Fisheries Report
In May 2025, the DNR continued their annual stocking of 2 million walleye fry. Prior year fry stocking has yielded strong
survival rates but there was a decrease in 2024 electrofishing results, from 32 in 2023 to 8 in 2024 in fish per hour
Survey result and stocking conversations occur with the Brainerd office of the DNR each year.
Lake Edward has stocked Crappie in 2022 but the DNR has not allowed further stocking of any walleye or crappie,
given the strong spring walleye fry stocking success. We will continue to monitor the survey results relative to our
lake management plan and coordinate additional stocking when the DNR deems it necessary.
We have also connected with the Walleye Alliance Inc. out of Brainerd. They are an angler led organization in the
Brainerd Lakes area that advocates for strong walleye fisheries and educates on AIS issues. The Alliance is
partnering with the DNR by hiring students from CLC to conduct a creel survey of Lake Edward summer 2025.
A creel survey is a method used by fisheries biologists and managers to collect data on recreational fishing
activities. The term "creel" refers to a basket used by anglers to hold their catch, and the survey is named after this
because it focuses on what anglers are catching and keeping.
Creel surveys focus on Angler Interviews: the surveyor will talk to anglers at the public landing to gather
information such as:
- Number and species of fish caught
- Number of fish kept vs. released
- Time spent fishing
- Gear and bait used – specifically the use of forward-facing sonar
DNR Fish Survey Results
The DNR does a 6-year gill net survey which tracks all species caught in the nets (with a bonus year in 2023 because of a zebra mussel study)
The DNR completed their annual fall, walleye electrofishing survey. This is part of the long-term zebra mussel study (mentioned at the last LECC meeting). The results are for the walleye fry stocked in the spring (young of the year, YOY) and all other walleye.
Electrofishing Fish Counts, per hour:
2024 2023 2022 2021
YOY Walleye 8 32 86 22
Older Walleye 11 29 55 19
Stocking results are not as strong as prior years but significantly stronger than Pelican Lake