Largest walleye this season?

[bigeyes]

CIBL-I know this will not come across very civil, and for that I apologize, but I have seen a few of you photo's now and been to the msn group site and can't help but notice lots of very nice fish being butchered. Are you a sportsmen or another meat hunter(comments about extra coolers for fish make me sick) I am fine with keeping a nice fish for the wall, but it sure seems like you are wasting one hell of a resource. Are you from the Erie area I got there every year and it seems everybody over there abuses the fishery the way that you seem to. I for one would hang my head in shame holding all those dead pigs! I am sure I will catch some heat for judging you so fire away, but I certainly hope I am wrong about you.

[can it be luck?]

First of all, no apologies needed. Everyone is entitled to thier beliefs, whether "misguided" or not. Well, where do we start? I'll comment my thoughts about your post starting from the top. Butchered? You butcher a pig or a cow. I prefer to fillet my fish. You ask if I'm a "sportsman" or a "meat hunter". Can't a sportsman keep fish? Explain to me what a "sportsman" is? Extra coolers makes you sick? First of all I said chest freezers. One for food and fillets, and one for mounters. This eliminates the need for coolers other than one for the boat and bait. You say it seems to be a waste of a hell of a resource. Every state plus Canada has an allotment of fish harvest from Erie. Canada uses a good chunk of thiers for commercial netting. Ohio opts in the sportsmans favor...Maybe I should've said "meat hunters" favor. A combined effort of all involved decide on what a safe and allowable harvest should be. If anglers dont keep them, netters will, or there'll be an increase in the daily bag limit. The fishery by no means is in trouble, in fact it's thriveing just fine. What you call abuse, I call keeping a legal limit. You may hang your head in shame, I hold mine high and proud. You say that you hope your wrong about me. Whether it be right or wrong is for you to decide. Yes I keep fish, I don't cull them, that is my daily bag. If I threw them back what would I have to keep? I can't help it if there all big! Understand, we're talking Erie, not some little local lake. Each lake is unique, requireing a different approach to harvesting fish. That being said, let's not judge lake Erie to small inland lakes, there's a BIG DIFFERENCE! How many walleye can you keep off LOTW? I know for a fact guys are there to bring home a limit year after year..........Enough.

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[bigeyes]

Very sad, I hope you don't rape our MN lakes the way you do Erie. So don't release anything just keep those limits of 10 pounders that is good thinking! Just grab the old chain saw and start butchering them up. BTW there is a hell of a lot of differnce between keeping a limit of 13" sauger out of LOW and a limit of 10 pounders from Erie. Guess well just have to disagree on this think and let it go. At least I know where you stand and please don't ever call yourself a sportsmen!

[can it be luck?]

Bigeyes, you talk a lot....But say nothing! Explain the differance between the two. What's a sportsman? And I'm heading your way this week...As you say, "To rape your lakes!" Shhesh, Guys like you give PETA all the ammo they need! What about harvestable limits? Or netting? PLEASE COMMENT on those issues. A little constructive criticizm might strenghten your points vs voiceing opinions with NO substanance!

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[This message has been edited by can it be luck? (edited 02-04-2004).]

[can it be luck?]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Definition: \Sports"man\, n.;pl. {Sportsmen}.
One who pursues the sports of the field; one who hunts,
fishes, etc.

