Limit change 6 to 4 fish ?

[crappie jigga]

Does anyone have an opinion in regaurds to changing the limit on walleyes from 6 to 4?
Do you think it would be a good idea?
I do alot of fishing in South Dakota and it's unreal the amount of fish you can catch and the quality of fish is well above par.
They have a 4 fish limit and a slot of 16 -20 inches, 1 over 20 inches.
In my opinion we don't need to take 6 walleyes/day.
Most fisherman just want to say they caught there limit. So why not use 2 lines and catch 4 fish. (More fun, less damage)
Around southern Minnesota when a lake gets hot and the bite is on, it will literally get fished out. Then the DNR just has to spened the money to restock it. If you think about it, one third of the fish harvested would still be in the lakes we all fish, which would increase numbers and quality of the fish we catch.
I am no bioligist but, common sense tells me that it would work. Just look at South Dakota. If you've ever fished there you'll know what I'm talking about.
Any other opinions out there? I would like to hear them.

[honker23]

I would be in favor of a 4 fish limit and the use of 2 lines. But I think the SD success has more to do with the habitat/structure/forage and pressure than just the 4 fish limit. In MN how many people do you know that actually catch and keep 6 walleyes a day. I don't think you will find very many, so I don't know how much the numbers would increase with the limit change. I think the paochers or double dippers would be illiegal if the limit was 2 or 20, so it would help to catch more of these guys or punish them worse when caught.

[SWMuskeye]

Here's what I think. How many people do you know who consistently catch 6 fish and bring em all home? Around the metro, I might be able to do it once in a blue moon, and I fish for walleyes a ton.

If I keep a limit (which I never do), it would be because I want some fish to eat. I don't think bringing down the limit changes anything. Most people (probably 90%) are lucky if they can get a few eaters each time out.

I'm for a lower limit, because it wouldn't effect me personally, but for the people who go out once in a very seldom and want to keep fish for their families, then I see no problem with them keeping 6 fish, because it happens so rarely.

I can see the implications on a lake like Mille Lacs. If people could keep 6 fish up there, the lake would be devasted. Luckily there are stricter enforcements.

Ultimately I think that walleye fishing will only get better if anglers make the change, not the limits.

-MB

[walleyewacker]

I would be in favor of a protected slot if anything, or one fish in that slot. If that was the case then lowering the limit wouldnt do much because the majority of fish being kept now are in the 16-20" range. People that are good enough to catch 6 on most outings are all CPR anyway. Two lines would make fishing funner and would not hurt the fishery if a slot was imposed at the same time.

[Aquaman01]

I'm all for a lower limit and a one-over-twenty slot. More and more it's becoming clear that size minimums hurt the trophy-potential of a fishery. Larger ones should be CPR to get those fat pig genes back in the pool.

2 rods? I'd bake a cake for the legislator who proposed two rods! What's the difference, if the individual's limits are the same? I'm always SO super-tempted to cast around with rod #2 while I'm waiting for a cat-bite or waiting for a pike to take my big bait on rod #1.

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Aquaman
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Peace and Fishes

[Mn Walleye 1976]

Aqua,
I hear you there. Been tempted myself.
Lower the limit to 4 or even 3, how many fish can you eat, if you can eat more than that then you need to start keeping fish just a bit larger. Let the fish smaller than 14 inches go and let them grow. A slot would be a good thing, I would not mind a 14-20 inch slot with only 1 fish over 20 inches.

[Tour. Pro 175]

I have no problum with dropping the limit to 4 and also support the 14"-20" with one over 20" I think it would be a big plus for our lakes and rivers.

I would give my right arm for the opportunity to fish with two lines. I like pulling crankbaits. It would make refineing presentations a lot faster and be more efficient especially when I'm fishing alone.

I also don't think there would be any negative implications by imposing the two line rule.

Good Fishing!

[This message has been edited by Tour. Pro 175 (edited 07-22-2003).]

[can it be luck?]

Tour.Pro, I agree 100% about 2 lines. Although I've read others posts in different Forums that 2 lines is unsportsmanlike and tempts the fisherman to overharvest. Similar to the way cigs lead to heroin! I fish 3 lines in Wi., I must be an unethical overharvesting fishing junkie. Others have also posted things like "why would you want to make it easier", Fishing isn't easy! Those people should tie 1 hand behind thier back and wear a blind fold with a cane pole(no hooks) then it would not be so "easy" for them. You are right about the ability to "fine tune" your trolling presentation useing more than 1 line.

[Jim W]

Limit of 4 wouldn't bother me much either!

Jim W

[crappie jigga]

honker 23 and SW Muskeye

That's exactly my point. Not many people can go out everytime and catch their 6 fish, it's unheard of around SW Minnesota. But, 90% of the time I go to SD (and I go there often) I can catch forty to fifty fish in a day, Easy..... Thats no joke....
If I want to take some fish home I do, If I don't I release them all.
My point is, they're doing somthing right over there, we should figure it out.
Yes, alot of the lakes have great habitat, but come on, were the land of 10 thousand lakes, we should be schooling them on how to support a fishery.
I would bet my bottom dollar, if you would ask any person who has ever fished, "would you rather catch 50 fish and keep 4, or maybe get lucky and catch 6 fish to keep?" I think I know what they'd say.
By the way, you guys that think it would be nice useing 2 lines, when your ice fishing you can use 4 lines. You want to talk about fun. That's fun!!!!!!!!!!

[Boss Hawg]

Mabe a walleye stamp and keep it at six
use the funds to restock

[jwilli7122]

I'm all for the 1 over 20 rule. Im also for raising the pike limit to 5 but having a one over 24 (or 23) limit statewide. 2 lines would be nice and what's the harm?

[Guest]

I am all for a slot size. That way we could get a more selective harvest, and I think increased hatches. Have to ask a bioligist about that. Money from a stamp would just go into the general fund to balance the messed up budget. I have enough backlashes with one line. Two would put me over the edge.

[EBass]

Limit of 4 is a good idea. I rarely keep one. And I agree about fishing with two lines. If you're skilled enough to pull it off then I don't see an issue. Unless a carp takes your rod for a swim.

[SuddenlySummer]

I would not want my limit to go lower than 6. I can count on one finger the number of times I've kept a limit of fish.

I would be willing to pay $10 for a stamp that allows me to fish with two rods.

[walleyeking#8]

That would work for me. I'm in favor of it. GOOD FISHING

[Dr. Bob]

Sounds like a heck of an idea to me .

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CWCS Supporter - Keep it open for Everyone.

Crank the Shank!

[Jack Pine]

I rarely keep any fish but I am against lowering the limit. I don’t think any studies have suggested a lower limit would have any significant impact on the population. A small percentage of anglers are capable of consistently catch a limit of fish and I hope most of those anglers catch and release.

I am also concerned when I read people are so willing to adopt very strict slots on a lake. Catch and release is a great thing but it makes no sense releasing fish that have been badly injured no matter what size they are. A slot forces you to do that. The only slot I would support is a minimum size. I think the small fish are the ones most vulnerable to being caught. I want to be careful here because I truly do not want to come off as an elitist here but and am always amazed to see how many of those 11-12 inch fish end up in a fish basket along with the sunnies and crappies. Of course, hook injury is also a problem with small fish too.

One last comment. I think many of us are letting the DNR off way to easy on this subject. In my opinion, they are have not done a very good job of managing many of our lakes. It is not a easy task but it seems they too often take the easy and low cost approach. With today’s fishing pressure, most of our lakes are not capable of sustaining a reasonable population on their own.