REGIONAL—The impact of a couple weak year classes may finally be catching up with Lake Vermilion’s walleye population.

The latest gillnetting survey conducted by the Department of Natural Resources tallied a lakewide average of 10.8 fish per net, a sharp reduction from the 18.3 fish-per-net average in 2013.

While a catch of 10.8 walleye per net would be great news on most Minnesota lakes, for a powerhouse walleye producer like Vermilion, it’s the lowest number since 1993.

“It reminds me a bit of the saying on Prairie Home Companion,” said Duane Williams, large lake specialist at the DNR’s area headquarters in Tower. “But you can’t always be above average.”

Yet Vermilion had been on a roll lately, enjoying consistently above-average walleye numbers for almost two decades. Indeed, walleye numbers have run above the long-term average of just under 15 walleye-per-net for 13 of the last 18 years.

According to Williams, a weak 2009-year class is having a noticeable impact on the numbers currently, but he said that’s all part of the normal fluctuation within fish populations. Cool springs and summers tend to reduce walleye reproduction, said Williams, and the very cool summer weather in 2009 apparently followed that pattern.

At the same time, DNR test nets captured fewer walleye from the strong 2010 and 2011-year classes, which had comprised a hefty share of Vermilion’s walleye population in the 2013 census. Williams said fishing pressure could be one reason for the drop in those numbers, since fish from those year classes were the most sought by anglers over the past year or two. But the DNR’s creel survey last summer showed fewer anglers plying Vermilion’s waters, and recorded an estimated harvest of 45,400 pounds, well below the lake’s safe harvest level of 65,000-pounds.

Williams said last year’s late ice-out and continued cold weather in May and June likely suppressed some fishing pressure last year.

“I’m not too concerned about it at this point,” said Williams.

And Williams said the survey did find a silver lining in the 2012-year class, which appears to be very strong. While those fish may be a bit small to attract most anglers this summer, he said they could be in the “eater-sized” range by fall.

The survey also showed that Vermilion maintains a strong population of larger fish, no doubt a result of the protected slot that kicks in at 18 inches. Walleye numbers in the 19-22 inch range were well above average and helped push the average size of a Lake Vermilion walleye to 14.3 inches, itself well above the long-term mean.