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<blockquote data-quote="NodakBuckeye" data-source="post: 89980" data-attributes="member: 714">Erie had some really good spawns in the 80s. Water levels where higher, not as many invasives.&nbsp; Walleye numbers dropped through the late 90s early 2000s with a long run of poor hatches.&nbsp; We had the mega 2003 hatch and then more poor to just average hatches. Last year was the biggest since 2003.&nbsp; Those big females full of eggs are poor spawners, they are simply older and less fertile than those 20-26&quot;.&nbsp; The success of the spawn depends more on weather from the spawn through the summer and lake level and less on available spawners.&nbsp;&nbsp; More water means eggs laid on the reefs are better protected from storms washing them off into deeper water.&nbsp; Erie's best spawns occur after winters with long duration ice cover, stable spring weather with an increace in food for fry, etc... The 2003 spawn increased the walleye population to around 100 million from around 25 million.&nbsp; It is interssting to me that Ohio never hits its walleye quota but the canadian gill netters do.&nbsp; There are more serious threats to the fishery than anglers and the lake managers will respond with tighter restrictions if needed just like they will here.&nbsp; Worry about water levels, prey abundance and ANS.&nbsp; Pray we never see white perch here.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="NodakBuckeye, post: 89980, member: 714"] Erie had some really good spawns in the 80s. Water levels where higher, not as many invasives. Walleye numbers dropped through the late 90s early 2000s with a long run of poor hatches. We had the mega 2003 hatch and then more poor to just average hatches. Last year was the biggest since 2003. Those big females full of eggs are poor spawners, they are simply older and less fertile than those 20-26". The success of the spawn depends more on weather from the spawn through the summer and lake level and less on available spawners. More water means eggs laid on the reefs are better protected from storms washing them off into deeper water. Erie's best spawns occur after winters with long duration ice cover, stable spring weather with an increace in food for fry, etc... The 2003 spawn increased the walleye population to around 100 million from around 25 million. It is interssting to me that Ohio never hits its walleye quota but the canadian gill netters do. There are more serious threats to the fishery than anglers and the lake managers will respond with tighter restrictions if needed just like they will here. Worry about water levels, prey abundance and ANS. Pray we never see white perch here. [/QUOTE]

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