How about a slot limit for Walleyes on the Mississippi River

[korn]

Would anyone be in favor of a slot limit on the Mississippi River? I think there should be one. You should be allowed to keep 15 to 18 inchers to eat,and only ONE over 25 inches, in case you want to mount one.Everything else would be released.Just looking for a little input from fellow river rats.I think it would help the fisheries immensely.

[night_eyes]

To be honest i wish they would make a statewide slot like that...but i dont think it will ever happen. I see it way too often here in May on the lake i fish where 3 guys will have 18 walleyes. They will have 3 over 27" and there other 15 are right under the 24" limit..all about 22-24". There is no reason to be keeping that many fish of that size in my opinion. If the fish are biting that well than you can surely catch a few 16-18" for lunch...and release those 22-24"ers. Thats just how i see it.........

['eye spy]

Right on the money!!!

[ed]

i agree with a statewide slot, the lake i fish has a 15inch size limit and it is not working.

[cisco]

I had several "discussions" with former WDNR fish head Lee Kernen about the 15" limit. Ideally, lake-by-lake management is best, but not very feasible. The 15" limit, however, assures that anglers keep breeders and return good eaters.

In general I like the slot, but I would not put the upper end at a low 24 or 25 inches -- those simply are not trophy fish. How about any walleye up to 17 and one over 26?

Good fishing.

[Frank]

It's great to see fisherman looking at harvest levels and not just the DNR. In NW Ontario a lot of overharvest occurred and it was evident to a lot of the locals. We did not speak as a common voice untill limits were lowered and the fishery was in trouble. A lot of us have joined organizations and got actively involved in the fishery. The statement "I just want to fish" does'nt work anymore today. You have to be involved and speak up.
Good fishing: Frank

[Gunga Din]

Utah's Green River section A is a seven mile stretch with a slot limit. And it's a world-class, blue ribbon trout stream--thanks to the slot. Most of the fish you catch are just under the upper slot limit, which are nice fish by anyone's standards. And you can typically catch these large fish all day.

[Fin Addict]

I would agree with a slot but skip the minimum size limit. Protect 18"-27" and only one over 27". Easy to replace small fish and I would prefer that someone keep a limit of 2 year old fish to a limit of breeders. Slot limits do seem to work.

[Firetiger(MN)]

I would also like to see a state-wide slot limit, or at least a minimum length. I see too many people keeping walleyes less than 14". I know that they have to right to do so, but I also hope they know that they will catch fewer big fish in the future.

[night_eyes]

Want something to back up what we are saying about slot limits??!! Just take a look at how Rainy Lake has done since they put their slot limit up. Nothing between 19-26" can be kept and the lake. I wish there was a way that we could get something going...get this topic out to the public more..and get people banded together and try to get the DNR to put something like this in place.

[night_eyes]

Oops i cut myself off...that was suppose to say and the lake has really taken off......

[Fin Addict]

Keeping the small fish is not the problem. Keeping the medium sized spawners is. By having a min size we encourage people to keep more spawning sized fish to the detriment of the overall population. The Rainy lake slot as pointed out by Night Eyes is case in point of a lake where a slot w/o a min has worked extremely well. If you want to manage for nicer fish then remove some of the biomass at the bottom and more food for those left to get big. That's why when a lake is managed for panfish, bass and northerns are added to reduce the population of small fish so those left will be desirable to the angling public. Just let those people keeping the 10" fish be our bass and the rest of us will have more 18"+ fish to enjoy.

[cisco]

Right-on Fin. I'd be willing to bet the under 14 inch walleyes in a lake like Leech are just forage anyway. Taking 13, 14, 15 inch walleyes out of Leech is just removing a few muskie and northern pike snacks. Not only are the little guys better eating, they are not yet breeders. Leech organized their own voluntary release program a number of years ago, and as I recall the prime concern was the 17 to 20 inch fish.

[EAGLE EYES]

The new slot for Winne seems to be about perfect for any body of water in Minnesota,that is naturally reproductive. Six eyes from 0"-17" and only 1 fish over 26". This will do wonders for that lake. As far as stocked lakes that are not naturally reproductive, these lakes should not have a slot. just a lesser bag limit like 2 or 3/day.

[Bob Jensen]

It is wonderful to see anglers thinking about the resource and fish harvest. We need to put more of an emphasis on the total experience and less emphasis on killing limits of fish. Please understand, I am in favor of keeping a few fish for the table: We just need to keep the right fish. On some bodies of water, that means keeping 14-16 inch walleyes and releasing anything larger. One for the wall is fine, although replicas are a great alternative.
I am fortunate to fish a variety of waters every year. Some bodies of water have slots, some have minimum length limits. The bodies of water with slot limits generally have great fishing, the ones with minimum length limits generally have poorer fishing unless the minimum length limit is quite high. This is generally true for most species of fish. When there is a minimum length, fish are harvested as soon as they are over the minimum length. This is short-sighted and ineffective management.
Many of our fish laws are based on tradition. We need to quit doing business as usual and employ progressive fish management. It can't be voluntary or suggested by lake associations, it must be mandated.
Sorry for the long post, but I am passionate about this subject and the future of our fishing resources. I have seen too many(one is too many) bodies of water ruined by over-harvest. Some anglers just don't think or care about the resource, their only goal is to kill a limit or more.
I am optimistic about the future of fishing because there are many anglers, such as most of those who visit Walleye Central, who sincerely care about the health of our lakes, reservoirs, and rivers. We need to be the leaders in pushing for slot limits and progressive fish management.