Reduce Minnesota Limits To Save Fisheries

[Fishguy]

Over the last few months, everyone is in an uproar about the DNR reducing bag limits, trying slot sizes etc in order to help many of our lakes maintain quality fishing (for some it's to late) The topic that is ofcourse the offered solution to an already declining quality of fishing throughout the state is simply reducing fish limits --daily and possession. I've been around the fishing scene quit some time and I think it lies much beyond that. I know plenty of game hogs--they are always the first to complain about any change in game laws that restricts their habits! I honestly believe that one of the big impacts on our quality of fishing is greed combined with technology. And everyone knows that greed is the base for over harvest. I think we should take away some of the technology--mainly the GPS. It is now possible (more than ever) for an unethical angler to return to the same spot and take more limits. Unless the angler is very familiar with a body of water and can actually use their sonar and or compass to navigate, it is very difficult to return to the same "hot spot" in the middle of a 10,000 lake --even with a floating marker left in the area. Ice fishing ofcourse makes it extremely easy --just follow your tracks or somebody elses. With todays GPS's , it is possible to give anyone a spot, tell them what to do and watch them catch fish--time after time after time. If this was not true, then why do most guides not allow a client to bring a GPS into the boat. O.k. I've said enough, I wanna hear some imput. The "reel" botom line is education about being an ethical angler at a very young age. My 4 yr old knows that 5 Crappies are enough for him and dad to eat--even if we have caught more.

[curt quesnell]

hi fish guy,

thanks for posting your view.

i think it will be interesting to see what happens with limits and slots, one rod or two, open and closed seasons in the near future.

i will disagree with your view that fishing is on the decline,
either in quality or numbers of fish. what they want to do
is find the best way to keep things on the upswing. i would
expect them to continue to use several methods on different
bodys of water to see which ones work the best.

i dont know how long you have been around, but i remember
the talk around the state capital about outlawing the use
of sonar (fish/depth finders) when they were new. anyone
can remember just a couple years ago when underwater cameras
were nearly outlawed by st paul. these "advances" were all
linked to the end of "fishing by chance" the sport of it all
was over, it was merely harvest. gps is no different.

gps is good..but of the three (gps, sonar, camera) the most
devestating to fish has been the sonar unit. and even with
that, the fish still win a great deal of the time. before gps
i could give away any hot spot i knew of with a map.

fish guy, i am with you 100% about teaching the young'uns to
be ethical anglers.

thanks again for your ideas,
any one else care to step up to the plate?

curt quesnell

ps....you must catch some huge crappies, i can eat 5 by myself

[Hans]

> It is now possible (more than ever) for an unethical
> angler to return to the same spot and take more limits.

I rarely keep more than 1 or 2 fish, but I didn't know it was unethical to take a limit of fish. And then come back next time and take another limit.

Besides, you overestimate the power of GPS. At best it gets you back to the spot where there were some fish last time you were there. If they're still there (and that's a big "if"), you still gotta catch 'em.

Hans

[Rich S.]

I will only say two words "NETS" and "SPEARS"

[bouncerboy]

right on rich!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[james_walleye]

Im assuming your talking about Mille Lacs. You do realize that our hooks will ruin that lake before the nets taking 60,000 lbs do dont you?

[Hawgeye]

In all do respect, the fishing season is set up to avoid catching walleyes during their spawn. This however is not the case with many individuals that have the right to harvest fish during these times. I am not against their right to take game, as long as there is conservation involved so overharvesting is not done during prime spawning periods. I am not sure that Mille Lacs is that way but I am familiar with some practices in some Wisconsin Lakes and I truly beleive that nets and spears do great damage to the walleye population. Not trying to start anything, just voicing my opinion on the subject. I am for decreasing the limits but I am more in favor of slots...

[Terry Hagstrom]

I feel we need to get the DNR to fullfill their commitment to the anglers in Minnestota by really eccelerating the eye program.
If we lower the limit at the start of the program, how are supposed to measure their success.

Of course if will be easier to obtain the legal 6 but will we know for sure if there are really more fish in the lakes? If the DNR buckles into the lower limit being pushed by the tourism dept., will this give the DNR reason to not proceed with the ecceleratd program?

The DNR openly stated that they have regional fisheries personel that do NOT beleive or want to stock lakes. If this were you in a private sector job, wouldn't you be held accountable for your actions or lack there of?

Remember, you can have all of the electronics you can possibly buy but if the fish wont open their trap, you arnt going to catch them.

That's my 2 cents' for what it's worth.
Terry
Terry's Guide Service
Acting President of the MN Walleye Alliance

[coyote]

Will lowering limits improve the fish population?
Will slot limits improve the fish population?

