2003 Wildlife Forever
Masters Walleye Circuit Grants Program

In 2003, Wildlife Forever was pleased to partner with the Masters Walleye Circuit to provide a total of $5,065 in grants to four sport-fishing organizations. The grants were in support of the organizations quality efforts to sustain walleye populations and habitat. Following is a breakdown of funded projects:

The Bay de Noc Sports Fishermen, Inc. received a grant of $2,000 for their continued operation of the Peterson Walleye Rearing Pond in Delta County, Michigan. The goal of the project is to supplement the Michigan Department of Natural Resources walleye stocking program that was initiated on Big and Little Bays de Noc, located in the northwest portion of Lake Michigan, and to return the walleye population in the Bays to a healthy level that will be self-sustaining through natural reproduction. The Peterson Walleye Rearing Pond helps a high percentage of walleye fry to mature to a fingerling state. The Bay de Noc Sports Fishermen, Inc. expect to release as many 250,000 fingerlings into the Bays this year.
Project Contact: Dan Kotowski at (906) 786-2843.


The Cedar Valley Walleye Club received a grant of $1,000 for walleye stocking projects in small lakes in Black Hawk County, Iowa. The project is a collaborative effort with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to establish walleye in lakes that currently have small and vulnerable populations. Approximately 1,500 fingerlings will be released this fall. The fingerlings will be freeze branded before their release for later identification. The IDNR expects a self-sustaining walleye population to emerge by the year 2005.
Project Contact: Doug Newhoff at (319) 232-4795.

The Citizens for Big Stone Lake received a grant of $1,065 to benefit their Conservation Fund for Big Stone Lake. The lake straddles the border between Minnesota and South Dakota and the Conservation Fund will be used for various projects, including the maintenance of the fish hatchery in South Dakota, rip rap of portions of the lake��s shoreline, and a nearby wetland project.
Project Contact: Will Hansen at (320) 839-6222.

Fishing Friends Forever received a grant of $1,000 for their walleye-stocking project on Little Green Lake in Green Lake County, Wisconsin. The project will benefit from Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources input and will stock the lake with approximately 1000 walleye fingerlings. The fingerlings' fins will be clipped upon stocking to allow for later identification and monitoring of the project's progress. The return of a self-sustaining walleye population in Little Green Lake is the expected result of the project.
Project Contact: Bill Liesenfeld at (920) 398-2113.

An additional $5000+ dollars raised are being spent on national conservation efforts promoting fishing and fish conservation through Wildlife Forever.

Remember -- $15 of every tournament entry goes directly to conservation efforts.


[This message has been edited by Kristine Houtman (edited 11-17-2003).]