A team from the University of Minnesota is trying to determine whether walleye survive catch and release tournaments. Michigan DNR technicians are assisting the university team in collecting data at this week's event in Escanaba.
The study has analyzed walleye at more than a dozen tournaments over the last two years to determine what factors can lead to walleye deaths. So far, water temperature over 70 degrees has proven to be the most deadly for fish after they're thrown back.
Cooler water, around 50 degrees, helps lower the stress level in the fish resulting in lower mortality. The study will look at one more tournament in Bemidji, Minnesota before a report is published.