IN-FISHERMAN PROFESSIONAL
WALLEYE TRAIL®

PWT Records & Statistics
Event # of Con-
testants # of Fish Total Weight Avg. Weight Avg. Catch No of Limits Purse
Mille Lacs Lake, MN 1989
Steve Fellegy, Aitkin, MN, 32.27 lbs 150 868 1639.96 1.89 10.93 52 $82,500
1990
Lake Oahe, Mobridge, SD
Mike McClelland, Pierre, SD, 58.00 lbs 153 1463 4408.36 3.01 28.82 290 $70,000
Lake Winnebago, Fond du Lac, WI
Leon Houle, Little Canada, MN, 33.96 lbs 108 306 626.70 2.05 5.80 8 $82,000
Mille Lacs Lake, MN
Chad Hall, Algona, IA, 36.70 lbs. 170 1558 2889.77 1.80 17.00 145 $77,000
Saginaw Bay, Bay City, MI
Vaughn Cornelius, Apple Valley, MN, 80.78 lbs 99 1127 3876.38 3.44 39.15 156 $56,000
Rainy River, Int'l Falls, MN Championship
Mark Martin, Twin Lake, MI, 39.52 lbs. 40 498 950.00 1.91 23.17 80 $100,500
1991
Lake Erie, Put-in-Bay, OH
Gary Roach, Merrifield, MN, 87.38 lbs. 132 1573 6365.04 4.05 48.27 213 $68,500
Lake Oahe, Mobridge, SD
Robert Allen, Rapid City, SD, 39.96 lbs. 146 946 2348.92 2.48 16.09 97 $68,500
Lake Winnebago, Fond du Lac, WI
Dan Plautz, Muskego, WI, 61.46 lbs. 123 638 1761.51 2.76 14.32 31 $96,500
Ft Peck Reservoir, Glasgow, MT
Chad Hall, Algona, IA, 42.40 lbs. 112 639 1757.77 2.75 15.69 85 $79,700
Saginaw Bay, Bay City, MI Championship
Dave Hanson, Bemidji, MN, 72.74 lbs. 41 392 1409.30 3.60 34.37 59 $100,500
1992 (first year of Pro-Am events)
Lake Erie, Put-in-Bay, OH
Steve Bissett, Elk River, MN, 132.56 lbs.
Jake Trujillo, Cheyenne, WY, 122.14 lbs. 258 1979 11,569.57 5.85 89.68 267 $105,000
Mille Lacs Lake, MN
Ron Anlauf, Braham, MN, 72.78 lbs.
Tom Kotosky, Woodbury, MN, 64.60 lbs. 278 3166 6811.00 2.15 49.00 355 $105,000
Devils Lake, ND
Harry Stiles, Pierre, Stillwater, MN, 58.64 lbs.
Todd Powell, Eagle River, WI, 46.94 lbs. 226 685 1980.06 2.89 17.52 25 $105,000
Lake Oahe, Pierre, SD
Tom Zenanko, Brooklyn Ctr, MN, 66.26 lbs.
Phil Jensen, Moose Lake, MN, 61.48 lbs. 248 2159 5201.92 2.41 41.96 244 $116,200
Lake Erie, Port Clinton, Ohio
Championship
John Bergsma, Grandville, MI, 79.54 lbs. 42 455 2401.20 5.28 57.17 105 $101,000
1993
Lake Erie, Put-in-Bay, OH
Ross Nichols, Anoka, MN, 121.80 lbs.
David Neuman, Lewisberry, PA, 123.56 278 2061 14955.41 7.26 107.60 411 $126,000
Mille Lacs Lake, MN
Gary Roach, Merrifield, MN, 68.08 lbs.
Kevin Spaeth, Apple Valley, MN, 61.86 lbs. 296 2078 5518.90 2.66 37.28 178 $126,000
Saginaw Bay, Bay City, MI
Steve Fellegy, Aitkin, MN, 125.52 lbs.
Kirk Bachman, Montrose, MI, 118.72 lbs. 238 1600 7674.87 4.80 64.48 192 $126,000
Lake Oahe, Pierre, SD
Ron Seelhoff, Lewellen, NE, 73.04 lbs.
1854Troy Bosard, Sidney, NE, 69.30 lbs. 258 1854 4877.38 2.63 37.80 153 $141,200
Lake of the Woods, Baudette, MN
Championship
Steve Fellegy, Aitkin, MN, 42.56 lbs. 42 452 1079.79 2.39 25.71 70 $101,000
1994
Lake Erie, Put-in-Bay, OH
Mike McClelland, Pierre, SD, 117.42 lbs.
Dave Zurawski, Bloomingdale, IL, 112.02 lbs. 306 1995 12,276.81 6.15 80.24 346 $140,000
Lake Oahe, Mobridge, SD
Gary Parsons, Chilton, WI, 34.30 lbs.
Greg Hochhalter, Mobridge, SD, 38.48 lbs. 240 208 693.67 3.33 5.78 1 140,000
Lake Winnebago, Fond du Lac, WI
