MN Conservation Volunteer Article

[Shawn Kellett]

Did anyone have a chance to read this article? It's very well done talking about the past present and future of the pike fishery in MN.

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/volunteer/janfeb11/pike_management.html

[Steve Foss]

I read it. Excellent article.

Slots are working great guns on most slot pike lakes. There are a couple in particular that I've fished for 10 to 25 years that have really turned around in the 8 or so years since the slots were instituted. Both are 24-36 slot lakes. Both now have a ton of fish over 30 inches. I'd like to see both graduate to 30-40 inch slot lakes.

I'm catching lots of fish from 30-40 inches on both these lakes, including 6-10 per year the last couple of years over 36 inches. Four of those fish were between 39 and 40 inches (on drive-to northern MN lakes). That's some quality pike fishing.

I expect to break the 40 inch mark on one of these two lakes next early ice season. These things would not be happening without the pike slots.

[OnAFly]

I completely agree. I just wish more lakes would have protected slots. It would be nice not having to drive 4 hours to find decent pike fishing, even if it were CPR only.