View Full Version : Please let the females go.
I realize that the fee to fish in South Dakota is high. But please if you catch a female full of eggs let her go. Let them have a chance to spawn. I'm sure there are a lot of young people who would some day love the chance to enjoy the sport of walleye fishing. Thanks!
Terry/JNR
02-28-2000, 09:12 AM
Since most walleyes 20" and over are females, that's a good place to put your keep limit. Any fish over 20" goes back. This has been my rule of thumb for many, many years. It at least makes me feel as if I'm doing my part to keep our sport going for the future.
This should apply in any waters in any state. I'm in nothern WI.
Good advice! Our group and nearly all of my river rat friends release all the pre-spawn walleye females, regardless of length. Getting a meal of spring walleyes(males) is easy enough on the Wolf and Wisconsin that you don't have to keep females. We let them do their thing, in addition support Walleyes for Tomorrow which help maintains these systems as premier fisheries.
However, our philosphy has changed significantly over the years when it comes to fishing the Nothern Wi lakes. Since the lakes we have been fishing for the last couple decades are now heavily speared, its a very rare occasion that we ever get a fish twenty inches. When we do the only place it is going is in the live well.