conservation fishing licence any one buy or have one?

[mrpike1973]

as we near new fishing licences i'm thinking about getting a conservation license for the wife and me. i rarely keep any fish i kept 2 pike and 3 walleyes last year. so i'm thinking this may be good idea any thoughts

[Fly2day]

I thought the same thing, very rarely keep any fish but I'm still gonna buy a normal licence just because its more money that goes toward protecting the outdoors...

[Adam Wolf]

I've thought about this too, I like the idea of promoting conservation, but if those buying the licenses are generally those who generally do CPR anyway it is just less money going to the fund. I wonder if people are actually changing their consumption habits because of the option of the conservation license. If nothing else I would assume it sends a message that the state takes conservation seriously and sees it as a practical means of controlling fish populations and size structure. Just because there are limits on fish, that doesn't mean if everyone kept their limits it wouldn't have an effect on our lakes and rivers.

[Eric_Kruger]

i buy the full one but the conservation one is nice for the wife she only goes out a fraction of what i do so it saves a bit on the wallet for her to get it....its ok but just remember on a five fish limit you can only take 2 not 2.5 cause it will only round down not up to three fish....

EK

[Juneau4]

i buy the full one but the conservation one is nice for the wife she only goes out a fraction of what i do so it saves a bit on the wallet for her to get it....its ok but just remember on a five fish limit you can only take 2 not 2.5 cause it will only round down not up to three fish....

Wouldn't it be cheaper to buy a combination license than to buy 1 individual and 1 conservation license?

[shizzy]

I thought the same thing, very rarely keep any fish but I'm still gonna buy a normal licence just because its more money that goes toward protecting the outdoors...

same here. I keep maybe 2 meals worth of panfish a season, but Ill gladly pay the extra for the same reason.

[BucksnDucks]

Why do you guys feel the need to jus so freely give your money up to the DNR if your not taking nething?? The additional $ your throwing down the crapper to purchase the regular license if your not keeping any fish is a total waste the way I see it. Seriously think about it, that additional money is supposed to to cover your share of fish that you take from MN waters. Well if your not taking any fish and returning all you catch to the water, your [PoorWordUsage] money rite down your leg the way I see it.

[Juneau4]

Why do you guys feel the need to jus so freely give your money up to the DNR if your not taking nething?? The additional $ your throwing down the crapper to purchase the regular license if your not keeping any fish is a total waste the way I see it. Seriously think about it, that additional money is supposed to to cover your share of fish that you take from MN waters. Well if your not taking any fish and returning all you catch to the water, your [PoorWordUsage] money rite down your leg the way I see it.

Its their money, If someone wishes to buy a walley stamp thats not needed it's their choice. If I wish to buy a trout stamp and not fish trout- my choice. So in other words why are you so concerned what other people do with their money?

[shizzy]

Why do you guys feel the need to jus so freely give your money up to the DNR if your not taking nething?? The additional $ your throwing down the crapper to purchase the regular license if your not keeping any fish is a total waste the way I see it. Seriously think about it, that additional money is supposed to to cover your share of fish that you take from MN waters. Well if your not taking any fish and returning all you catch to the water, your [PoorWordUsage] money rite down your leg the way I see it.

I guess my $40 donation every year for my Critical habitat plates is a waste of money too? I dont see the money for license the same as paying for fish. so it cost me $18 for the joy of wetting a line any time I want.

I love the outdoors, love the fact that MN has so many places for someone to be outdoors. if my $18 helps maintain that then so be it.

[deadeye]

Well I see getting a regular license and not taking a limit about the same as buying a conservation plate for their car, dontating to ducks unlimited, pheasants forever, ect. Just because you got the license to take that many fish doesn't mean you got to. It's your own choice.

I'm pretty sure that the dnr could use all the money they get and then some so if people want to give a extra couple bucks why not.

