(Orleans)– An annual rite of spring is underway in the Iowa Great Lakes.
Donna Blum of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says gill netting operations are underway at the state fish hatchery in Orleans.
She says they started Friday.
10 crews of 10 people each cast nets on the Iowa Great Lakes to capture Walleye, Northern Pike and Muskies. The fish are spawned and eggs fertilized. The fish are reared in the hatchery and area ponds. Then they’re taken to various lakes throughout the state for stocking. Mumm says they have requests this year for about 50 million walleye eggs. Just where the fish will go is dependant upon research conducted by fish biologists.
Mumm says the gillnetting process will continue the rest of this week, with egg fertilization and rearing continuing the rest of the month. She says the fish hatchery will remain open around the clock while the operations are under way.
