IGL Opener What's the deal with Boji

[Perch Slayer]

This year marked my 4th and final year fishing East and West Lake Okoboji for the opener. If both these lakes don't have the largest populations of 12 - 131/2" walleyes in North America, I'd like to know the lake that does! We always catch good numbers and we're NOT looking to limit out for the fridge (in fact we threw back the two fourteens we caught and have never kept anything over 18" from any lake in Iowa I've ever fished), but the population of fish in this size range in those two lakes is out of control. Is this a product of the 14" slot or what? I've heard complaints from numerous other people during opener and the commonly held belief is that this is what your left with when almost everyone deposits fourteens in their livewells. The Iowa DNR has to be aware of the problem and has there been any discussion to address it? Why wouldn't a 15 - 16 and only one over 24" correct this problem? Seems to me this might enhance the "quality fish" population of those lakes dramatically and most importantly increase the real fun and opportunity of catching this class of fish for all. Don't know if Spirit will be any different in 07' but thats where you will find me next year!

[Fred_G]

You will find that Spirit has the same problem as East & West Okoboji. Lots of 12" & 13" walleyes. I grew up in that area & I love fishing up there, but I decided it wasn't worth the cost this year. I'm not sure what the solution is but I sure hope someone figures it out.

[out sider]

I fished big spirit along with two other boats. I only had half day on Saturday to fish but the other fished Friday and Saturday all day. They cought there limit both days even though they had to throw them back Friday. Yes they where all 13 to 16" they have improved from two years ago when I fished here. Yes, we should see larger ones but could this be the presure that is out there?

[B Jensen]

This bottlenecking of fish just under the minimum length limit isn't unique to northwest Iowa. Whenever you have minimum lengths, there will be a bunch just under the minimum length. As soon as they reach 14" or whatever the minimum is, they get taken home. Slot limits are far more effective.

There are walleyes that exceed the minimum length in the IGL, but there are a lot more that don't. It will stay that way as long as the minimum length reg. is in place.

Best Fishes,

Bob Jensen

[Jimmy Jig]

When the DNR removes the min. size limit it will take about one year to end walleye fishing in the IGL. East Okoboji always has had alot of 12-14 inch walleyes. As far a larger fish, two of us took limits Fri, Sat, and Sun nights with no problem. We also caught very few short fish.

[Setter]

JimmyJig,thanks for a post like this.I for one get tired of hearing about the smaller eyes on the IGL's.I had no problem getting keeper fish off of East on my guide trips this week.We didn't get a bunch of keepers but did o.k.
Does anyone have a guess on how many walleye are taken out of Spirit Lake along each year? How does 10,000-12,000 last year(05)sound?
There were some very nice fish taken off of West druing opener last week-end.
Ryan Hale

[ericthered]

It's the same situation where I'm at..Heavy fishing pressure and the DNR doesn't stock anymore because they say the lakes are self-sustaining..
I think the fix is an easy one..Catch and release only on popular walleye fishing lakes for a period of 5 years and then strict catch and keep rules after that..It was this exact scenario that prompted the 7 year ban on Red Lake in Minnesota. The walleye season opened up there today and I'm anxious to hear reports.
I don't know about everyone but I know I would have no problem with a catch/release only ban on my local lakes if it meant better fishing down the road!

[Perch Slayer]

Gee Ryan, I wonder if you have as much difficulty dealing with reality at home? I sure hope not! Yes, there were some nice fish taken on all three lakes during opener, but the nice fish were awful few and far between and that was my point (since obviously you missed it). I don't expect Canadian like conditions on the IGLs, but it would be nice for every boat to have at least a decent chance some time during an entire day of fishing to land at least one nice sized fish (no I'm not talking about anything close to a trophy here). Also, really apprectiate your open mindedness in regard to this VERY REAL problem. Or, maybe we should all shut-up, bury our collectively heads in the sand and the problem will go away. Thanks again!