I think the whole conservation license is great for casual fisherpeople who maybe go once or twice a year. They are not the ones out there everyday using the resource so it makes perfect sense for them.

Even if someone lets all their fish go but fishes 4 days a week they will inherintly "take" more fish. In that case I think they should pony up for the big bucks license since they are using the resource at a higher rate. Greater use comes with greater responsibilty. Just my opinion not that its worth anything.

[Colt_45]

Me and the girlfriend both have one. Mainly cause she only goes on the lake half a dozen times year round and I don't keep any fish and get out very little too. I haven't kept a fish in years. Plus I wasn't happy with the new sales tax, mainly the way it was advertised as clean water when it had more to do with other stuff.

[BucksnDucks]

Good for all you who dont see the value of a dollar! Im glad that you werent ever taught the true value of the money that sum of us work so hard for. Do you not see that every single year our license fees increase??? It is amazing how nowadays we have to spend soooo much more $ to fish the same fish that years prior to now, were much more abundt. Try to tell some of those guys prior to use how happy and great you are for forking out money hand over fist to fish! They like me would laugh in your face and call you a fool! The point im tryn to make and now obviously having to defend my words over is this...Money unlike some or you and the DNR's thinkn does not grow on trees. We as tax-payn citizens shouldnt have to fork out said money for what, to put more CO out on patrols. I fish panfish, what have they done to restore pan-fish in lakes??? Nothing, now go figure why im upset to pay out more money today than I had to 10 years ago!

[deadeye]

I guess I never thought 17$ was that much to go fishing for a year especially considering what you break down what your paying for. I would venture to say that fishing today is as good or better than it was "yesterday" too.

Ya, it does cost a bit more to fish today but if you look at inflation I'm pretty sure that the license fee hasn't even kept up with that.

[Juneau4]

Good for all you who dont see the value of a dollar! Im glad that you werent ever taught the true value of the money that sum of us work so hard for. Do you not see that every single year our license fees increase??? It is amazing how nowadays we have to spend soooo much more $ to fish the same fish that years prior to now, were much more abundt. Try to tell some of those guys prior to use how happy and great you are for forking out money hand over fist to fish! They like me would laugh in your face and call you a fool! The point im tryn to make and now obviously having to defend my words over is this...Money unlike some or you and the DNR's thinkn does not grow on trees. We as tax-payn citizens shouldnt have to fork out said money for what, to put more CO out on patrols. I fish panfish, what have they done to restore pan-fish in lakes??? Nothing, now go figure why im upset to pay out more money today than I had to 10 years ago!

In the year 2000 a minnesota individual fishing license cost $17.00- anyone under 16 was free. Everything for an individual is the same now. The only thing that has changed is that an individual over 65 now has to pay the regular fee and not receive one at a reduced rate. That means you were either under 16 or over 65 ten years if your paying more for an angling license now.

[waterbound]

BucksnDucks, you say you fish panfish and you have a right to complain because the DNR does nothing for panfish? I guess the lakes listed here are all minor exceptions to that rule: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/showstocking.html?year=2008&county=&species=PNK%7CBLG

And we can ignore the special regulations for crappies and sunfish on all of these lakes and rivers:

