50 Nebraskaland • December 2025
significant relationship to that over
the last 25 or 30 years," said Jeff
Schuckman, district fisheries biologist
for Game and Parks. Conversely, when
releases are low, biologists catch more
fish in their sampling nets in the fall.
That was the case in the mid- to late-
2000s when releases from the dam
averaged less than 20,000 CFS, and
biologists sampled 3 to 6 times more
walleye than they did from 2011 to
2021.
Releases were below normal during
the study, and it appears that fewer
adult fish move through the dam
during those conditions. "It's hitting
them when they're little larval fish and
the young of the year," Radigan said.
"It's the cumulative effect through all
of the different life stages that is the
big deal."
The study reinforced a decision by
both states to stop stocking walleyes
in the system. From 2014 to 2023, more
than 40.3 million walleye fry and 9.2
million fingerlings were stocked in the
lake to help it recover from the 2011
flood. Sampling showed those fish
contributed little to the population.
"We had one year where the stocked
fish contributed heavily, and normally
it's during a high water year, but most
years we have more than enough
natural reproduction up there to
supply our recruitment," Schuckman
said.
The study won't lead to any changes
in how either state manages the
river or reservoir. Movement data
showed that biologists are sampling in
locations that accurately measure the
subpopulations of walleye. It did show
that it will be difficult to accurately
count sauger, many of which remain in
the delta.
"If we could figure out the logistics
Fish Tagging
While the receivers
were removed from the
system at the end of the
study and transmitters
no longer work, there are
still up to 180 tagged fish
swimming in the reach.
While some of those may
have lost the metal jaw
tags they received, anglers
might find a transmitter
while cleaning a fish.
Those who do can still
report it to the Game and
Parks fisheries staff in
the Norfolk office, SDGFP
staff in Chamberlain, or
by emailing Will Radigan
at wradigan2@huskers.
unl.edu to learn when and
where the fish was tagged.
Mike Hamsa of Yutan holds a walleye he caught on Lewis and Clark Lake. Hamsa was one of several fishing guides who helped
Radigan locate, or even catch, walleye to tag for the study, as was the case with this fish.
