Smallies/Walleye in same small stream?

This fall my favorite smallie stream had some large walleyes move into the area. After talking with other fisherman who had the same experience (non fly fisherman) we are questioning if this might hurt the smallie population in this small, shallow stream. I spoke with the DNR specialists and they say the smallie population shouldn't be hurt. They also encouraged me to harvest the walleyes but were very surprised when I told them that only walleyes 17 inches or bigger were being caught. Anyone out there gone through something like this?
I've had fisherman say it will hurt the smallie population and others say to enjoy the bonus of walleye on occasions.:confused:

I have found it very common for smallies and wallys to share the same water. very common in catarac falls in Indiana and several other waters I have fished.

Most of the smallmouth water I fish has walleye and/or sauger as well. In fact in most cases they were there first and the smallmouth introduced more recently. The smallies have not only taken root, but are thriving in most of those places. In fact in one reservoir here, the local are worried that the smallies might be hurting the walleye and white bass population instead of the other way around.

Like others have said, walleyes and smallies co-exist in most of the rivers here.
There was a nearby river that had smallmouth but no walleyes in it, then a dam on an ISU research pond broke, and a few hundred nice-sized walleyes ended up in the river. Fishermen thought they'd found HEAVEN. Within a year or so, the walleye were harvested, and reports of walleyes in that river ceased. The smallies are still there, however.

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Originally Posted by FishnDave

Within a year or so, the walleye were harvested, and reports of walleyes in that river ceased.

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Boy, that's a shame. I have only had walleye a few times but I remember it being almost as good as crappie. But I had it in a restaurant in MN, with a good southern cook it might be as good, I don't think they had hushpuppies up there.

:o)
I'm not trying to start a fight, Uncle Jesse, but I think FRESH walleye ranks #1, with Crappie a VERY close #2! ;o)

The only time I keep walleye is during our every-other-year fishing trip to Canada. Then we eat fresh walleyes for dinner each evening, and it is just FANTASTIC! We alternate between deep-fat frying in batter, and throwing it on the grill wrapped in tinfoil with butter, onions and spices. Sweet ambrosia! We don't bring any home, but we sure enjoy it while there.

They are both tops for freshwater fish dining. There are many delicious saltwater species...one of the best I've tasted was Cobia, a fish that loves to eat crab meat!

The trick to good hush puppies: Scoop the batter out with a spoon but DO NOT form them into a ball!! Just dump the batter in the way it falls off the spoon(may need to facilitate the fall with a finger). That way you will have nice, crispy little edges. Fry a little, turn them over and let them finish cooking. YUM!!

The secret ingredient: Butter milk

Wulff that's just one of the tricks, and an important one making the hushpuppie too large is a common error, especially as large fish frys. My sister in law, who gets lots of practice makes the best hushpuppies I have ever had. One of her ingredients is chopped tomatoes. I think a good Mexican cornbread type mixture would also add to the dish, a few jalapeno never hurt.

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Originally Posted by Big Bad Wulff

The trick to good hush puppies: Scoop the batter out with a spoon but DO NOT form them into a ball!! Just dump the batter in the way it falls off the spoon(may need to facilitate the fall with a finger). That way you will have nice, crispy little edges. Fry a little, turn them over and let them finish cooking. YUM!!

The secret ingredient: Butter milk

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Buttermilk is a secret incredient? I thought it was compulsory.

Ed