It's no fish tale. Anglers are likely to catch more, bigger walleye on Lake Minnetonka next spring.

That's because an avid Mound angler is trying to turn the Twin Cities' largest lake into a walleye hot spot, leading a private campaign to stock it with Minnesota's prized state fish.

"We're trying to create a legendary walleye fishery right in our own back yard," said Johnny Range, who started the Westonka Walleye Program last year, frustrated with decades of finding few or no walleyes in the lake. "It gives local anglers a reason to stay closer to home."

Last month, Range and other volunteers dumped 10,500 walleyes, net by net, into the north and west bays of the lake, with state approval. The undertaking was funded by more than $22,000 in private donations. Now, Range is already planning next year's fundraising effort.

But it's no small feat trying to reverse the decline of Minnesota's most sought-after fish in the massive metro lake. The spread of invasive species and shoreline development have destroyed walleyes' spawning habitat, Range said, dropping the natural production in the lake.

"We're trying to bring the lake back to its natural state as a great walleye spot," he said. "It's an investment in the community."

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has been putting walleye in Minnetonka, which is also stocked with muskies, every other year. This fall, the DNR put nearly 97,000 walleye fingerlings — or about 6,500 pounds of fish — into Minnetonka. Fingerlings are about 6 inches long.

Range said the smaller fish have about a 20 percent survival rate. Larger, 8- to 13-inch walleye like those he and his colleagues are using are more expensive — about $2 a fish — but have an estimated 90 to 95 percent survival rate, he said. In 2013, Range raised $7,500 to buy 3,000 8- to 13-inch walleyes and stocked the lake with them. A fundraiser last spring raised $22,000 to buy the 10,500 walleye — or 1,500 pounds of fish.

"They're doing the best they can with their budgets," Range said of the state's effort. "The DNR is rolling the dice and hoping these walleye grow to a harvestable size."

Daryl Ellison, supervisor of the DNR West Metro Area Fisheries Office, said the agency can't afford larger fish and it's still unclear if smaller fish have a lower survival rate.

"We don't know the difference in survival, but we do know the cost is very high," he said. "It's just not economical for us."

This isn't the only private effort in Minnesota to stock a lake with walleye, but Range said it is a challenge with a 14,000-acre body of water.

Since last year's stocking, Range said he's heard anecdotally from anglers who say they've seen an increase in walleye, with some catching smaller 11- to 13-inch walleye this year after landing few or none in previous years.

"They are definitely there, and they are there in big numbers," said Lake Minnetonka fishing guide Kurt Erickson, who donated to Range's nonprofit. "It's a good thing."

Range hopes to expand the project next year after a fundraiser in April so it will benefit lake businesses as well.

"It's a win for everybody," he said. "Who doesn't love walleyes? Everyone would like more of them in the lake."

Kelly Smith • 612-673-4141

Twitter: @kellystrib