Commercial catches of walleye in Lake of the Woods increased until the mid-1930s, then decreased by 1973. Sauger and yellow perch catches were more stable. The rise in walleye catches coincided with declines in lake sturgeon and lake whitefish catches. Walleye catches dropped from 1.7 kg∙ha −1 annually in the 1930s to 0.8 kg∙ha −1 by 1964–73 due to fishing pressure. Sportfishing yields surpassed commercial yields, reaching levels similar to the 1930s. Fluctuations in catches since the 1950s suggested recruitment variability. Sauger populations increased in the north due to higher turbidity.