Crappies

Annie Battle, and inlets & outlets 11” minimum, 5 fish bag

Big Mantrap 10” minimum, 5 fish bag

Big Stone 10 fish bag

Cedar Morrison 5 fish bag

Crawford 5 fish bag

Dyers 5 fish bag

Eunice 10” minimum, 5 fish bag

Fladmark 5 fish bag

Franklin 10” minimum, 5 fish bag

Gilbert 5 fish bag

Goodrich 5 fish bag

Goose 5 fish bag

Green 9” minimum

Horseshoe 5 fish bag

Inguadona 5 fish bag

Itasca 5 fish bag

Lida, South and North 11” minimum

Little Cormorant 10” minimum, 5 fish bag

Little Sauk 5 fish bag

Mandall 5 fish bag

Maple 10” minimum, 5 fish bag

Mary 5 fish bag

Maud 10” minimum, 5 fish bag

Mink-Somers 5 fish bag

North Turtle 10” minimum

Norway 5 fish bag

Ozawindib 10” minimum

Rabour 5 fish bag

Rice (connected to Inguadona) 5 fish bag

Rogers 5 fish bag

Spider 10 “ minimum

Stuart 10” minimum

Sugar 5 fish bag

Sylvan 5 fish bag

Twenty One 5 fish bag

Venstrom 11” minimum

Sunfish

Annie Battle, and inlets and outlets 5 fish bag

Bass 5 fish bag

Battle 10 fish bag

Bear Creek Reservoir 10 fish bag. 7” minimum during Nov.-April 30

Big Stone 10 fish bag

Black Bass 5 fish bag

Blackduck 5 fish bag

Carnelian 5 fish bag

Cottonwood 5 fish bag

Crawford 5 fish bag

Deer 10 fish bag

Dyers 5 fish bag

Eunice 5 fish bag

Fladmark 10 fish bag

Gilbert 5 fish bag

Goodrich 5 fish bag

Grave 5 fish bag

Gull 5 fish bag

Hendricks 10 fish bag

Horseshoe 5 fish bag

Inguadona 5 fish bag

Itasca 10 fish bag

Lind 5 fish bag

Little Cormorant 5 fish bag

Little Sauk 5 fish bag

Little Toad 10 fish bag

Mary 5 fish bag

Maud 5 fish bag

Mink-Somers 5 fish bag

Mud 10 fish bag

Norway 5 fish bag

Ox Yoke 10 fish bag

Pickerel 10 fish bag

Pimushe 10 fish bag

Pleasant 5 fish bag

Rice (connected to Inguadona) 5 fish bag

Rogers 5 fish bag

Sanburn 10 fish bag

Sand 5 fish bag

Star 10 fish bag

Sylvan 5 fish bag

Traverse 10 fish bag

Twenty One 10 fish bag

Mississippi River Pools 5, 5a, 8 10 fish bag

Bois de Sioux River 10 fish bag

License fees go to the resources and are a good thing. The true value of a dollar means a lot to most everyone and I think a fishing license is worth well over $17. I paid $50 for a nonresident Wisconsin license and an additional $10 for a trout stamp to only fish in the state 10 days this past year, and I'm gladly going to do it again this year.

[andrew chadwick]

I will gladly pay 17$ a year to fish minnesota. Some people even buy duck stamps just to support waterfowl populations and don't even hunt them. Its only 17$, for an activity I enjoy every week of the year. I think its a steal of a deal.

Ducksn bucks, if you are complaining about our liscences, don't even dream of going to Wisc and getting a , where you have to pay 50$ for a liscence, 10$ for an inland trout stamp so I can fish the brule for steelhead, and 10$ for a trout stamp so I can fish superior for lakers.

Simply put, MN liscences are cheaper than most places. look, for example at how expensive it is for a minnesotan to hunt Iowa for whitetails, then how cheap it is for an Iowan to hunt minnesota for whitetails.

As for panfish managment, well it all comes down to the angler releasing big fish and keeping the medium ones.

[Zoob]

Good for all you who dont see the value of a dollar! Im glad that you werent ever taught the true value of the money that sum of us work so hard for. Do you not see that every single year our license fees increase??? It is amazing how nowadays we have to spend soooo much more $ to fish the same fish that years prior to now, were much more abundt. Try to tell some of those guys prior to use how happy and great you are for forking out money hand over fist to fish! They like me would laugh in your face and call you a fool! The point im tryn to make and now obviously having to defend my words over is this...Money unlike some or you and the DNR's thinkn does not grow on trees. We as tax-payn citizens shouldnt have to fork out said money for what, to put more CO out on patrols. I fish panfish, what have they done to restore pan-fish in lakes??? Nothing, now go figure why im upset to pay out more money today than I had to 10 years ago!

