Whats open right now!

[Jospeh]

What is open as far as eyes and rivers/lakes... Heard two different stories and just want to make sure? Anybody got anything for me?

[pushbutton]

do not know specifically what stories you heard or exactly what your asking, but you can currently legally fish for eyes on the mississippi river that borders wisconsin.

[Jospeh]

where can a guy fish, i guess im asking for pools anything legal for eyes!

[fishinfey8]

Joseph, you can fish pool 2 for eyes, but it is catch and release only. You can also fish pool 4 for eyes. I don't fish down there so you will have to look up the regulations on how many you can keep and what size.

[Ray1]

The rainy river will be shortly.

[pureinsanity]

Pool 2 = Catch and release only.

Pool 4 = Open continuously. 6 (15" minimum size for walleye)

Joe, you should pick up a regulation book.

I wouldn't believe rumors. I would look it up and know the truth when it comes to this.

here is a link to the regulations, and scroll down to the border waters section.

MN DNR Fishing Regulations

[Jospeh]

Thanks all, I knew all of this just wanted to make sure. Figured i'd ask!

[jwmiller33]

pureinsanity is right, when in doubt you should pick up a regulation book and check for yourself. they are available online as well on the MN DNR's HSOforum. it is surprising how many people don't know the proper regs for the waters they fish

[PerchJerker]

it is surprising how many people don't know the proper regs for the waters they fish

Excellent point.

Several years ago we made an impromptu stop to fish a lake that we hadn't planned on fishing. We had our first walleye that was a candidate for the livewell and realized that we all knew the lake had some specific regulations, but none of us knew for sure what they were. We ended up having to ask someone else on the lake and go by what they told us. Ever since then I've got a copy of the fishing regs every spring and kept them in my boat all year long.

But, you still have to read them.

Just last summer I was fishing with someone in my family who doesn't fish much, on a pretty small pretty remote lake in the middle of nowhere. We had a couple of walleyes in the livewell but thought we needed one more fish for dinner, and ended up keeping a pike. When we got back to the access I saw a sign for pike regs and the pike we had in the livewell was in the the protected slot on that lake. We let the pike go but we were obviously in violation while we had it in the livewell.

So now I put the regs in my boat every spring, and have decided to look up any lake-specifc regs for any lake where I decide to keep a fish.

[jwmiller33]

Well said PerchJerker. I too put a regulations book in my boat at the beginning of each season just to be safe. I also usually keep one in my truck, so I can study up on a body of water before I get there. As a last resort, a guy can always ask the local bait shop they stop at before getting on the water as they will always know the proper regs. Some bodies of water, like Mille Lacs, don't have the walleye limit or slot size restrictions posted in the regs book because it can and does change throughout the year. In that case, you have to ask the guy at the bait shop or give the DNR a call.