BPHS science research students tag 1,000 walleye in ongoing lake study

On Tuesday, Nov. 18, students in Brian Henry’s science research class at Broadalbin-Perth High School tagged 1,000 fingerling walleye as part of a multi-year study of Great Sacandaga Lake.

“This is the third year of our GSL walleye tagging campaign, and we are excited to be contributing to the improvement of the lake’s fishery,” Henry said. 

Students used Visible Implant Elastomer (VIE) to permanently tag the walleye. The harmless latex dye is injected into juvenile fish, allowing researchers and anglers to track their growth. Different colors indicate details about the study, including the year the fish were tagged: pink for 2023, yellow for 2024, and blue for 2025. Each tag is placed behind the fish’s left eye.

“VIE will allow us to see how quickly or slowly the walleye are growing in the GSL,” Henry said. “My students are making real scientific contributions to the Great Sacandaga Lake, and the data they have collected over the past five years has brought a lot of clarity regarding the growth, behavior, and genetics of the walleye that live there.”

The tagging program is part of a partnership with the Great Sacandaga Lake Fisheries Federation and operates under a NYS Department of Environmental Conservation permit. Students work alongside community partners to monitor the lake’s walleye population, which is historically slower-growing than the statewide average.

Anglers are encouraged to report any tagged walleye catches at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2023gslwalleye. Data collected from these reports provides students with critical real-world information for ongoing research.

Click here to learn more about Broadalbin-Perth High School’s science research program.