If the answers to these questions are yes, then how can any fisherman be opposed to these methods.

Does only bringing 4 fish home from Ontario keep people from fishing there? Does a limit of 4 fish a day keep people out of South Dakota?

I don't understand the fuss. Even if there is only an outside chance that regulations will improve fishing it's worth a try as long as it does no harm.

Can anyone site a situation in which the population of fish was harmed by restrictions such as slot limits or reduced limits.

[Gary Harter]

how many millions of dollars are spent in fees and licenses by out of state anglers in minnisota in a years time? where is that money being used let alone the fees and money generated by the residents. maybe its time to have your politicians audit the dnr and make them accountable for every dollar generated by the tourist and fishing trade in your state.. sounds to me like somebody is gettin fat at your expense. i used to go to minnisota every year, won't now, six fish a day was o.k. but anything less, you can have. i know plenty more out of staters that feel the same. i know one thing if i was a resort owner i would be hangin the for sale sign out real quick.....

[Golfeye]

I agree with you Coyote, most people fish to catch fish, I for one think that if you can catch a bunch of fish, even if you have to let them go, its more fun than not catching. Its not a meat issue, its about whats best for the fishery. Anything we as sportsman can do for the benefit of the fisheries and the benefit of younger generations can't be wrong. Slots are what saves spawners!! Good Fishin!! Golfeye
P.S. I for one do not make trips to fill my freezer, so I will continue trips until they say fishing is closed because of overharvest.

[800proX]

i would like to say that gps is not what is causing overharvest, quite the contrary. i have fished many tournaments and know that just because they are there one day, does not make it so the next, and am sure most of your guys know this. gps is used for many things, and a couple of them is when you are on a big body of water is: finding your way through a storm, help locating a port on shore, or if you get stranded calling in and telling of your coordinates.

i am in favor of reducing limits and slot limits only if they are truly menat to increase the fishery. i believe more time has to be put into repleneshing our supply and not so much time spent politicing. i like to have a meal when i come home and also like the thought that some youngsters might get the chance to catch the 8 pounder i just threw back as well.

we need to work as sportsmen on our fishery if we want to keep it strong. there is no reason why millelacs, low, etc... should be the only trophy lakes in the state. why can we not make it a law to only keep one fish over 28" in all lakes? there are those times when the big girls start snapping and i have seen stringers of 8lb+ fish. what is the sense to that? do those people realize they just took out about 2 million eggs out of that fishery. i know i have rambled on and will leave it with i hope all have a great upcoming season and please, thisnk to the future and support any local agency you can, that is the only way to get your voice heard.

jeff

[Hookman]

My 2 cents worth..I'am from ILL. go to Minn. ever year to go fishing, we to Osakis..a few years ago they put in a slot limit..it has helped fishing a great deal..now if they were to cut the limit to 4 fish it would make it a great fishin lake..I would still come each year ..Hookman

[Hookman]

Another thing we should thing of..take Ill. no closed season on bass, lots of lake are in bad shape, they catch a lot of bass on the beds..it all add up to poor fishing..Think about it..Hookman

[Husker]

Even though limits and seasons have an effect on fishing they are only a small part of the overall health of a lake. Nebraska has done some stupid things in the past and I'm sure they will do some more in the future. But at least they are trying different things. Size limits on different lakes, closing the fishing during the spawn at night on others etc. all in all they are finding that the key to good fishing is preaty much like hunting. You need to get the habitat in the best form. Hook and line fishermen even with GPS, Fish Finders Etc. with a modest limit will not fish out a lake IF the lake has enough habitat to support it.

Some of the over looked things that people always forget is structure or spawning areas for the BAIT fish. The problem of Zebra mussels etc. they allhave to balance in a lake in oreder for the game fish to have a healthy population.

Just one example. Calamus Resvore in central Nebraska has a 18 inch limit on Eys's. It also is the location of a fish hatchery that the state uses to stock other lakes. 5 years ago you could go to that lake 3 weeks after spawn and catch over 100 waleyes in a afternoon of fishing. Maybe one fish out of that buntch would be a keeper all the rest 17" long. Hey a guy would think that the next year those fish should all be keepers. Not so the last 5 years have been the same. Catch as many fish you want but none or at least few will be over 18". What has happened is that the fish have just enough food in that lake to survive. The lake is overstocked and the fish don't have a chance to grow.

Slot limits on a lake like this whould work great. Let people take 2 15" to 18" fish and soone the lake would have a Healthy population of fish.

Every lake is different with its own problems and attributes. A good Game and Parks or what ever your state calls them will make changes specific for each lake.

WOW did I ramble on or what!! Sorry.

Husker