[Setter]

Perch Slayer,if your going to attack me on a public forum than sign your name so we can talk about it in another manner.This subject has been ran through the fire for as far back as I remember.My point was that are plenty of keeper fish in the system.Some people get them,some don't.Like Bob says no matter where you put the min. length limit you will always have a bunch of fish that fall under that limit.Sorry if it hit you wrong as I didn't attend it to.Thing that bothers me is that I never once mentioned your name in my post,but you take the time to single me out.
Ryan Hale

[Perch Slayer]

Ryan:
My complete disagreement with your negative and closed minded response to my initial post was my justification for "singling you out." Correct me if I'm mistaken, but it's always been my belief that public forums such as this were created to solicit such dialogue between the users. If you look again at my initial post again you'll notice I never once suggested that changing the minimum length requirements would be a solution to the abundance of short fish in East and West Okoboji. What I suggested as a solution was to impose a keeper slot of 15"-16" with possession of no more than one over 24." I firmly believe this would create a sustainable and significant population of 16+" -24" fish withiin the IGL system, which is the quality sized fish I'm in direct reference to. A limit of one over 24," I believe would significantly enhance the population of the trophy class of fish in the system as well. My point once again is what can we do in this great resource of our's to increase the current population of "quality" fish and as a consequence the chances each of us will have every outing of catching and releasing one? My name is Matt Berger and I reside in Grimes, IA. My fishing buddies all know me as Perch Slayer. I don't know what you meant by "talking about it in another manner," but if you thought I was just another unidentified mouth behind a website handle, you are mistaken sir!

[Perch Slayer]

Ryan:
My complete disagreement with your negative and closed minded response to my initial post was my justification for "singling you out." Correct me if I'm mistaken, but it's always been my belief that public forums such as this were created to solicit such dialogue between the users. If you look again at my initial post again you'll notice I never once suggested that changing the minimum length requirements would be a solution to the abundance of short fish in East and West Okoboji. What I suggested as a solution was to impose a keeper slot of 15"-16" with possession of no more than one over 24." I firmly believe this would create a sustainable and significant population of 16+" -24" fish withiin the IGL system, which is the quality sized fish I'm in direct reference to. A limit of one over 24," I believe would significantly enhance the population of the trophy class of fish in the system as well. My point once again is what can we do in this great resource of our's to increase the current population of "quality" fish and as a consequence the chances each of us will have every outing of catching and releasing one? My name is Matt Berger and I reside in Grimes, IA. My fishing buddies all know me as Perch Slayer. I don't know what you meant by "talking about it in another manner," but if you thought I was just another unidentified mouth behind a website handle, you are mistaken sir!

[The Real Ripper]

What I want to know is what someone from Grimes really know's about the Igl's fishery that a local who fishes the lake several times a week doesn't know. I live in Milford and fish in the area several times a week. I may not spend as much time on the water as a guide such as Ryan, but I know the fishery. There are plenty of nice eyes in the system, you have to know how to fish them. The first thing is, I beleive you are mistaken if you think you are going to catch many quality eyes in early May here. It is too close to the spawn and the bigger fish are still recovering and do very little feeding. Late may-july and again in the fall are better times. Also the DNR really stock's our lakes so there will always be little walleyes and they will alway's bottleneck at 14 in. with the current regs. Yes a slot will improve the size of fish in the fishery,I will aree with that 100%, (I don't agree with your slot). What I don't agree with is attacking a guy on a public forum for saying the fishery isn't that bad and that he does well fishing it. If you don't enjoy fishing here then don't come here anymore, you will not be breakin my heart! I make no money from tourism-Josh Riphagen

[Abensunlogged]

2 years ago I was on this site griping and whining about the IGLs being full of dinks too. I cussed the DNR for not managing a better fishery and really thought something had to be done. Someone Like Josh or Ryan set me straight and I have since realized that I was upset about catching walleyes. Of Course I would like to catch bigger fish but look at the walls in the bait houses of the area, there are guys doing it and those are just the fish that get their picture taken.
I live in the Des Moines area too and I wish I could go to Saylorville or Redrock and have the success I enjoy on the IGLs when I get up there. I've been doing the IGL Opener for about 10 years now and I can remember years of only getting 1 or 2 legal fish and hardly catching any dinks. I guess if my head is in the sand then so be it but I'm just happy it walleyes and not bullheads, rock bass, yellow bass, outrageous numbers of sheephead or some other type of pest fish.

