KANKAKEE AND IROQUOIS RIVERS STATUS REPORT SUMMARY

 

WALLEYE AND SAUGER: The walleye population once was known for its walleye fishery and in fact still holds the state record of a walleye weighing 14 pounds caught back in 1961. Survey records from 1975 through 1999 indicated that the catch per hour electrofishing for walleye exceeded 2.5 (1979) only once during this time period. Anglers and sportsmen organizations recognized the needed for help in restoring the walleye population in the Kankakee River and asked if the DNR could initiate a stocking program using the native walleye that occurred in the river. An effort was initiated in 2000 to collected adult walleye from the Kankakee River, spawn them at the LaSalle State Fish Hatchery and stock the fingerlings back into the river. The Kankakee River walleye restoration program began in 2000 with the collection of 27 walleye. The catch per effort for walleye in 2000 was only 1.6, though 78,000 2 inch fingerlings were stocked into the river in May. In 2001 the catch per hour increased to 10, of which 50% was contributed to the fingerlings stocked in 2000. In 2001 the river was stocked with 85,000 fingerlings. Due to high water in 2002 walleye could not be collected, however in 2003 the catch per hour of walleye increased to 23.3. In 2003 the hatchery was able to stock 94,195 fingerlings, plus Indiana was given 23,000 fingerlings to stock in their portion of the Kankakee River. In 2004 the catch per hour of walleye increased to a high of 26.7 and 80,200 fingerlings were stocked into the river from the hatchery. Also an additional 20,000 fingerlings were given to Indiana.

Growth rates of walleye examined in 2004 exceeded the state average indicating that the density is not surpassing the forage supply in the river. Average length of males ages 3 through 5 was 17, 20 and 23.5 inches respectively. Females which grow faster than males had lengths of 18, 21 and 24 inches at ages 3 through 5 respectively.

Fishing for walleye should continue to improve in the Kankakee River. The regulation for walleye in the Kankakee and Iroquois rivers is 3 per day and they must be longer than 16 inches. The goal of this project is to build the walleye population up to the point where it can sustain itself through natural reproduction.

NORTHERN PIKE: Northern pike is a difficult species to collect in rivers. Surveys have noticed an apparent increase in the incidental take of northern pike, and anglers appear to be catching more of them in recent years. The regulation on northern pike remains at 3 per day and they must be 24 inches or longer.

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