Walleye spawning – it’s more complex than you might think.
According to Heath Headley, fisheries biologist at Fort Peck, a number of factors influence the timing and success of spawning. Some years are better than others.
To ensure more consistent success – and more walleyes in Montana waters – Headley spearheads a massive annual effort to collect fertilized walleye eggs for the Fort Peck and Miles City hatcheries.
After 16 years, he knows the procedure well, but the outcome, as always, is up to Mother Nature, as is the success of natural spawning.