Pat Abens

[panfish]

First off I would like to say to Matt...If you live in Grimes you know that Big Creek is in the same shape as the IGL (LOTS OF SHORT FISH)!! Clear Lake is the same way (LOTS OF SHORT FISH)!! They are their I saw alot of nice walleye and muskie at the Spirit Lake hatchery this spring.

Now lets think about this...

I believe with all the little walleye and other food available for the larger walleye to eat why would they want what were offering.
I don't fish the IGL's or Big Creek that often but I do fish Clear on a regular basis. If I catch more then two keepers I throw any other keepers back. I like walleye to eat as much as the next person but a couple is enough with a few yellow bass to make a nice mess. I along with alot of other people i'm sure just enjoy being outside enjoying the day in nature. To me catching fish is just a bonus!

Maybe in Iowa should have a law like Minnesota on open water where your only allowed one rod per person. Instead of two guys in a boat pulling 4 planner boards they could only have two. I think that would cut down on the amount of fish caught and possibly increase your future chances at larger walleyes.

Things in Iowa aren't gonna change until people change their fishing habits. Take a camera along instead of a fillet knife for walleye!

[Perch Slayer]

Gee ya think the property tax dollars I pay for my place on West Lake help ya out any? If I'm not mistaken, I sure they are responsible for that fancy new school ya got there in Milford! Next time try thinking before you punch the keys on your computer.

[Perch Slayer]

Panfish I couldn't agree with you more! As far as Big Creek, your dealing with exactly the same regulation with exactly the same result in my opinon.

[Perch Slayer]

Come on Josh, you're smarter than that! I"ve got some very close friends in Milford and I know they wouldn't appreciate you representing their great little community like that on here!

[Mr.Seaguar]

I have been hearing this short fish discussion for years. Then I sit over my ice hole and watch friggin COW walleyes long as my leg swim around. I think, no wonder there is so many small ones. It takes a lot of small fish to end up with one as big as the biggest ones you see.

[Stitch]

Perch Slayer, it sounds to me like you just don't know how to fish, you aren't a little jealous of Ryan for being able to catch keepers now are you? I've only fished the IGL's 4 times and have caught a few eater eyes, you must be doing something wrong.......Oh, and for anyone that wants to know, Ryan Hale can put you on nice fish on the IGL's, so hit him up. Perch Slayer, maybe you should give him a call?

[The Real Ripper]

First of all I would like to say that I think this line of post's has gotten out of line. I thought this web site was for sharing info with each other not attacking some-one for sharing their thoughts on a subject. I come here to share and recieve info on fishing that might be benificial. I also don't want people to get me wrong on my last post. all I meant at the end was that if you think the fishing in the Okoboji area is bad then why are you fishing here and not somewhere else? I did not mean you are not welcome here everyone with a fishing license has the right to fish here. And perchjerker I don't feel I have made the resident's of milford look bad. I was defending a person who I feel was attacked and didn't deserve it(and now I am being attacked as well for it!). Again I agree some regulation changes might improve the quality of the fishery. Contact the DNR and let them know how you feel. -Ripper

P.S. I own a house and pay taxes as well, just because you own a lake home and pay taxes on doesn't make you special!

[Kolby]

I've had the opportunity to fish the IGL's area for about a decade. Lots of good memories of big walleyes from those lakes. My 3 year old caught a 6 pounder last year. A few minutes later my 6 year old followed that one with two 21's. I couldn't fish, to busy with the net and camera. Later that night I get a 23 and see a 26 come in to the boat working the same area. They were yelling so loud, I thought they needed help until they flashed their fish for me. Look at what the I.O.W.A. boys did to Spirit in 2004. Wait until this September! One piece of advise I would offer for folks who catch the same small fish every year (on any lake) would be this: Stop doing the same thing in the same location expecting different results. Get out of your comfort zone and learn some different techniques, open your eyes to what the lake offers for habitat and forage.

