with questions about the project can call the Walker Fisheries Headquarters at (218) 547-1683.

Scott Gustafson is a Fisheries Specialist at the DNR's Walker Area Headquarters.