Jake L. Davis Mark J. Fincel Steven R. Chipps Cade A. Lyon 2022 <p><span>Length-based regulations are a common tool used to limit fishing mortality by controlling the size of fish harvested. While such regulations are helpful in managing fish populations, mortality associated with catch-and-release fishing may negatively impact a fishery. We evaluated factors affecting hooking mortality of walleye (</span><i>Sander vitreus</i><span>) in 2 mainstem Missouri River reservoirs in South Dakota. Winter walleye hooking mortality was evaluated during the ice fishing season in February and March 2020. After capture, walleye (</span><i>n</i><span> = 55) were placed into holding pens for 12 to 72 h to monitor postrelease mortality. Hooking mortality was found to be 20% following angling. Capture depth, landing time, and time in pen were the most influential variables on probability of hooking mortality (</span><i>p_m</i><span>). We observed a sharp increase in&nbsp;</span><i>p_m</i><span>&nbsp;for walleye captured at depths from 10 to 12 m, where the probability of mortality for fish increased appreciably from 5 to 37%, respectively. Our findings indicate that hooking mortality during the ice fishing season can be substantial in lakes where walleye angling occurs at depths greater than 10 m.</span></p> application/pdf 10.1080/10402381.2022.2130118 en Taylor & Francis Effects of capture depth on walleye hooking mortality during ice fishing article