Results from the 2013 Fall Walleye Index Netting (FWIN) Surveys in Washington State

Walleye Sander vitreus represents an important fishery resource in Washington and is an incredibly popular sport fish among recreational anglers. Since the 1980s there has been a growing demand for quality Walleye waters in Washington. Routine monitoring and evaluation of sport fisheries is essential in order to make effective and timely management decisions. One aspect of Walleye management is to maximize recreational opportunities for anglers while maintaining healthy, balanced fish communities. This includes recognizing when abundant harvest opportunities exist in Walleye fisheries and ensuring recreational anglers are made aware of these opportunities.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fisheries biologists began monitoring important Walleye populations in Washington in 2002 using the Fall Walleye Index Netting (FWIN) methodology (Morgan 2000). The FWIN methodology was developed in Ontario, Canada as a means of monitoring a wide variety of biological parameters in Walleye populations in a standardized fashion using gill nets.

This report summarizes our findings from the 2013 FWIN surveys in Washington and provides anglers with updates on popular fisheries on FWIN lakes in Washington.