Perch Limit Change - Minnesota

[Bad Finger]

With all the discussion about rule changes on the other posts, we have a couple here in Mn. See link to MN-DNR

Perch go to 20 daily, 40 in possession effective Dec 1, 2001. Also slot chages on Mille Lacs.

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/information_center/news_releases/nr1006291096.html

[Bob Jensen]

I saw that the perch limit recently was changed statewide. What does everyone think of that?

Looking forward to your responses.

[Bad Finger]

I don't care to clean more than 20 perch at a time anyway. Two guys fishing who end up with 40 fish will have more than enough to feed their families.

One good side benefit I see. Those slob fishermen who discard 3-4 inchers on the ice like cigerette butts will now have those fish counted towards their possession. Nice to see those will start going back down the hole.

[Skis]

I agree with Bad Finger. If you're in a group, 20 per person is great plenty. Go with 5 guys, do you know how long it takes to fillet that many perch? 20 perch for me would give me at least 3 meals for my family.

[Backwater Eddy]

A 20/40 possession plan is a much better conservation minded model. I would also like to commend the MN-DNR, ND-G&F and the SD-GFP for there rethinking of crappie slots and limits.

A blanket limit is not a good way to manage a diverse and changing system of lakes and rivers but a reduced creel and slot is a good way to temporarily see that long term damage is averted. We are likely to see many more system specific regulations developed in years to come to fill the needs of the management goals on the particular system while insuring a healthy long term fishery for the public.

Placing controls on daily creels & possession limits will prevent the feast and famine cycle we all to often see in systems were a resource gets extreme angling pressure, such as panfish often do on the ice.

I have seen too many "Gold Rush" scenarios for perch or other panfish turn emerging or healthy populations of fish to scattered strays & stragglers, all in just a matter of months or even weeks. Such over harvest rapidly results in years of slow fishing before it recovers, that is if it ever recovers, a no win deal for everyone.

It was time for a change and to make it all work it is up to us as anglers to see it is obeyed & enforced.

Fish today, fish tomorrow, fish for life.

Backwater Eddy.................><,,>

[DanL]

I was glad t see the change. Hopefully this trend will continue on other fish. Especially in the form of individual lakes management in the form of slot, maximum and minimum size limits.

[steve fellegy]

locals from mille lacs were leaders in the 'individual lake management' method of setting size limits etc. i agree with this method, since, for example, why have a night fishing ban on a lake that has no or little night fishing done on it. so that said...why implement a reduction in a limit (daily or possession) statewide when in fact, dnr concerns are mainly focused on winnie? mille lacs perch numbers, according to dnr surveys this year and last, show the highest
numbers since records were started. fair question? but...i do agree that twenty is plenty. that's not my concern about the new regs. my concerns focus on over regulating a fishery, possibly decreasing a tourism based economy, for no valid, biologicly based reasoning behind such change. what's next without solid biolgy playing a role? fair question?
s.f.

[Bad Finger]

Fair question Mr. Fellegy. I'm curious what you would propose based on your extensive knowledge and history of the lake. (Mille Lacs) Especially walleye!

I have felt for the last couple of years that the one over 20 inch, 6-fish limit that was in effet for 10 years is the reason we are having back to back banner years on the lake. The micro managing going on now is crap. An entire year class was wiped out last season. We will surely feel the effect in coming years.

Personally, I'd like to see a 4 fish limit - one over 20. That is not based on science, just fishing the lake hard since 1985.

[s.f.]

my first answer, obviously, would be to level the playing field...meaning everyone fishes with the same rules and techniques. but of course, our gutless goverment won't take the action they are capable of and make that happen. so...your four fish limit idea might sound good but realisticly, it would not have much effect, since the average per person per day catch rarely reaches past the number two.
i think dnr stats on how many catchable walleyes are in the lake is quite a ways off on the low side. that said...i don't think we need a total shut down of the lake as they implemented this past year. that is just what it was! inorder to eat a meal of walleyes, on the best fishery in the world, you had to break the law! don't get me started... just pound on our bald headed leader and the boys in washington to end this 'selective sovereignty'. we push for equal rights with national guard troops throughout the 60's and now we train them to 'protect unequal rights' on our lakes!
don't get me started...
s.f.

[srj]

Bob, I applaud the new perch regs. Taking no action has resulted in greatly reduced perch fisheries in the Bemidji area. Ten years ago only a few of the large lakes--Winni and Leech especially--had heavy winter pressure on perch. The last several years it seems every other truck has a plow and all us fishermen have portables, electronics etc. With easy access, good equipment and modern knowledge it has been tough on the perch. I also agree with Steve Fellegy that management based on facts should be the DNR's goal but on the lakes I am familiar with SOMETHING needed to be done. As a group, we fishermen have a lot of voices--we need to keep the DNR and THEIR bosses accountable and responsive. If you haven't guys-speak out.
Now, who can I ##### to about the weather?

[PJM]

Bob Jensen


The limit is fine and I think that the Walleye limit should be four a day with one over 20in. I was at the ice fishing show and I had to listen to Ron Hunter of Judd's Resort complain about how his business was down so much of the Perch limits. But the new limits will help some of the lakes. Winni is still full of them..........