Greg Horoky, Harrow, Ontario, 65.94 lbs.
John Muszynski, Elmhurst, IL, 47.26 lbs. 240 1221 2416.02 1.98 20.13 49 $140,000
Saginaw Bay, Bay City, MI
Keith Kavajecz, Chilton, WI, 86.02 lbs.
Doug Tschirhart, Midland, MI, 83.00 lbs. 228 834 4836.81 5.80 42.42 85 $151,260
Lake of the Woods, Baudette, MN
Championship
Perry Good, Eagan, MN, 46.10 lbs. 52 523 1506.30 2.88 28.96 64 $125,000
1995
Lake Erie, Put-in-Bay, OH
Will Lage, Rapid City, SD, 101.06 lbs.
Todd Buck, Lombard, IL, 82.06 lbs. 270 999 5460.86 5.47 40.45 95 $165,000
Mille Lacs Lake, MN
Perry Good, Eagan, MN, 48.66 lbs.
270 909 2561.62 2.82 18.97 8 $165,000
Lake Winnebaog, Oshkosh, WI
Chris Gilman, Mosinee, WI, 37.00 lbs.
George Fredin, Roscoe, IL, 36.20 lbs. 260 1802 2566.76 1.42 19.74 148 $165,000
Lake Oahe, Pierre, SD
Ron Seelhoff, Lewellen, NE, 97.24 lbs.
Eric Pearson, Burnsville, MN, 90.98 lbs. 250 1697 6061.00 3.57 48.48 135 $165,000
Saginaw Bay, AuGres, MI
Championship
Mark Brumbaugh, Arcanum, OH, 32.80 42 111 473.64 4.27 11.27 8 $141,000
1996
Lake Norfork, AR
Walleye Super Pro
Ron Anlauf, Braham, MN, 29.67 lbs.
Mark Magura, Valparaiso, IN, 23.92 lbs. 80 170 366.47 2.15 9.16 1 $150,000
Lake of the Woods, Baudette, MN
John Peterson, Bemidji, MN, 46.30 lbs.
Jef Gibbs, Trenton, MI, 42.15 lbs. 254 1737 3424.39 1.97 26.96 190 $184,000
Lake Winnebago, Oshkosh, WI
Dave Kraft, Bismarck, ND, 41.07 lbs.
John Hohensee, Iron River, MI, 39.09 lbs. 260 1727 3009.15 1.74 16.09 187 $184,000
Saginaw Bay, AuGres, MI
Shannon Kehl, Bismarck, ND, 118.00 lbs.
Fred Goodrow, AuGres, MI, 102.39 lbs. 250 1462 7987.31 5.46 63.00 148 $184,000
Lake Oahe, Pierre, SD
Mark Brumbaugh, Arcanum, OH, 100.51 lbs.
Mitch Richter, Sioux Falls, SD, 82.62 lbs. 258 1703 5907.53 3.47 45.79 188 $184,000
Missouri River, Bismarck, ND
Championship
James Randash, Rapid City, SD, 46.80 lbs. 42 421 907.67 2.16 21.61 45 $145,200
1997
Lake Ouachita, AR
Walleye Super Pro
Chad Hall, Algona, IA, 38.97 lbs.
Charles Tipton, Jr, Box Elder, SD, 24.64 lbs. 90 291 684.61 2.35 15.21 16 $158,000
Mississippi River, Dubuque, IA
Chris Gilman, Mosinee, WI, 25.18 lbs.
Steve Haferbecker, Dubuque, IA, 19.16 lbs. 260 555 929.12 1.67 7.14 14 $183,900
Leech Lake, Walker, MN
Dale Dykes, Leon, IA, 29.85 lbs.
Greg McConville, Clive, IA 19.16 lbs. 260 524 1315.13 2.51 10.11 5 $183,900
Lake St. Clair, Mt Clemons, MI
Dave VanOss, Appleton, WI, 49.13 lbs. 246 1402 2564.59 1.83 20.85 141 $183,900
Ft Peck Reservoir, Glasgow, MT
Perry Good, Eagan, MN, 56.55 lbs.
James Olson, Mead, WA, 53.57 lbs. 258 1276 2972.91 2.33 23.04 99 $183,900
Missouri River, Bismarck, ND
Championship
Rick LaCourse, Oregon, OH, 29.79 lbs. 42 355 655.61 1.85 15.60 32 $145,200
1998
Lake Stockton, MO
Walleye Super Pro
Daryl Christensen, Montello, WI, 22.57 lbs.
Rich Crannick, Overland Park, KS, 28.93 lbs. 44 133 360.07 2.71 16.37 6 $180,000
Lake Erie, Port Clinton, OH
Gary Gray, Oshkosh, WI, 87.38 lbs.
Charlie Christofferson, Park Rapids, MN, 89.17 lbs. 240 1433 6003.28 4.19 50.03 211 $203,000
Leech Lake, Walker, MN
Pete Harsh, Sauk Centre, MN, 22.60 lbs.
