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There are currently some amazing walleyes in Lake Oahe, and many anglers are enjoying the opportunity to catch these fish. If you’ re fishing in water 30 feet or deeper in Lake Oahe or elsewhere, please keep in mind that a released fish that swims away is not always a sign it will survive. •
only way to prevent barotrauma damage and potential mortality in released walleyes is to avoid fishing in deep water.
A more recent( 2022) study in Ontario, Canada, examined short-term( 10 minutes) behavior
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Page 20, Dakota Country, September 2025 of walleyes exhibiting barotrauma when released after being treated with one of four relief methods. There were also walleyes with barotrauma that were not treated and served as controls. The four barotrauma treatments
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E-mail: sales @ adleyenterprises. com 16 Industry Parkway NW Melrose, MN 56352 were venting, and three different descenders: the Fishsaverpro descender, SeaQualizer descender, and a weighted crate descender. To assess the walleye behavior, a biologger was strapped to each fish when released.
Biologgers allowed for determining the orientation of the walleye when descended, their post-release depth, and their activity level. This study found that most vented walleyes were able to swim back to the depth they were caught, while none of the control fish were able to swim down.
Vented walleyes had higher chances than the other treatments of remaining correctly oriented when they returned to the capture depth. Walleyes descended to the capture depth while the various descending methods struggled to maintain their orientation.
This study recommended that walleyes exhibiting barotrauma be treated by venting by someone trained in the proper technique. Again, this study only looked at short-term mortality, and additional research is needed to determine the long-term impacts.
Similar to the 2016 study, the authors indicate the best way to prevent walleye mortality from barotrauma is to avoid fishing in deep water.
Barotrauma is a common issue for walleyes and other fish caught in deep water. The bottom line is that anglers fishing in deep water should try to reduce their impact on the fishery. If you’ re releasing fish caught from depths of 30 feet or more, consider moving to shallower water where barotrauma is less likely.
If you’ re harvesting the fish, catch only what you want or are allowed, then stop fishing or move to shallower water.
There are currently some amazing walleyes in Lake Oahe, and many anglers are enjoying the opportunity to catch these fish. If you’ re fishing in water 30 feet or deeper in Lake Oahe or elsewhere, please keep in mind that a released fish that swims away is not always a sign it will survive. •
www. dakotacountrymagazine. com