Why not walleye in Lake DeSmet?
From Wyoming Game & Fish Since 1991, the year we discovered walleye had been illegally transplanted into Lake DeSmet, weve been asked this question. And the answer comes down to biology and habitat. Young walleye forage on zooplankton and insects until they are about 4-5 inches, but switch to larger forage, such as small minnows, as they grow. Like all predators, they require more and larger forage as they mature. A 21 inch walleye can eat another fish 1/3 its body length (7 inch stocked trout goes down nicely). A trout is the ice crme cone of a walleye diet compared to eating a deep bodied, spiny-rayed perch. If they survive, they become apex predators, meaning that as adults they eat just about every fish around, and aside from a few lucky birds, mammals, and people, not much else preys on them. Because of their feeding habits, a key to supporting a good walleye fishery is an abundant fish forage base. Spawning is another critical element. Walleye spawn over clean, well-washed cobble