Ray Legatt, Rice, MN, 21.86 lbs. 240 629 963.01 1.53 8.03 34 $203,000
Lake Oahe, Pierre, SD
Gary Parsons, Chilton, WI, 69.63. lbs.
Edward Arbogast, Isanti, MN, 66.06 lbs. 240 1809 4376.97 2.42 36.47 229 $203,000
Ft Peck Reservoir, Glasgow, MT
Scott Fairbairn, Walker, MN, 56.97 lbs.
Dean Miller, Stevens Point, WI, 53.00 lbs. 240 1301 2795.75 2.15 23.30 95 $203,000
Missouri River, Bismarck, ND
Championship
Ted Takasaki, Algonquin, IL, 23.92 lbs. 42 340 465.51 1.37 11.08 39 $210,200
1999
Detroit River, Trenton, MI
John Campbell, West Dundee, IL, 73.83 lbs.
Tim Singleton, Ann Arbor, MI, 71.67 lbs. 238 1346 4432.41 3.29 37.25 199 $203,625
Lake Oahe, Mobridge, SD (1-day event)
Todd Frank, Pulaski, NY, 14.41 lbs.
Tom Darr, Ft Wayne, IN, 14.41 lbs. 234 340 591.04 1.74 5.05 17 $203,625
Mississippi River, Red Wing, MN
Pete Harsh, Sauk Centre, MN, 48.93 lbs.
Kirk Mitzel, Bismarck, ND, 49.68 lbs. 232 1524 2996.47 1.97 25.83 120 $203,625
Lake Winnebago, Fond du Lac, WI
Tom Keenan, Hatley, WI, 33.80 lbs.
Chris Henderson, Leamington, Ontario, 27.95 lbs. 240 926 1398.45 1.51 11.65 48 $203,625
Devils Lake, ND
Bruce Samson, Cambridge, MN, 64.31 lbs.
Al Sommers, Wahpeton, ND, 44.61 lbs. 224 1039 2449.49 2.36 21.87 85 $203,625
Saginaw Bay, Bay City, MI
Chris Gilman, Chisago City, MN, 74.75 lbs.
Jesse Cain, Fairfield Bay, AR, 74.49 lbs. 234 1284 5075.19 3.95 43.37 175 $203,625
Madison Chain of Lakes, Madison, WI
Championship
Ron Seelhoff, Lewellen, NE, 26.94 lbs. 42 187 353.21 1.89 8.40 12 $210,200
2000
Lake Erie, Port Clinton, OH
Dan Plautz, Muskego, WI, 82.91 lbs.
Gary Morris, Blaine, MN, 78.58 lbs. 282 902 5938.17 6.58 42.11 97 $225,000
Lake Sharpe, Pierre, SD
Bill Ortiz, Dodgeville, WI, 35.18 lbs.
Ed Steidler, Bismarck, ND, 33.57 lbs. 280 2,063 3374.02 1.64 24.10 305 $225,000
Lake of the Woods, Baudette, MN
Scott Fairbairn, Walker, MN, 45.22 lbs.
Jim Muzynoski, Bozeman, MT, 46.74 lbs. 280 1,374 2845.27 2.07 20.32 90 $225,000
St Mary's River, Sault Ste Marie, MI
Mike Gofron, Antioch, IL, 38.38 lbs.
William Needles, Necedah, WI, 33.77 lbs. 272 441 1,123.15 2.55 8.26 6 $225,000
Saginaw Bay, Bay City, MI
Norb Wallock, Conover, WI, 83.84 lbs.
William Needles, Necedah, WI, 82.79 lbs. 280 1,931 7,740.52 4.01 52.28 343 $225,000
Ft Peck Reservoir, Glasgow, MT
Ron Seelhoff, Lewellen, NE, 25.26 lbs.
Randy Tyler, Hometown, IL, 72.93 lbs. 272 1,131 4,122.46 3.64 30.31 43 $249,000
Missouri River, Bismarck, ND
Championship
Ron Seelhoff, Lewellen, NE, 25.26 lb.s 44 556 693.80 1.25 15.76 89
2001
Detroit River, Trenton, MI
Tommy Skarlis, Walker, MN 98.69 lbs.
Alvin Lossman, Marshfield, WI, 90.57 lbs 266 1,556 6,964.34 4.48 52.36* 222
$236,000
Missouri River/Lake Francis Case, SD
Mark Martin, Twin Lake, MI, 37.26 lbs.
John Galaska, Omaha, NE, 36.69 lbs. 302 2,511 4,285.43 1.71 28.38* 375 $246,000
Lake Mille Lacs, Garrison, MN
Bruce Samson, Cambridge, MN, 45.57 lbs.
Dan Graves, Renner, SD, 37.56 lbs. 308 1,527 3,101.83 2.03 20.14* 85 $246,000
Lake Sakakawea, Beulah/Hazen, ND
Terry Tyckman, Toledo, OR, 61.92 lbs.
Scott Kolling, Dickinson, ND, 60.09 lbs. 294 2,254 5,642.48 2.50 38.38* 306 $246,000
