Migrations of Adult and Juvenile Walleyes (Stizostedion vitreum vitreum) in Southern Lake Huron, Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie, and Connecting Waters

Recoveries of walleyes (Stizostedion vitreum vitreum) tagged as adults and juveniles at various sites in waters from southern Lake Huron to eastern Lake Erie provided information on the migrations of the Thames River stock and the mixing of these fish with other stocks in the study area. Walleyes spawning in the Thames River in March and April quickly migrated into the St. Clair River and southern Lake Huron, where they mingled with other stocks, including some from Lake Erie. The return migration to the Thames River occurred between November and March. Juvenile walleyes tagged in Lake St. Clair, on the other hand, moved downriver to Lake Erie. Young-of-the-year fish tagged in western Lake Erie, many presumably of Lake St. Clair origin, provided evidence of a reverse migration, since they tended to move back into Lake St. Clair and Lake Huron as they matured. Adult walleyes tagged along the Canadian shore of Lake Erie migrated eastward during the summer, but were recovered in or near the western basin dur...