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Name:	Aardvark -	Reply
Subject:	Unusual fish
Date:	3/12/2007 10:57:28 PM

Okay, everyone, I have a question for you all. What is the most unusual fish that you have caught in Lake Martin? I am wondering what people are catching or have caught besides the usual bass, stripers, crappie, etc, and if there are enough of them to make it worth the effort to try and catch them myself. So, has anyone caught anyting that one wouldn't normally expect to find in the lake, like that state record grass carp, walleye(they are actually native to the Tallapoosa River) or a madtom?(my most unusual-it is a strangely shaped catfish relative-I caught it while catching suckers by hand back in my braver days)

Name:	alahusker -	Reply
Subject:	Unusual fish
Date:	3/14/2007 4:35:35 PM

How yellow perch??? Caught several last spring while crappie fishing off my dock... Probably should not have been suprised, but did not think they were native to the lake...

Name:	Nutin Bitein -	Reply
Subject:	Unusual fish
Date:	3/16/2007 6:25:37 PM

walleye???? Has any one ever caught one ? Is there a state record for walleye here in Alabama? They are a great tasting fish. Much like Perch.

Name:	Aardvark -	Reply
Subject:	Unusual fish
Date:	3/17/2007 11:53:09 PM

Actually, several former state record walleye came from the lower Tallapoosa River below Thurlow Dam. I believe that the current record came from Weiss Lake. The state just started stocking Lake Mitchell in an attempt to restore a declining population there. Walleye are native to the entire Mobile River Basin, so it is possible that Lake Martin had a walleye population at one time. Who knows, there could still be a stray or two on the loose. As for the yellow perch, I haven't caught one from Martin yet, but I know that they made their way into the lake from upstream a few years ago. So, does anybody else have a "How did THAT get in here" story? Snakeheads? Carp that jump into the boat? Eels?

Name:	alahusker -	Reply
Subject:	Unusual fish
Date:	3/20/2007 10:00:32 AM

Never caught a walleye here either... caught many of them while during northern assignments... qualified for a master fishing award in Nebraska with an 8# fish... Fish does indeed taste like perch.... because it is... although it's often called a walleye pike, it is actually a member (subgroup) of the perch family... Might sugggest to DNR that they consider stocking them, but would guess the lake gets too warm to support a population...

Name:	Aardvark -	Reply
Subject:	Unusual fish
Date:	3/21/2007 12:00:29 AM

According to the map at outdooralabama.com, some of the biggest walleye concentrations were actually down the Alabama River, so I don't see a problem with water temps. Perhaps if the Lake Mitchell stocking project is successful, then eventually they will expand it to Martin. I would like to try some fresh caught Lake Martin Walleye fillets someday.

Name:	Nutin Bitein -	Reply
Subject:	Unusual fish
Date:	3/21/2007 8:52:13 AM

That would be great.

Name:	alahusker -	Reply
Subject:	Unusual fish
Date:	3/21/2007 10:31:08 AM

Posed the question (walleyes in Lake Martin?) to an Auburn 'fisheries guy' ... will let y'all know if he responds...

Terry Burke

Name:	alahusker -	Reply
Subject:	Unusual fish
Date:	3/23/2007 3:38:03 PM

Here's the latest tuff on this thread.... Former is from the State fisheries guy in response to the questions I posed re. walleyes and yellow perch on our lake...

I asked a fisheries Professor at Auburn similiar Q's? in and earlier Email .. He indicated that we might be in a borderline 'thermal limit' situation here on Martin... (translates to too friggin hot, I guess) Suspected that might be the case, but given the extreme depths of the lake, seems conceivable to me the Lake might support a population... Will track the Mitchell deal and see whatzzzup with the program...

Both of these guys were great... Very rsponsive and informative... They obviously love their professions.... Getting paid to fish... who wouldn't ????

Regards,

Burke

----- Original Message -----
From: "Greene, Chris" <Chris.Greene@dcnr.alabama.gov>
To: "Terry Burke" <terryburke1@charter.net>
Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2007 9:09 AM
Subject: RE: Lake Martin

Mr. Burke,

We have been attempting to collect walleye broodfish for spawning
purposes out of Lake Mitchell the past few years with moderate success.
Walleye have been historically caught from Hatchet Creek, but due to
habitat degradation the population there is low in abundance. In April
2006, as a result of hatchery spawning, 6,500 fingerling walleye were
stocked back into Lake Mitchell. It's too early to tell how successful
those stockings were since the fish are still relatively small. Our
efforts will continue to be focused in this area, but at some point we
may expand the project to other waters. It just depends on our success
in Lake Mitchell.

As for the yellow perch, they have become established over the last few
years on the entire Tallapoosa River stretch including Lake Martin.
This fish is similar to walleye, although doesn't get as big. They are
also a very good tasting fish, so be sure to try them if you haven't
already. The problem is catching fish big enough to filet.

Good Luck,

J. Chris Greene
District Fisheries Supervisor
Alabama Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries
1820 Glynwood Drive, Suite C
Prattville, AL 36066
(334) 358-0035

-----Original Message-----
From: Terry Burke [mailto:terryburke1@charter.net]
Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2007 8:24 AM
To: Greene, Chris
Subject: Fw: Lake Martin

Chris,

Believe you are in the loop with this if you received the forwarded
email from Dr. Wright.

I am curious about the status of the Mitchell walleye stocking and if
any consideration is being given to a similar effort here on Martin...

I am also wondering about the yellow perch we caught last year... As I
recall we boated a total of 5 last spring.. I have been a Lake resident
for many years, and it was a first...

Regards,

Terry Burke

Name:	catfishn -	Reply
Subject:	Unusual fish
Date:	3/27/2007 5:19:16 PM

I have caught 40lb grass carp in the Blue creek area, if this is any help to your orginal question.

Name:	8hcap -	Reply
Subject:	Unusual fish
Date:	4/9/2007 6:13:17 PM

we caught a small yellow perch yesterday while catfishing from our pier in the Kowaliga area of the Lake. Will be nice to catch a mess of them to fry up.

8

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