Lake Erie supports a diverse aquatic ecosystem, with walleye as a prominent inhabitant. Walleye are highly valued by anglers and commercial fishers. Understanding their population is important for conservation and the economic activities that depend on this fish.
The Current Walleye Population
Lake Erie’s walleye population has remained robust in recent years, largely due to a series of strong hatches from 2018 to 2023. The estimated abundance of walleye aged two years and older in 2023 was approximately 88.5 million fish. This figure places the 2024 adult walleye population within the top 25% observed over the past three decades, comparable to the high numbers seen in the 1980s.
While the overall adult population is strong, the 2024 walleye hatch was below average, marking the smallest hatch since 2016. In the western basin, the 2024 hatch index was 19 fish per hectare, significantly lower than the average of 58 fish per hectare. This lower recruitment of young fish is projected to cause a slight dip in the catchable walleye population, from 80.9 million in 2024 to an estimated 77.4 million in 2025. Despite this, the consistent success of previous hatches is expected to ensure ample fishing opportunities for several more years.
How Walleye Populations Are Tracked
Fisheries management agencies employ various scientific methods to estimate and monitor the walleye population in Lake Erie. Annual fish surveys are conducted collaboratively by organizations like the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (OMNRF). These surveys include bottom trawls, where nets are pulled along the lakebed to collect young-of-year fish.
Gill net surveys also contribute to understanding adult walleye populations. Angler creel surveys, which collect data on recreational catches, and commercial catch reporting provide valuable information. This collected data is then analyzed using statistical catch-at-age (SCAA) models to generate population estimates. The Lake Erie Committee (LEC), a binational group with representatives from Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ontario, uses these indices to determine annual safe harvest levels. The walleye population is managed as a single, lake-wide unit due to the species’ extensive seasonal migrations across the lake.
Factors Influencing Walleye Abundance
The abundance of walleye in Lake Erie is shaped by natural environmental conditions and human activities. Natural factors include the success of annual hatches, which vary significantly. A “mismatch in plankton timing,” where walleye hatchlings emerge before or after their zooplankton food source peaks, can reduce larval survival rates. Water temperature and erratic spring weather patterns also influence spawning behavior and food web dynamics.
Prey availability is another natural factor, as walleye primarily consume small-bodied fish like Gizzard Shad. Historical data suggests colder winters with significant ice cover in the Western Basin may positively influence hatch success. Human influences include regulated fishing pressure, managed through a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) set by the Lake Erie Committee to ensure sustainable harvest. Improvements in water quality, resulting from decades of conservation efforts and the 1980s ban of commercial gill nets, have also played a role in the species’ recovery and abundance.
Why Walleye Abundance Matters
The walleye population is important for Lake Erie’s ecological health and economic well-being. As a top predator, walleye influence smaller prey fish populations within the lake’s food web. Their presence and health indicate the overall ecological balance of the ecosystem.
Economically, walleye support recreational and commercial fishing industries in the United States and Canada. Ohio’s Lake Erie fisheries contribute over $1 billion to the state’s economy annually. The walleye population supports a tourism sector, including nearly 1,000 charter boats operating along the Ohio shoreline, generating hundreds of millions of dollars annually. The revenue from Ohio’s Lake Erie charter industry alone increased by over 50% between 2010 and 2020. Population estimates inform management decisions, such as setting harvest quotas and fishing regulations, designed to maintain long-term sustainability.