The Cedar Valley Walleye Club

Dedicated to Improving Cedar Valley Fisheries

The Cedar Valley Walleye Club was formed in late 2003 by a few dedicated walleye anglers with a shared vision to improve their local fisheries and to provide a vehicle for connecting with fellow anglers. The Club is now an active and growing membership organization.

PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES

1. STOCKING EFFORTS. The Club's initial stocking, during the fall of 2003, was done with the aid of a grant from Wildlife Forever. Approximately 1500 fingerling walleyes were stocked in Brinker Lake f/k/a East Lake. Brinker Lake was stocked again in 2004 this time with Club-raised funds. In 2005 the Club stocked approximately 800 4-6" fingerlings into Big Woods Lake in Cedar Falls. The Club also expanded its stocking efforts outside the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metro area by stocking 200 fingerlings in the Grundy County Lake near Dike. All the stocked fish, except those stocked in the Grundy County Lake, bear a freeze brand. The brand is permanent and will allow the Iowa DNR to identify the fish stocked by the club from those stocked by the DNR. These initial stockings should be reaching the 10-17" range by the Fall of 2006. During a recent electric shocking survey of Brinker Lake by the DNR, over half the walleyes surveyed were those stocked by the club.

2. ASSISTING THE DNR AND THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. The Club has assisted the Iowa DNR in placing fish habitat into Brinker lake. Clubmembers arranged the donation of cement blocks and other materials necessary for the placement of the habitat structures. The Club has also provided staffing and promotional assistance to the DNR at the annual trout stocking event at North Prairie Lake in Cedar Falls (scheduled for March 18th this year). The Club has also contributed $500 towards the construction costs of a floating structure used by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to raise native mussels. One of these structures will be placed in George Wyth Lake this spring and the other will be placed in an oxbow lake formed by the Cedar River on the grounds of the Hartman Reserve.

3. RAISING FUNDS AND HAVING FUN. The Club holds a series of fishing tournaments for its members. Part of the revenue raised is retained by the Club for use with its ongoing activities. The top point earners may qualify for the Cabelas National Team championship. In 2005 a single 2 person team was selected by Cabelas to participate in the tournament. In 2006, two teams were selected to participate, due to the Club's increasing membership and tournament participation.

4. ENCOURAGING YOUTH. The Club has held a youth fishing clinic with the help of the Boys and Girls Club of Black Hawk County. We plan to make this an annual event for the community.