FWP AT WORK

Net Repair

CHRIS HURLEY

EVERY APRIL AND MAY we put these Merwin trap nets out on the south end of Canyon Ferry to survey spawning walleye that move into the shallows. The goal is to catch, tag, and then release as many walleye as possible. The surveys give us an idea of which age-classes have reached larger spawning size. And anglers who catch the tagged fish report the tag information to us so we can tell how much the fish are growing and where in the reservoir they go.

These nets take a real beating. They tear as the winds drag them along boulders and old house foundations on the reservoir bottom. I repair nets all summer between doing surveys and other work on reservoirs in this area. Repairing nets isn’t the most exciting thing I do, but it’s necessary to keep them in good condition.