Chaumont Bay Juvie Walleyes 101

[Susquinola]

I have been researching as much as possible about walleye fishing in Chaumont Bay.  Some things seems obvious while other things don't seem to add up.  Simply put, the big sluts are in early to spawn, as expected, and are gone by early to mid May.  The deadbeat dads soon follow and appear hard to catch by June.  What seems odd is the conflicting information I see about a hold-over population of walleye juvies from previous year-class that are too small to travel and play in the deep water.

 

I can only draw a comparison to BOQ in Ontario, a water I have fished extensively the past 10 years.  The Chaumont Bay hydro chart tells me there are plenty of weed beds shallow and deep for juvies to hang out all Summer long, yet the information I found states those areas are filled with Pike, Muskie, and Smallies instead.  I scratch my head over that and wonder if the juvies Walleye are just not targeted.  I'm guessing like BOQ, the shad come in after the spawns and feast on the eggs, then the tide turns on them, and they become the preferred feast of all species.  This should fatten up those juvie walleye and make them nice and husky by August. But no one talks about them.

 

I love catching 'eyes of all sizes but only enjoy eating a certain size range.  Give me a limit of 18-24's and I have a bag of filets.  Give me a 13 pounder and I have a potential wall-hanger.  Give me anything between and I have a great fight, memory, and picture as it goes back to the water to do what it does best.  I call them too big for the pan and too small for the wall.

 

Given this information, am I correct to believe there is a hold-over population of juvies in that 18-24" range?  Or, like the shad, do they become forage themselves?

 

[Kevin J Legg]

The  Chaumont, Black River Bay fish do seem to disappear by the end of May. I fish the Alex Bay region of the St Lawrence from around July 4th through the fall and catch a mixed bag, many 20-26" walleyes with a few smaller and a some in the 8-10 pound range. Interestingly, seldom do I catch any under 16".

 In August there is some excellent fishing on some deeper shoals like Charity and Galoo Island in 30-50 fow out in the lake on both the US and Canadian side. These are often 8-12 pound fish and I believe are the same fish we catch latter in the fall (before ice up) in BOQ not the juveniles. I also have fished BOQ for many years and catch many smaller fish(eaters) in the spring and pigs in the fall and through the ice. It certainly appears the larger fish roam out into the big lake in the summer and early fall and return in late fall. Both Quinte and Chaumont had good ice fishing last winter and good spring fishing as well. Could some of the Chaumont, Black River Bay fish be roaming down into the river to feed on the abundant gobies? I'm not certain as there is a good population throughout the river and an excellent population down by Ogdensburg and Lisbon. Incidentally last winter many small sub 18" fish were caught down near Ogdensburg likely due to there stocking program.

 I'm fortunate to live in a great area for both eaters and trophies and I agree that the ones 18-24" are the best to eat. I also agree in "releasing a pig too big for the pan and too small for the wall". I've caught many over 10# but have yet to hang a 13# and I'm not certain I'll get her mount when it happens. 

 It would certainly be interesting to do a tag study on these fish to learn exactly where they are roaming.

[Xxx]

Very nice report Kevin, very interesting info there!!!!