Cedar Valley Walleye Club

Here are the detailed results of the Storm Lake tournament, as well as a few big fish photos.

2026 Storm Lake Results

Congratulations:
1st Place Tyler Dilley and Mark Johns.
2nd Place Jay Dietz and Craig Schmitt.
3rd Place Scott Schipper and Tony Patterson.
4th Place Cody Thompson and Jay Thompson.
5th Place Heath Bradley and Ashton Bradley.

Sign up by the end of the day Monday, May 25 to avoid the late fee. No entries will be accepted after 6:30 Friday.

Our next tournament will be May 30 on Storm Lake. Sign up soon on our website at https://www.cedarvalleywalleyeclub.org/tournaments.html

This tournament has been rescheduled for June 27. Sign up now on our website.
https://www.cedarvalleywalleyeclub.org/tournaments.html

On May 4th, 2026, two members of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (Mike Siepker, Dan Kirby) gave a presentation to the Cedar Valley Walleye Club (CVWC) regarding the current and future status of interior river walleye stocking. This presentation was recorded and is available below.

Overview:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the past, river walleyes were stocked at the Fairport Fish Hatchery, near Muscatine on the Mississippi River. This facility is over 100 years old and utilizes outdoor ponds, which have been susceptible to AIS (Aquatic Invasive Species), predators, and aquatic rodents. Ultimately, AIS concerns forced the Fairport Fish Hatchery to stop production of non-Mississippi-bound fish in Fall 2024.

Near-term (2025-2030), interior river walleye will be sourced from Rathbun, Decorah, and Genoa fish hatcheries. Unfortunately, the expected supply will be lower than the DNRs annual desired amount, which is ~100k annually. In recent years, the DNR received ~60-100k walleye fry/fingerling for interior river stocking. (Generally 80-100k, but 1 year was reduced due to flooding). In 2025, the DNR received only 7,420 walleye for stocking, which was a direct result of the decision to no longer utilize the Fairport Fish Hatchery in Fall 2024.

Long term (2030), the DNR is investing in a new RAS (Recirculating Aquaculture System) that will allow fish to be raised indoors, in a controlled environment. This will allow for better survival of fry/fingerlings, reduction or elimination of AIS, and easier management of aquatic disease. The first river RAS will be set up at Big Spring Fish hatchery on the Turkey River, near Elkader, IA.

Iowa interior river walleye populations remain healthy, but will see a reduction in stocking over the next several years until the RAS is finished. The RAS units are expensive, but arguably less than the alternative - which is digging and maintaining fish in manmade ponds. The current best course of action to help the DNR with interior river walleye stocking is funding. The Cedar Valley Walleye Club recently donated $1,580 (a combination of donated money and club money) to the RAS project.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Iowa DNR Presentation on Interior River Walleye Stocking On May 4th, 2026, two members of the Iowa DNR (Mike Siepker, Dan Kirby) gave a presentation to the Cedar Valley Walleye Club (CVWC) regarding the current and...

Thank you to Mike Siepker and Dan Kirby for the Northeast Iowa River Walleye presentation at our meeting tonight. Lots of information and clarification on what the DNR is doing to continue stocking river walleyes.

Our next tournament will be May 30 on Storm Lake. Sign up soon on our website at https://www.cedarvalleywalleyeclub.org/tournaments.html

Congratulations to Jeremy Ruehle and George Keller on their first place win at the Cedar Valley Walleye Club Clear Lake Tournament! They weighed in 23.38lbs with a big fish of 6.97lbs!! Thank you to all the teams who participated and braved the winds/temps!!

🌡 Clear Lake water temp is hovering around 50 degrees. With the warm weather this week, the spawn should be wrapping up. The forecast has a cold front moving in this weekend.

🚤 McIntosh and Lynne Lorenzen boat docks are staged to be put in soon (stay tuned).

🚽 Bathrooms are expected to be opened this week.

CVWC - How to capture and upload fish photos with your phone. ‼️Brief Summary of Important Changes for 2026‼️1️⃣Your cell phone(s) will be used to capture photos of your fish to be scored (see video below). If you are u...