Walleye Alliance Creel Surveys

Walleye fishing in Minnesota is changing faster than at any point in the last half-century. Advances in fishing technology, increased pressure on popular lakes, and shifting angler values are raising an important question:

How do we protect the resource while preserving opportunity?

In 2025, the Walleye Alliance partnered with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Central Lakes College natural resources students to conduct modern creel surveys on three Brainerd Lakes area fisheries. These surveys help fill critical data gaps on lakes that have seen growing pressure but limited recent survey work due to agency resource constraints.

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Creel surveys collect real-world information directly from anglers, including:

• Fishing effort and catch rates

• Harvest and release trends

• Forward-facing sonar use and experience

• Angler opinions on regulations, including the proposed 4-fish walleye limit

 

These surveys provide valuable insight into how Minnesota’s walleye fisheries are evolving and help ensure anglers remain part of the management conversation.

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