Predation by other fish species also impacts walleye survival rates. Even baitfish species like alewives and gizzard shad, when their populations explode, can devastate stockings by not only feeding directly on the fish, but also out-competing them for limited food sources such as zooplankton.

Sportsmen can be quick to grumble when the fishing gets tough on their home waters. Ultimately though, increasing numbers of game fish such as walleyes isn't as simple as simply stocking more fish.

What follows is a look at several specific waters recommended by the eight area fisheries managers, ones expected to provide the potential for good to excellent walleye fishing this season. Some waters are traditional favorites. Others fall into the sleeper category. The list runs the gamut from large reservoirs to rivers to smaller impoundments. There's something for everyone this year.

Here's a look at the state's walleye fishing on a west to east basis.

WOODCOCK CREEK LAKE
I first fished Woodcock Lake for walleyes several years ago, during the same year nearby Tamarack Lake had been drained for maintenance. Woodcock had a good population of walleyes then, which some attributed to fish salvaged from Tamarack. I've come to find this Northwestern Pennsylvania lake is a steady walleye producer, regardless of the population boost from Tamarack.

Woodcock Creek Lake is a 350-acre U.S. Army Corps of Engineers impoundment in Crawford County near Meadville. According to Al Woomer, it has a high density of legal-sized walleyes as found by 2003 nighttime electro-shocking and trap-netting surveys.

"Walleyes ranged from 9 to 22 inches using both gear types, with most between 15 and 18 inches," Woomer said. "We caught a total of 92 at a rate of 53.48 per hour during our electro-shocking runs. The PFBC stocks 6,500 1- to 2-inch walleye fingerlings annually. This lake has a serious drawdown during the winter ice-fishing season."

Woodcock Lake is about five miles northeast of Meadville. It can be accessed from routes 198 or 96. An excellent launch ramp is near the dam. Boats are limited to 10 horsepower.

KAHLE LAKE
Better known for its excellent largemouth bass fishing and large, though not easy-to-catch, yellow perch, Kahle Lake could fall into the Cinderella category of walleye waters this year. It is a 250-acre PFBC lake on the Clarion-Venango County line between Knox and Emlenton.

"Kahle Lake could be characterized as improved," Woomer noted. "We were pleased by the numbers and size range of the walleyes in this primarily largemouth bass lake. Walleyes ranged from 17 to 28 inches during our 2003 survey, and we caught a total of 47 fish at a rate of 39.17 per hour during night electro-shocking. We stock 5,000 walleye fingerlings annually."

Boats are limited to electric power only. Two good access areas are provided, the Clarion access and Venango access. Both are off Route 38 northwest of Emlenton.

WILHELM LAKE
Once a lake that held good populations of walleyes, including some very large fish, Wilhelm has been off the charts recently as a walleye water. AFM Woomer said this lake, which is highly productive largemouth bass and panfish water, could be on the rebound for marble-eyes.

"This lake has an improved walleye population," he said. "During our 2004 survey, we caught 71 walleyes between 9 and 28 inches mostly with trap nets and they were spread out evenly through the size groups. We stock 1,305,000 walleye fry and 17,000 fingerlings annually."

Lake Wilhelm is a 1,740-acre lake in Goddard State Park in northeastern Mercer County. Easily accessible from Route 173 off Interstate 79, several launch facilities are dotted along the shoreline. The upper portion of the lake is within the state game lands and is limited to non-powered boats. The remainder of the lake is under a 20-horsepower restriction.

PYMATUNING LAKE
Likely the most significant component of the state's walleye fishing picture, Pymatuning Lake has not produced the numbers of fish anglers had been accustomed to, and many folks are grumbling. Still, AFM Craig Billingsley feels the lake will offer excellent walleye fishing this year for the anglers willing to change their tactics to meet the requirements of the population currently found in the lake.