12,550 Walleye Released into Westport’s Sand Lake

Sand Lake in Westport received a major boost to its walleye population on Sept. 24, when the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF), with support from volunteers from the Westport Area Outdoors Association (WAOA), released 12,550 walleye fingerlings into the lake. The fish arrived in seven oxygenated transport tanks from the White Lake Fish Culture Station in Sharbot Lake, where the fish were hatched in May.

Pam Stewart, a hatchery staff member, noted the young walleye were “almost six months old at the time of the release,” making fall stocking ideal for their transition into open water. Nathan Badry, resource management co-ordinator for the MNRF’s Kemptville–Kingston District, said the Sand Lake stocking is part of Ontario’s long-running Put-Grow-Take program, a strategy designed to maintain recreational fishing opportunities in lakes where natural walleye reproduction is limited.

“Decisions around stocking locations are guided by fisheries management plans and science-based assessments,” Nathan explained. “Sand Lake is stocked to provide better recreational walleye angling opportunities, with the number of fish stocked based on ministry guidelines and on-site assessment by experts.” He emphasized that stocking helps reduce pressure on naturally reproducing walleye populations, which face multiple stressors. “Walleye populations can be affected by a range of factors, including fishing, habitat loss, invasive species, and changing climate conditions,” noted Nathan.

The ministry also stocked roughly 8,500 fall fingerlings in Upper Rideau Lake in 2025 as part of ongoing efforts to support regional fisheries.

Members of the Westport Area Outdoors Association (WAOA) were on hand to help transfer the fish from the shoreline to deeper water. This step improves survival odds for the small fingerlings. When the ministry found itself one boat short, WAOA member and Westport resident Philip Hammond stepped up and provided his own boat to help ensure a smooth and timely release.

WAOA President Tom Myatt, a member for 10 years and president for the past five, said the partnership with the ministry is long-standing and rooted in conservation. The club, founded in the mid-1980s, took over the old Westport fish hatchery decades ago and has since contributed to streambed rehabilitation, installed nesting boxes for wood ducks and bluebirds, assisted with wild turkey reintroduction, and collaborated with Watersheds Canada.

The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters supports the club’s work with an annual grant. “The club would not be able to operate without the support of the OFAH,” said longtime member Mike Fay, who has been with WAOA for 18 years.

In addition to supporting the ministry, WAOA continues its own stocking program, Mike noted, adding that this past June the club released about 9,000 walleye fingerlings raised at the Westport ponds into Upper Rideau Lake. When asked why so many walleye, Mike said the need is clear. “From my general knowledge, I can say that the walleye fishery is under pressure in eastern Ontario from a combination of factors: climate change that is leading to warmer waters that are not as suitable for walleye; predation from other fish including bass and northern pike, which are doing better in the warmer waters; and angling pressure.”

He further noted that an MNR survey roughly a decade ago showed Upper Rideau’s walleye were under strain. “That is one of the reasons the WAOA was asked to put our fingerlings into Upper Rideau. We used to stock Sand Lake up until about five years ago.”

Nathan from MNRF confirmed that Sand Lake is classified as a Put-and-Take lake, meaning natural reproduction is not strong enough to sustain angling demand. “Ontario stocks fish only in waterbodies that have suitable habitat conditions to support fish survival and growth,” he said. “To minimize stress, we stock fish when the water temperature in the hatchery and the receiving waters are as close as possible.”

However, he added that there is no reliable way to estimate how many stocked fingerlings survive to adulthood. The ministry tracks angling activity, catch rates, harvest levels, and angler satisfaction through the provincial recreational angling survey, conducted every five years. Anglers are also encouraged to report their fishing activity through Fish ON-Line, helping the ministry evaluate how well stocking programs meet management goals.

While MNRF is certainly making a big impact in boosting walleye populations in Westport, WAOA is also doing its part, with only 30 current members volunteering. Mike Fay notes that the club is busiest from late March through early July, and he and Tom say the group is always looking for new volunteers, especially people passionate about conservation, fishing, and the outdoors.

Those interested in joining can contact Tom Myatt at tmyatt@rideau.net or Mike Fay at mpjfay@yahoo.ca. As Mike put it, the work is meaningful and urgently needed: “The walleye fishery is under pressure,” and “We’re doing what we can to help.” And if all goes as planned, Westport’s anglers might have a few more “big fish” stories to talk about in the coming years.

By Tanya Hammond, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Review Mirror