Another good lake is Clear. Jim Wahl, the lakes biologist, "once fish hit 20 inches in there we start to see them come through the hatchery each year. We had some fish come through for the 5th year in a row this year. They don't get harvested like the smaller fish." 13.25 lbs won the I.O.W.A there a few days ago with crap conditions. PWT's recent winner on good water averaged a shade over 11 pounds per day to win. There are better periods for big fish then May all over the walleye belt.

Kolby Kester

[theduck]

Since this is a public forum and the IGL's are public fishing holes this all makes perfect sense to me. Someone gets mad about the number of certain sized fish and is assuming that those who make a living from fishing are causing all of the fish to be gone. Shame on Ryan for catching all the legal fish and shame on Ryan for telling the world how he has been doing. Ryan should not be able to post fishing reports or let the secret out when the fishing is good. He should not be able to voice his opinion on what he has experienced from his hundreds of hours on the water. He knows nothing and is only looking to make a buck. Ryan fishes the lakes all the time and charges people to go fishing with him. He then advertises how he has been doing and then gets more publicity and more people show up to the IGL's and keep all the legal fish. Thus leaving nothing for perchjerker to catch and he gets mad. (Of course this is all ludicrous up to this part.)

Changing the slot will only concentrate the number of fish at a different length and then we would all be complaining about the size of those fish. Perchjerker you come across as though you are blaming people who follow the laws and rules as those who are ruining your fishing hole. I think the focus should be on trying to control those who are breaking the laws and keeping sub legal fish and fishing out of season. I know of people (mostly locals or lake home owners) who keep several small walleyes (by the hundreds) and fish for them out of season. I have lived up there and watched as my neighbors would have family get togethers just to slaughter the small walleyes off the docks and have an assembly line of people keeping and cleaning every walleye that come the net. Since I was a guest at the time I did nothing about it but keep my mouth shut. I know some people who have caught several fish over the top slot length and bring home a three fish limit over the slot length. These are the people who ruin the fishing. Changing the rules will only be rule changes. I personally know of people who live out of state but own homes or have family that own homes up there. They take vacations to go to the IGL's and purposely keep sub legal walleyes for the entire week. Believe it or not but these family vacations take place when season is closed. Several people double or triple dipping into one days limit. I think stronger enforcement of the laws that are in place will help the fishing up there more than anything else. Rules are just a waste of paper and only change things for the lawful people. The more rules the more complicated things get and then the "common" person doesn't even want to go fishing. The poachers will still poach.

[Abens]

Duck, I know they might be your friends but at least make a threat to them to straighten up their act. The DNR needs everyone's help to enforce whatever laws are on the books. Would you call TIP if you witnessed the same actions from someone you never met?

[B Jensen]

It's good that we have a forum for discussion on the various topics, but remember to play nice.

On the Internet you can say whatever you want to say and be whoever you want to be with very limited responsiblity or accountability. That can create problems. I want to give everyone a voice, but we can't be taking personal shots at other posters.

This topic started out good and hasn't deteriorated too far yet, but it has the makings of doing so. Let's keep things civil.

Thanks.

