Shift happens: Evaluating the ability of autumn stocked walleye <i>Sander vitreus</i> to shift to natural prey

Hatchery propagation techniques, such as pellet-rearing, can result in altered feeding behaviour. Walleye Sander vitreus (Mitchill) is a commonly propagated sportfish, yet little known regarding its ability to switch live prey post-stocking. The objectives were evaluate temporal changes diet composition and condition well the relationship between total length presence of different consumed by stocked walleye fry fingerlings. Fingerling had higher average proportions empty stomachs benthic invertebrates but less fish that fry. zooplankton, or was not related length. similar cohorts did change over days Percent similarity index values variable (0.0 67.9%). It concluded fingerlings consume lower quality items than counterparts at least up 49-day post-stocking, which may have implications for post-stocking survival.