Lower Niagara Walleye Head Collection: How Anglers Can Help DEC
If a legal Lower Niagara walleye is headed for your table this fall, the part you normally throw away can help answer an important fishery question. New York DEC is asking anglers to save whole heads so biologists can compare the wild and stocked contribution to the fishable population. The collection is active in the agency's September 18 to 25, 2026 fishing update, right when current Lower Niagara reports say drift anglers are catching good numbers of walleye. Here is the no-guesswork version of what to save, what to write down, and where to take it.
Quick links: Why this matters now | What DEC needs | Where to drop it off | What goes on the label | Mistakes to avoid | Before you fish
Why This Walleye Collection Matters Right Now
DEC's current western New York fishing hotline says the agency needs samples from harvested walleye taken in the Lower Niagara River and Lake Ontario near the river. The purpose is specific: estimate the proportion of wild and stocked walleye using that fishery. A spring report on the larger collection effort said biologists planned to use otolith microchemistry and sought at least 100 fish from each participating water.
Otoliths are small structures in a fish's inner ear. Researchers can analyze them for information that helps separate stocked fish from naturally produced fish. That gives managers better evidence about how much each source contributes. One donated head is not the whole answer, but a properly labeled group of samples can show a pattern that catch stories alone cannot.
The timing is practical, too. A September 23 Lower Niagara report said drift fishermen were catching good numbers of walleye, with worm harnesses producing fish. That does not mean anyone should keep a fish just for the study. Release every fish you do not intend to eat. If you make a legal harvest you already planned to keep, saving the head turns the unused portion into useful data.
Exactly What DEC Needs From a Kept Fish
Keep the entire head. You can fillet the fish normally, sever the head from the spine, place it in a bag, and bring it to one of the designated freezers. Do not try to remove the otoliths yourself. The biologists need the head so they can do that work in a controlled setting.
- Confirm the fish is a legal harvest from the Lower Niagara River or Lake Ontario near the river.
- Record the catch details while they are fresh in your mind.
- Fillet the fish as you normally would, then remove and save the whole head.
- Use one of the bags and labels supplied at the collection freezer.
- Place the labeled sample in the freezer at Lewiston or Fort Niagara State Park.
Keep the sample cool and handle it like any other fish remains until you reach the freezer. A small permanent marker in the tackle bag is worth carrying because a clear label is what connects the tissue sample to a place, date, and fish length.
Lower Niagara Drop-Off Locations
| Location | What is available |
|---|---|
| Village of Lewiston Fish Cleaning Station | Collection freezer, bags, and labels |
| Fort Niagara State Park Fish Cleaning Station in Youngstown | Collection freezer, bags, and labels |
These are the two Lower Niagara locations named by DEC. The current hotline also lists the Bureau of Fisheries contact at fwfish9@dec.ny.gov or 716-851-7010 if you need clarification before making a special trip.
What to Put on the Sample Label
The current DEC request calls for the date, whether the fish came from the river or lake, the specific catch location, the fish's length, and sex if known. An earlier description of the collection uses the same core details and asks for the body of water and approximate location. Be accurate rather than overly precise. If you do not know the sex, leave it unknown instead of guessing.
| Label field | Useful entry |
|---|---|
| Date | The actual harvest date |
| Water | Lower Niagara River or Lake Ontario near the river |
| Specific location | A truthful drift, shoreline area, bar, or other recognizable area |
| Length | The measured fish length |
| Sex | Only if known |
Four Mistakes That Make a Sample Less Useful
- Bringing a fish from outside the study area. The current Lower Niagara request is for the river and Lake Ontario near the river.
- Saving only part of the head. Keep the entire head and let the technicians remove the otoliths.
- Guessing at missing information. An honest unknown is better than a confident but wrong answer.
- Keeping a fish only to make a donation. This is a way to use material from a legal harvest you already intended to keep, not a reason to harvest extra fish.
Check the Current Rules and Request Before You Fish
Fishing reports, collection needs, access, and regulations can change. Before your trip, read the current DEC western New York fishing hotline and confirm the applicable freshwater fishing regulations. That is especially important if you cross between river and lake water or fish near a boundary.
At Shorette's, we like projects where anglers can help managers without wasting the fish they planned to eat. Save the whole head, label it cleanly, use the right freezer, and let the biologists take it from there. If you need to replace worn tackle before your next Great Lakes trip, visit Shorette's Bait & Tackle and we will help you sort out what belongs in the box.