WALKER, MN – With fishing opener just weeks away, now is the time to buy a Walleye Stamp or two and support better walleye fishing in Minnesota.
The $5 Walleye Stamp is not required to fish or keep walleye in Minnesota. However, it raises money to supplement the state’s walleye stocking efforts, and that’s especially important this year.
On April 14, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced it canceled its 2020 egg taking operations for walleye and other species due to COVID-19 and established social distancing guidelines.
The result: fish stocking efforts in the state will be greatly reduced this year.
Stocking helps the state maintain fish populations over time, particularly with species like walleye that are generally harvested by anglers.
Monies raised through Walleye Stamp sales are used by the DNR to purchase young walleye from private fish farms for stocking in state waters.
Last year, Walleye Stamp sales raised less than $90,000. The DNR spent an additional $800,000 to purchase private stock to supplement their own supply of walleye.
“Purchasing a Walleye Stamp this year will help maintain walleye numbers in high priority lakes at a time when that help is needed,” said MN-FISH Sportfishing Foundation president Ron Schara. “It also offers anglers a
chance to go beyond simply buying a fishing license to improve their own luck.”
The Minnesota Walleye Stamp endorsement is available year-round from the DNR website and outlets across the state that sell Minnesota fishing licenses. Ordering one when you purchase your fishing license is easy.