"We met our goal, but it was one of our longest seasons because of the weather," Weigel said. "The walleye spawn was especially difficult because of cold, windy days."

The weather cooperated for the northern pike take, as the spawning run occurred relatively fast because of warm days in April. "Eggs were equally split between Lake Ashtabula and Devils Lake," Weigel said, "and the quality was good."

After hatching, fry were stocked in hatchery production ponds, and will be distributed as fingerlings to waters around the state by the end of May.

Even though fisheries crews surpassed their goal by collecting 48 million walleye eggs, weather conditions from late April to mid-May didn't make it easy. "It was not a good run because of poor weather conditions," Weigel said. "There was never a calm day. Our crews were constantly fighting cold temperatures and windy conditions."

Crews were able to take 27 million eggs from Lake Sakakawea, and 21 million from Devils Lake. "Working conditions led to few eggs, which is why we had to be out there almost a month to achieve our goal," Weigel said. "Water temperatures dropped more than 10 degrees in a week, and when you have a water temperature of 39 degrees the first week in May, it really works against the walleye spawn."

Despite the weather, fisheries crews were able to come to the aid of another state by taking extra eggs. " Pennsylvania put out a request for help because they had a difficult year and couldn't meet their stocking needs," Weigel said. "They have been such a great partner, providing us with fingerling tiger muskie for a number of years."

It's not unusual for other states to put in a call to North Dakota for help, Weigel said. "We are the last of the lower 48 states to take walleye eggs," he added. "We have developed good relationships with other states. The help goes both ways."