The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has officially begun its annual walleye collection season, with crews already working at Rathbun Lake and along the Mississippi River. In the coming days, collection efforts will expand to Storm Lake, East Okoboji Lake, and Spirit Lake as conditions become favorable.
Each spring, Iowa DNR Fisheries Bureau staff set gillnets overnight in traditional spawning areas to capture walleyes that are ready to reproduce. The process typically happens at night and continues into the early morning hours, with hatchery teams working well past midnight to process the nightly catch.
Once the fish are brought in, staff carefully extract eggs from mature walleyes before safely returning them to the water to ensure the fish can continue their natural spawning cycle. This careful process allows the DNR to collect the necessary eggs while protecting the long-term health of the fish populations.
The goal this season is to gather enough eggs to produce approximately 104 million walleye fry. These young fish will be raised and eventually stocked into lakes and hatcheries across Iowa, helping support the state’s popular fishing opportunities.
Both the Rathbun Fish Hatchery and Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery are currently open to the public. Visitors are encouraged to contact each hatchery directly for current hours and tour availability before planning a visit.
For more information about Iowa’s fisheries and hatchery programs, visit the Iowa DNR website or contact your local hatchery.
