BEAR FACTS AND FISH TALES 1500 KSTP--MN

[JR]

THE POLITICAL DEBAUCHERY OF LAKE MILLE LACS HAS ME STEAMING ALL OVER AGAIN. AFTER READING THE SUNDAY TRIBUNE FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS, IT HAS BECOME APPARENT THAT THE ANGLING SPORTSMAN HAS TAKEN A BACK SEAT ON THIS HOT ISSUE. TUNING IN SUNDAY EVENING TO 1500 KSTP--BEAR FACTS AND FISH TALES (EVERY SUNDAY @ 7:00 PM)I WAS VERY PLEASED TO LISTEN TO DICK STERNBERGS INPUT ON THIS MATTER AND WAS DISMAYED AT SOME OF THE FACTS THAT WERE REVEALED...THE BIG QUESTION: IS THE DNR LOOKING OUT FOR THE ANGLING SPORTSMAN. IT APPEARS THAT EVEN THEIR OWN DATA IS DISPUTED BETWEEN FISHERIES "EXPERTS" AND WHAT IS WITH THESE HIDDEN AGENDAS AND MEETINGS WITH TRIBAL FISHERIES. IT'S TIME FOR THE ANGLING SPORTSMAN TO WAKE UP YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERCE CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE ON THESE MATTERS. LARRY(BEAR)BOLLIG--MARK(FISH)FISHER EXCELLET JOB ON BRINGING THIS DEBAUCHERY OF LAKE MILLE LACS TO THE SPORTSMAN OF MN.

[Dave in Mpls]

No, the DNR is NOT looking out for the angling sportsman, on the Mille Lacs issue or any other issues for that matter. Allen Garber is a putz. The sad thing is, nothing is going to change until the commissioner of the DNR becomes an elected position.

Regards

[punch1]

I'm not sure what the fine details behind the all the politics of the Mille Lacs issue is, but in my opinion, someone, somewhere is doing something right. I have never had a year as tremendous as this past one fishing for walleye. I am so sick and tired of fishing the "famed northern Wisconsin lakes" and doing battle with the 14 1/2" walleye around here. I can tell you that unless your goal is to catch a bunch of 14" walleye, the Wisconsin DNR does not have the answer for your problem.

I fish Sturgeon Bay, Little Bay de Noc, Fox and Menominee Rivers as well as an occasional trip to Lake Erie and the Canadian waters and none of these other waters came close to what Mille Lacs has been like. In the dog days of August, I have caught more and bigger fish than during "prime-time" on some of the other waters.

Did I catch a lot of keepers (slot size fish) on Mille Lacs? No, but would I trade that for the 200 fish weekend we experienced where over 180 fish were over 20 inches late last July? Not a chance. I can fish 9,999 other Minnesota lakes for "the slot fish".

Like I said, I don't know a lot of the background of the problems there. I do know it is a hot issue. But if the Minnesota DNR has something to do with Mille Lacs success, please fire them and send them to Wisconsin. I will show you fishery problems!

[Tom P]

You know I hate to bring this up again but, yes "they" have jobs at the DNR and are putting "their" advenda into their jobs. Fisherman and sportsman are not the majority at the Minnesota DNR. The Mother Earth types are. So we have a big fight on our hands. They know how to win. The sportsman are too busy making money and fishing and hunting to even notice who's ssslllowwwwlyyyy starting to run the show. And it is not the sportsman/fisherman. Remember we live in Mineapolis, Minnesota. Third in line to San Fran. and Seattle.

[SUPERTROLLER]

Dave,your heart is in the right place but I feel your misguided if you want the DNR position to become an elected position. Do you really want this person to be elected by a general population that is growing less and less in touch with the outdoors? There are fewer and fewer people joining the hunting and fishing ranks as a percentage of population. I don't think politicizing the issue involved is in our best interest. You then allow the PETA nuts and tree-huggers to campaign against those candidates that want to allow the continued use of our great outdoors. Anyone advocating cutting trees, mining, spewing oil/gas into the water would have a very difficult time disputing claims of being in favor of ruining the environment. We need someone in charge that understands we can still use sound scientific principles to coexist with nature that doesn't damage the land or water. I have always argued for using God's gifts and using them wisely. Use, not abuse.

