NYDEC plans to rebuild the population of the Sauger!

[Reel Delight (Walt)]

I just read a press release that NY state DEC is working on a conservation plan to rebuild the Sauger population for Lake Champlain and other bodies of waters in New York. To bring back the Sauger along with Walleyes would be a fantastic improvement to the fisheries. Check out the release at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/92788.html

I encourage folks to send letters and comments to NYDEC to say we sportsmen support any plans to improve the Sauger fisheries.

[VTgooseman]

Great news!

[raz]

Good news indeed. Thanks Walt.

[Reel Delight (Walt)]

I can tell all of you that the NYDEC does read and listen to comments when they propose such things and they use the number of positive or negative comments to make many decisions in these matters. Many positive comments from sportsmen & sportsmen groups can sway DEC decisions.

[Matt]

Sounds great, but aren't sauger just a small cousin of the walleye? If I remember right, they pretty much occupy the same areas, have the same habits, but the sauger cannot withstand as much as a walleye in terms of water temps? I wonder how it will affect the walleye if more sauger are introduced since they are so much alike.

[Reel Delight (Walt)]

I remember fishing the lake some 40 years ago and filling a 5 gallon bucket with Walleye and Sauger in very short periods of time. There was few limitations on them back in the 70s and I remember ice shanty's filled with fishermen catching their share of both fish. That was before we knew anything of the Lamprey eel being in the lake. I remember often of people throwing back the Saugers and just keeping the eyes. The population of both fish were doing fantastic and seem to be doing well using the same habitat. I personally think that if they can improve the habitat in the lake for the Sauger, that they will also be promoting and sustaining the Walleye too.