walleye stamp-just over 5000

[laker1]

were sold last year according to a recent news article. Does that mean some people really do not want all lakes to be walleye lakes. Actually some people would rather fish other species? WOW I am one of them. Moderation is not always bad. I like walleyes but trying to make some good bass- panfish lakes is wrong and some lakes just have to many northern pike and stocking these lakes brings up the cost. Maybe we should be buying these stamps to just maintain what we have with expenses going up ?

[laker1]

The walleye program is a good program and we should buy the stamp, but we should stock walleye into lakes that make good walleye lakes. We should support the walleye program by buying the stamps, but we should not be stocking just about every lake with walleyes. They are put into many lakes because of political pressure. Minnesota does have other fish species we should be managing also.

[primetime49]

It cost 5.5x what the stamp brought in to produce it

like you said not everyone wants all lakes to have walleye

costs of stocking walleye are coming down due to private walleye stock is now purchased by DNR

how come walleye fishermen dont do like musky guys and go volunteer to raise move and work walleye into lakes???

wish that more was done with proven lakes and less with spreading walleye evrywhere

[shnelson]

how come walleye fishermen dont do like musky guys and go volunteer to raise move and work walleye into lakes???

wish that more was done with proven lakes and less with spreading walleye evrywhere

Can you tell me how a walleye fisherman could get engaged in this activity? I'm not trying to come off as a jerk, i'm truly interested as I have a lake close to my place that I'd be more than happy to volunteer my time and efforts into improving it. Doesn't seem that they openly advertise that they'd take on volunteer help though.

[waterbound]

I don't think that there is a walleye equivalent to Muskies, Inc. so it's not as easy for them to get a group together to volunteer and do something like stock a lake or two. One thing you could do would be talk to the lake association and suggest that they purchase walleyes from a farm. You'll need to get it approved by the DNR and the proper paperwork in order but I know it can and has been done before.

[JBMasterAngler]

According to the outdoor news there were 7,000 stamps sold, generating $35,000...only $10,000 of which was actually used for stocking (the rest for advertising/promotion). This year there going to spend less on advertising, and instead have all vendors ask license buyers if they want to purchase the stamp.

[candiru]

People just don't trust that the money they spend is going to go to what was intended. From the figures above just $2 per stamp actually went into stocking.

[laker1]

The money is very accountable to where it goes. The reason so little if any was spent was you have initial costs to start the program. Stamp design, printing etc. After that it would go more to that program. Also fingerlings from private sources were no cheaper than what DNR crews could produce. The problem was some areas cost were higher than others. That has been eliminated to some degree. The bottom line is fingerlings are expensive for raising and mortality that occurs as they grow up to be keepers is high for what you get in return. and 99% of are walleyes are going tom have to be fry stocking or natural.

[laker1]

Sorry for spelling error. Bottom line is that the future for good numbers of catchable walleyes is going to have to be from fry stocking or natural.

[Musky Buck]

The people I talked to none of us were asked about the walleye stamp and many of us had our check written out and were on our way home or remembered it later. I think next year it will be purchased more.

[solbes]

If they can get the $1.42 (what I came up with) of actual stocking dollars up to around $3 or $4 from the $5 stamp, maybe I'll invest next year. I like the idea, it's just a little heavy on admin costs.

[BEEFEATER]

I think the walleye stamp is great. Only problem is when i bought it from wallmart i also bought my regular liscense and a trout stamp. i paid for all 3 but only the two showed up on the liscense. the walt stamp did not. so for all i know the guy behind the counter could have just pocketed my 5 bucks. he said he entered the stamp but who knows. did it show up on you folks liscense?

[BEEFEATER]

On side note im all for just charging like 50 bones for the regular liscense. if people dont want to buy it oh well. Then the dnr can just pop people for no liscense and collect some extra fees.

[solbes]

There has been some reports that state license numbers are dropping. The pool of money available for stocking is proportional to the license sales. Raise the fees too high and you risk losing people forever. Also I like to see kids today get out and enjoy the outdoors; they are the future.

This $5 stamp is one way of increasing stocking dollars without losing anglers who are on the fence with the fees. I'm in support as long as it remains voluntary.

[cbrooks]

I wasn't aware there was a walleye stamp. Next year when I buy my stamp I'll make sure to buy one. This is a great idea.

[waterbound]

I think that it would be a good idea to raise the license fees a little bit to around $20 but also to raise the age that people can fish without a license to 18. That might encourage more kids to fish. I know that when I turned 16 I didn't have a job and not much money to spend on a license in addition to gas for my car and what not.

[laker1]

You have to realize too that the legislature has been deciding to be nice and give free or reduced licenses or the license for potables you now do not need(may of been a good idea but all the changes have cost close to or over a million dollars) a tag license if occupied. Also general revenues they once got are now gone with the administration pulling those in.

[lovebigbluegills]

As was mentioned, it wouldn't hurt my feelings if they increased the price of the annual fishing license. I think the dollar amount mentioned was $50--that's the price of taking the wife out to a nice supper and a drink, a tank of gas, etc.

The relaxation I get from fishing (open water and ice fishing) is worth way more than $50 to me.

[backlash 1]

May be a little off topic, but if the DNR is hurting for money, why not go to a fee for a second line in summer. It would be easy money for them, I mean the limit is still the same right?

[Beast26]

I would like to see them change a bunch of things.

Raise the cost of a fishing license to 30 bucks.

Make it so young people don't have to buy a license until 18. With a valid college ID you do NOT need to purchase a license. This would hopefully get more young people involved in fishing!

Sell a Catch and Release license for 20 bucks. You can fish but you can't keep anything.

Keep the walleye stamp. It will work if the DNR asks those selling licenses to ask people if they want to purchase it. Quit spending the proceeds on advertising! Waste of money that could be spent on stocking fish.

Offer a senior citizen license for 10 bucks. Most that are older don't have the money that you or I have.

[laker1]

at the present price of gas a fishing license will buy about 6 gallons. The price of a license is cheap for what we get in return.

[Big Tom]

I'd like to see a power loading stamp.