A clearcut in the forest is not a terrible thing. It is a renewal of the forest. Since we have stopped the fires that normally used to rage until they burned themselves out, we need to open up the canopy to allow regrowth. We need all ages of forest growth to be present for the health of all the inhabitants.

I am a advocate of nuclear power. I think coal burning power plants are not in our best interest. The amount of particulate matter and acid forming molecules emitted are a direct detriment to any receiving waters that are downwind. True, the spent fuel rods and plants themselves are a hazard for our grandchildrens grandchildren, but at least they'll still have fishable waters in the Eastern states.

I can't envision how the outboard motor regulations could get much tougher. By 2006, all manufacturers need to have motors that have drastically reduced emissions. Do you think they're going to stop asking for more reductions? Not if the tree huggers and wacko's get in charge. I want to protect the environment but I also want to be able to get out in it and enjoy it. They are already closing off more and more access roads in the National Forests. If you want to get there you better start hiking. Is this a wise use or overboard protection? I'm sure this is a controversial topic. That's why it is MORE important to make sure that the people calling the shots are not elected by knee-jerk public opinion. We all want clean water but even the fish and aquatic life need nutrients and trace elements available. Some people believe that anything other than distilled water is polluted water. How can you argue discharge permit limitations with people that think zero discharge is the only thing allowable?

This is enough. I'll get off the soapbox now. I'm just afraid you're asking for more trouble than you already have. Any other view points are welcome.

[Dave in Mpls]

Better to be elected by the unknowing than appointed by the likes of Jesse Ventura. Give me a break! The entire focus of the DNR Fisheries is slowly turning from fish and getting them into the lakes, to environmental concerns such as creating better shoreline habitat, etc. While habitat, etc is a good thing, the DNR is not going to change a thing with their limited budget and the ever rising price of shoreline real estate. If they indeed want to focus on this, all they need to do is inforce the laws that prohibit property owners from clearing underwater vegitation, etc, etc. Take a look at some aerial photos of lakes which support a growing number of summer homes. Do you think the vegitation which used to be along the shorelines before those cabins were built just magically disappeared? But, alas, they refuse to enforce. Not that a stricter policy would make any difference anyway, as their are too few COs to persue all the offenders. So, what is the answer? I believe it starts with having a person in charge who has a passion for fishing and the outdoors in general, a person who is willing to make a few waves and get the area fisheries managers off thier rumps and start requesting more fish to put in the lakes.

Regards

[JR]

PUNCH-1 I ALSO HAD MANY 5O FISH A DAY DAYS--THE FISHING IS SUPERB--BUT FISHING FOR 16--18 INCH FISH EVERY YEAR SOONER OR LATER WILL NOT WORK--THESE ARE THE FISH THAT WILL EVENTUALLY GET BIGGER--WE WILL SOON BE MISSING YEAR CLASSES OF FISH--ITS GREAT NOW BUT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE FUTURE DOWN THE ROAD.---WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OVER TIME-ANY LAKE WOULD BE A GREAT FISHERY IF THIS WAS IMPLEMETED ELSE WHERE---BUT WILL IT WORK OVER TIME--IF YOU LOOK AT THE REAL DATA--NO WAY --THESE OTHER PRACTICES OF "FISHING" MILLE LACS ARE ALSO DESIGNED TO TAKE THE SMALLER MALES AS WELL--YOU NEED SMALL FISH TO GET BIG FISH---LOWER LIMITS WIDER SLOT RANGE--

[Bad Finger]

I'm glad I'm not the only one here that gets rilled up about the stuation on Mille Lacs!! One word for everyone...PERM !

It was a very good show last night. I do hope that Bolig goes back to the roundtable....he is the only one with the guts to fight this nonscene.