Bob Jensen

[Old Timer]

Perch Slayer I've fished the Iowa Great Lakes for longer than you've probably been alive. I'm 68 and have lived in Spencer for the past 45 years. I haven't missed an opener over 20 years. I've even had the pleasure of trolling Miller's Bay with Berkley Bedell himself. Let me share with you what I experienced this year that probably sums up the problem that you aren't the first to shed light upon. Saturday evening of opener at just before dusk we were jigging for walleyes just off Jingle's point on East Lake with at least eight other boats when the Iowa DNR pulled up to our boat disguising themselves in an old Tracker. We had two keeper in the livewell and they were in the process of checking us when another boat sped by very fast in violation of the new 25 mph law. Anyway, they took off after them and told us they would be right back. In the mean time I couldn't help but notice three other boats near us, aware of who was in the Tracker, dropping fish out of their livewell and back into East Lake.
As long as everyone and their dog continues to take fish out of these lakes that are at or any where near 14" as well as those above and well beyond the problem that's been around for years will persist. Perch Slayer you've done a pretty good job of ruffling a bunch of feathers here and let me tell you what that amounts to. They say in life the only constant is change and that is true. Another truth is that human beings have always and will always resist that change. They also say in life that people who are directly involved in any problematic issue are those who desire to continue to be part of the problem and those who desire to be part of the solution. Perch Slayer I think it's pretty clear what side of the fence you stand on. I also think it's pretty clear which side those with the ruffled feathers stand on as well. Over the many years I've taken more than my fair share of sizeable walleye out of the lakes, but there's not a one that hangs on my wall they all went right back in the drink. I was raised on a farm in Northwest Iowa and I know my dad never gave a second thought to butchering our best producing boar, sow, bull or cow and I believe that same rule should apply to fishing. Perch Slayer take this for what it's worth, but this is one old-timer who appreciates you keeping the fire for change burning. Sincerely, D. Vandeberg

[Perch Slayer]

Thanks Old Timer, I couldn't have put it any better. I can't tell you how much I appreciate an experienced voice of reason regarding this issue. It's not about fishing ability or techniques, it's about a very real situation that does in fact exist and that I for one firmly believe there's a resource management solution to. I never once claimed what I proposed to be "the" solution, it was just an idea to generate objective discussion, not to be spat upon by every nay sayer in Dickinson county. What we have in the IGLs is good, I just think it could be so much better for everyone.

[The Sandman]

Great post Bob. I agree with you 100%. I know many former posters on this board who refuse to make comments anymore, because of personal attacks. I live on West lake and know there are some very good Walleyes being caught. This chain can be a challenge. Ryan is a standup guy, and an excellent fisherman. I just hope he doesn't decide to become silent.

[theduck]

I would handle the situation differently now. I was a guest and needed a place to live. I only witnessed this and was the only one out of the 12 or so people who were in the right. I just wanted to point out that honest people are not the ones who are ruining our resource. If we (and this includes me) all help out the DNR it would help everyone. It is our resource and we need to protect it.(I agree) I just know that alot of fish leave those lakes way under size and during the closed season. Even when season is open there are lots of illegal fish taken from those waters. People double and triple dip into their daily limits all the time. I watch it ice fishing when the perch are biting and also during the walleye season. Catch a limit in the Am then back out in the PM. All you have to do is watch the boats out on the water. You will soon see who is doing it.

[Dtrain]

I agree with Ryan I believe that there are a good number of quality fish in the IGL's. I also believe that there are lots and lots of small fish and the larger fish are harder to catch. I do a lot of muskie fishing on all three lakes and have caught a good number walleyes over 25". I caught five fish between 24-27 last year and they were all caught on eight to nine inch muskie pugs. I also fish the lakes for walleyes, but most of the time we only catch dinks which isn't the worse thing in the world that could be happening and we awlays catch enough for the fryer. Maybe fisherman need to start opening up there thought process and try new things. The fish are there...the fisherman need to adapt

[Joe Duck]

I know that Mr Jensen has always been in favor of a slot limit I caanot say that I agree the reason we have so many small walleyes is the very aggresive stocking program that the DNR has most of the time you can go to the great lakes or Clear lake and catch lots of short fish but just changing technigues will put keepers in boat for the most part the people that master trolling cranks and using larger baits will limit the amount of small fish caught.I have fished many tounaments in the IGL and Clear lake and most of these events are won by trolling cranks or large minnows discouraging most small fish.I have practiced for many events on these waters and leeches/ crawlers/ and fatheads will catch fish but you will sort.Joe Kalvig