2002 walleye egg-take at Fort Peck Reservoir wrapping up

The annual walleye egg-take on Fort Peck Reservoir is winding down as winterlike conditions persist.

A total of 80 million walleye eggs were collected in spite of one of the worst springs since the effort began back in the mid-1980s. Depending on the final tally, this year's take is likely to rank sixth or seventh best.

Late ice-off and continued wind and cool temperatures threatened to drastically hamper FWP fisheries personnel in attaining the previous 10-year average egg-take of 74 million. Trapping for spawning walleye began on April 15 and was expected to culminate sometime last week, as soon as personnel could access McGuire Creek road, where FWP was staging this spring's effort.

Volunteers provided nearly 90 person-days this season. In addition to the Fort Peck fisheries crew and volunteers, other FWP personnel provided 28 additional days.