Everyone here values the dollar - what you're failing to realize is that everyone here also values what the DNR does for us. Not quite sure if you realize, but the DNR is pretty darn cash strapped these days - and if a couple bucks from folks like us help them out - then I'm all for it. It's the same reason I get loon plates, get the full license (C&R 100%), and do volunteer work for both the DNR and USFS. I also get the yearly WI out-of-state fishing license (heck, I love NE WI, too).

I value the dollar, but I don't value hoarding the dollar. We see the extra money going to the DNR as a good thing.

[mn_bowhunter]

Any money that the DNR raises in license fees is also matched by a fund the feds have set up that has excise tax on fishing related items. The act is called the Dingell-Johnson act. It may not be dollar for dollar, but it is distributed in proportion for all states. More money raised=more money from fund. this is why I think they instituted the conservation licenses. To get casual anglers to buy a license instead of not fishing or chancing not getting caught. Even though my wife has only fished with me 3 times in the seven years we've known each other she will still be getting a regular license. It's also cheap for us since I have the lifetime.

[mikey1685]

i have no problem paying $17.00 for license an fact i wouldn't even mind paying $20.00 if they raised it, considering the enjoyment i get from fishing, very cheap part of the fishing,

[mrklean]

i have the conservation because i am fishing less and less every year and i never keep fish i really like the option

[BrdHunter01]

Good for all you who dont see the value of a dollar! Im glad that you werent ever taught the true value of the money that sum of us work so hard for. Do you not see that every single year our license fees increase??? It is amazing how nowadays we have to spend soooo much more $ to fish the same fish that years prior to now, were much more abundt. Try to tell some of those guys prior to use how happy and great you are for forking out money hand over fist to fish! They like me would laugh in your face and call you a fool! The point im tryn to make and now obviously having to defend my words over is this...Money unlike some or you and the DNR's thinkn does not grow on trees. We as tax-payn citizens shouldnt have to fork out said money for what, to put more CO out on patrols. I fish panfish, what have they done to restore pan-fish in lakes??? Nothing, now go figure why im upset to pay out more money today than I had to 10 years ago!

BucksnDucks, you need to get a clue buddy.... The DNR does a lot for all of us and for every species of fish on their EXTREMELY limited budget.

How much money worth of rods and reels do you own?

How much was your boat/truck?

How much gas do you spend in an average fishing season?

Bait?

Equipment? such as finders, GPS, life jacket, tackle, line, ect, ect, ect.....

If you really knew the "value" of a dollar you would buy your fish from the grocery store! Now whos the DA?

[H2O Milfoil]

MN $17.00 res individual

WI $20.00 res individual

IA $17.50 res individual

MN $11.00 res conservation individual

MN 1 day $8.50 res or NR

IA 1 day, $8.00 res, $9.00 NR

IA 7 day $12.00 res, $30.50 NR

MN $39.50 NR

MN 3 day, $24.00 NR

MN 7 day, $28.50 NR

IA $39.50 NR

WI $50.00 NR

WI $10.00 Great Lakes stamp, res or NR

WI $14.00 2 day GL license, res or NR

So, how much do you spend on a carton of cancer sticks or a jug of your favorite booze, or a tank of gas? How much bang for your buck do you get?

[H2O Milfoil]

Yes! That is exactly what I tell people. I can go to Lake Michigan and get some salmon at $40 a pound. Heck, I can go to Byerly's and get salmon for $20 a pound and walleye for $15 a pound. And I didn't have to drive, or put up with the sunburn, or the smell of the water, or the burn on my thumb from a screaming drag!

[croixflats]

Be nice. Everyone has a choice if you disagree with the choices thats fine but what gives anybody the right to badger someone on their choice or supporting a choice. Argue the choices respect the thoughts of others.

[Eric_Kruger]

technically the wifey wont be the wifey til we pic a date!