Eating walleye -- safe??

[rmitchel]

I have done most of my Wisconsin fishing so far in the northern part of the state. But this year, I plan to take up trolling. Probably on the Wisconsin River below Wisconsin Rapids or on the Fox River (Depere Dam). What I am wondering is whether people eat these fish. I have heard about suggestions from the DNR to limit in tack of fish from the Wisconsin River for instance.

Any thoughts about the fish on the Fox and Wisconsin as table fare?

Thanks.

[Amdahl]

Mathman-

Went to high school and college in Stevens Point. Fished the river quite a bit. As I recall, there isn't a problem eating a meal of fish out of the Wisconsin, just not a steady diet. Tough to get a steady diet though as most of the fish seldom seem to get to be 15 inches :-)

Amdahl

[Goldpig]

Not sure about WI, but the MN DNR puts out a yearly fish consumption advisory for all bodies of water in Minnesota. I would check to see if the WI DNR has something similar on their website that you can order.

[exnj]

I fished the Fox below Depere 2 years ago and saw many signs advising against eating the fish from that river. You can smell the paper mills and judge for yourself. I think it's a catch,photo and release kind of river. Just my 2 pennies.

Lou

[BD]

The Wiscowsin DNR has an advisory pamphlet. The advisories may also be online. I WOULD NOT eat any fish from the Fox River between Neenah and Green Bay. The paper mills dumped PBC's etc. into the river for decades and the advisories for this area were that no pregnant women or children eat these fish, and others should eat one meal a week at most. The large fish in this area should not be eaten at all. If the conditions have improved and the advisories have changed I have not heard.

[MOeyez]

Fished quite a bit below Nekoosa and Biron. Seems like the locals always keep 'em and eat 'em. To me they smell and taste like paper. DuBay and Big Eau Pleine fish are tasty, though. :) Just my two cents.

Mike

[rmitchel]

Mike: Thanks for you input on the BPS Line Counter Reel thread.

Hey, as you can guess, I am going to do some trolling this year. I live in Stevens Point. I have fishing the Eau Plene and Du Bay, but never trolled. Have done this on either of these waters?

Thanks.

[33" Walleye]

I wouldn't eat any fish. If you want to catch larger walleyes, release the ones you catch now. It makes me sick to see people keep 13 to 15 inchers.

[john]

Hey 33 inch walleye,

What should make you sick is guys clubing 26" fish, a harvest of smaller fish won't kill the fishery.

Get over it buddy, responsible harvest should not be condemened - do you work for PETA?

[eyesdux]

Not if you like your Hair!! LOL

[Peter H]

Try Wisconsin DNR at http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/fhp/fish/advisories/

Hope this helps. To make a decision to eat a walleye depends on a number of variables as the web site will explain, where, how big, who is eating them and the frequency you are going to consume.

[MOeyez]

No, just some meat-draggin'. Didn't take up trolling cranks and bouncers till I came down here, where there's lots of water, but not so many eyes. Got a chance at a real monster, though, which makes it even more fun. :7

My best bud lives near Rapids. Over the years, we've mostly been content to relax on the water, stay out of the stumps, fish bait on the channel drops, catch-and-release the smaller fish that always hang there, tip a cold one or two. Nothing serious--but the pigs are definitely out there somewhere.

Pat Pierce, a DuBay guide, used to claim that the next state record was swimming in the lake. His website was interesting, but unfortunately I don't remember the address. Sorry!

Mike