Muskegon River Walleye Egg Collection Kicks Off March 23

Electrofishing to Gather Walleye Eggs

For over 15 years, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has collected walleye eggs near Croton Dam to help hatcheries produce fry and fingerlings that boost walleye populations statewide.

The DNR collects walleye using electrofishing, a common, non-lethal scientific method used by fisheries biologists to study fish populations in freshwater. The process uses controlled electrical currents to temporarily stun fish, making it easier to gather data and collect eggs for hatchery programs.

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When the DNR heads to the Muskegon River near Croton Dam, the effort isn’t limited to a single day, it typically lasts close to a month, so anglers planning to fish the area should stay aware.

Walleye Egg Collection Returns to Muskegon River Area

According to a DNR press release, the annual walleye egg collection on the Muskegon River, from Croton Dam to the Pine Street Access Site, will begin March 23 and continue through April 17.

The start of egg collection depends on water temperatures and when the fish are ready to spawn. The DNR is asking anglers to fish downstream of the Pine Street Access Site during this time. Biologists aim to collect more than 35 million walleye eggs, which will be sent to hatcheries and raised into fingerlings before being stocked in lakes and rivers across the state in late spring or early summer. Some will be grown to 6 to 8 inches and released in the fall.

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Raising walleye in hatcheries leads to much higher survival rates than natural spawning in Michigan. In hatchery conditions, 60–90% of eggs can survive to the fry stage, while in the wild, fewer than 1% typically make it.

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