[Paul]

Good points, Dave

I think the DNR has been going down hill the past few years - fewer fish into the lakes, etc

[SUPERTROLLER]

Dave, politicians that make waves don't get re-elected. They become too controversial to appeal to enough voters to keep their job. They will only do what is easy and not ruffle feathers. This will gather more campaign funding for the next election. Just like all our politicians do now. After they get the do nothing tag, enough of us get crazy and elect some unqualified idiot because he promises to do SOMETHING. ANYTHING, but what they're doing now. That is how you got stuck with Jesse.

[Box]

>YOU NEED SMALL FISH TO GET BIG FISH---LOWER
>LIMITS WIDER SLOT RANGE--

Or a graduated slot range. More of a hassle, but better off down the road.


Amen JR!

-Box

[Box]

...awww... I'm deleting what I wrote :)



-Box

[Bert]

>...They know how to win. The sportsman are
>too busy making money and fishing and hunting to even notice
>who's ssslllowwwwlyyyy starting to run the show. And it is
>not the sportsman/fisherman. Remember we live in Mineapolis,
>Minnesota. Third in line to San Fran. and Seattle.

Boy, you nailed that one on the head, Tom!

Sure, fishing is might be great now...but anyone who thinks it's going to stay this way doesn't realize that this year's slot limit basically wiped out 2 year classes of fish that would've been the primary breeders in a few short years.


- Bert

[Bull Hamster]

Listened to the show on KSTP on Sunday....as a licensed guide from Hayward, WI, what is the issue in MN for licensing guides? WI is pretty lame for getting your license but other states require CPR which I advocated this year with a DNR Rep from WI. If you want to carry the title "guide" pay your money, the state helps your lifestyle....stocking lakes and knowing CPR is a must with your clients. This is not big brother, this is monitoring a service that protects he public..,...tell me is not knowing CPR is not good? How do you show you have a business to the IRS if your not licensed or represented by some organizing body. This helps your tax issues..

Second Comment

Who has replaced their puck, radar on their lowerance GPS unit. Do you remove the unit in the winter and bring it inside. My boat was parked inside a garge, but it probably got down to 20 below. Does it damage the pixels(sp) in the outside unit. I have talked to a number of people who had to replace the Puck this year. My was owned only two years.....thoughts? Looks like below zero weather damages the unit, at 250.00 to replace this product needs some review.

Enjoy a tight line,
JB

[JTJnz]

The OP's rant is nothing new. Since the turn of the century Sternberg and many here have loudly proclaimed, over and over, that when the big girls die off, no brood stock will be left to replace them. Of course, the same claim the low forage levels in the past were also a result of an over abundance of larger fish. And in 2002, just like now in 2009, we hear the continued slot will lead to the inevitable and imminent crash. So when exactly will these prophecies come to fruition?

How many strong classes have we seen rise up through the ranks since the beginning of Sternberg's and others' own agenda, you know those individuals who make a living off this great public resource? Are Sternberg and local opponents of the slot basing their opinion on emotion and vested interest, not the facts? I don't know for sure, but reading the same regurgitated rants year after year, I sure get that impression.

[dutchboy]

How does Sternberg make any money off this? Last I heard he had retired from the DNR.

You can debate if he is right or not, but you can't debate his love and respect or the resource.

BTW, how in the world did you find a thread 7 years old? :rock-on:

[Box]

Haha! I was thinking the same thing :) I don't even remember writing my posts above, ha!

[JTJnz]

I didn't know someone dug this post out of the grave. I thought this thread seemed eerily familiar, but thought it was new, hence my post. I guess Bull Hamster should have started a new thread.

[dutchboy]

I didn't know someone dug this post out of the grave. I thought this thread seemed eerily familiar, but thought it was new, hence my post. I guess Bull Hamster should have started a new thread.

Naw, old is good. I'm guessing there are 100's of users here who haven't read this thread so it's "news" to them.:howdy: