Walleye Fingerling Culture in Earthen and Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer‐Lined Ponds

Abstract Production of walleyes Sander vitreus in extensive culture ponds may be variable depending on pond substrate. The goal of this research was to determine whether fish performance and physiochemical differences existed between ponds lined with ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) and ponds with earthen substrate during extensive walleye culture at Blue Dog State Fish Hatchery, South Dakota. Walleye performance measures were compared between the two pond substrates across two culture seasons (2008 and 2009), and walleye food habits were compared between pond substrates for 2009 only. Physiochemical variables and zooplankton abundance were compared between pond types each year, and larval chironomid abundance was compared between pond types for 2009 only. Walleye survival was not affected by pond substrate; however, walleye yield was significantly greater in EPDM-lined ponds than in earthen ponds during 2008 (lined: 75.0 kg/ha; earthen: 32.5 kg/ha) and 2009 (lined: 52.5 kg/ha; earthen: 21.3 kg/ha)...