St Mary's River, Sault Ste Marie, MI
Pete Harsh, Sauk Centre, MN, 47.71 lbs.
Allan Tourigny, Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, 37.90 lbs 242 814 1,722.41 2.12 14.23* 38 $246,000
Lake Erie, NY
George Barach, Barryton, MI, 89.26 lbs.
Greg Seese, Bryceton Mills, WV, 86.30 lbs. 252 809 3,998.20 4.94 31.73* 52 $246,000
Missouri River, Bismarck, ND
Mike Gofron, Antioch, IL, 27.49 lbs. 45 591 907.40 1.54 20.16* 101 $210,000
2002
Lake Erie, Port Clinton, OH
Tommy Skarlis, Walker, MN, 138.28 lbs.
Chuck Harmson, Andover, MN 137.32 lbs. 298 1794 14,180.68 7.90 95.17* 249 $253,700
Lake Francis Case, Chamberlain, SD
Tom Backer, Fargo, ND, 42.37 lbs.
Steve Anderson, Lincoln, NE, 32.96 lbs. 310 2133 3,349.23 1.57 21.60* 246 $257,600
Leech Lake, Walker, MN
Reggie Thiel, Walker, MN, 51.29 lbs.
Thomas Erickson, Crosslake, MN, 50.38 lbs. 318 1964 4,384.31 2.23 27.57* 197 $267,200
Lake Winnebago, Oshkosh, WI
Gary Gray, Oshkosh, WI, 57.17 lbs.
Ross Hosking, Gray Lake, IL, 44.07 lbs. 308 1437 3,050.57 2.12 19.81* 119 $260,800
Devils Lake, ND
Bruce Samson, Minnetrista, MN, 84.5 lbs.
Kevin Corrigan, Des Plainer, IL, 70.37 lbs. 328 2154 5,799.78 2.69 35.36* 235 $272,400
Saginaw Bay, MI
Bill St. Peter, Bay City, MI, 89.55 lbs.
Tom Gonya, Toledo, OH, 78.4 lbs. 280 1552 6583.05 4.24 47.02* 222 $242,300
Missouri River, Bismarck, ND
Kieth Kavajecz, Kaukauna, WI 19.69 lbs. 52 145 626.73 1.38 12.05* 83 $281,550
2003
Lake Erie, Port Clinton, OH
Daryl Christensen, Montello, WI
57.18 lbs.
Kevin McCullough,
Greencastle, IN
56.34 lbs.
143 520 2,904.39 5.56 20.22* 44 $290,000
Lake of the
Woods,
Baudette, MN
Dan Stier, Pierre, SD 53.64 lbs.
James Klitzke, Stephen, MN
56.56 lbs.
128 1915 4,555.74 2.38 35.61* 229 $290,000
Lake Pepin, Bay City , WI
Perry Good, Eagan, MN 70.23 lbs.
Luke Stout, Ashland, WI 58.71 lbs. 121 1730 3,847.29 2.24 32.03* 192 $290,000
Lake Erie Dunkirk, NY
Tommy Skarlis, Walker, MN 81.65 lbs.
Micheal Baker, North East, PA 42.27 lbs. 138 1107 7,052.25 6.37 51.10* 141 $290,000
Lake Oahe, Mobridge, SD
Gary Parsons, Glidden, WI 31.56 lbs.
Kevin Madigan, Yuma, AZ, 30.96 123 1354 2,101.61 1.55 17.09* 104 $290,000
Bay de Noc, Escanaba, MI Andy Kuffer, Fair Haven, MI 48.04 lbs.
Bob Kubacki, Eagle River, WI 43.55 lbs. 126 598 1,953.11 3.27 15.50* 49 $290,000
Houghton, MI Championship
Dan Plautz, Muskego, WI 49.86 lbs. 51 248 943.76 3.81 18.51* 19 $321,000


Bigeyes, do you consider any of these guys to be "sportsman" ???? I fish for food and enjoyment. Is it OK to fish for money? 100s of thousands pounds of fish caught. Take a look at LOTW, Erie, Mille Lacs, and Leech, notice the total poundages of fish. Maybe it was the Indians who took all the fish, eh? I know on Erie tournament the walleye are given to poor folks, such a terrible waste! What do you think of these people, better or worse than me? Some of the totals for Erie's 3 day event are over 6000 pounds!! Ooops, I was wrong, over 14,000 pounds!

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[This message has been edited by can it be luck? (edited 02-04-2004).]

[bigeyes]

Sorry, but I am not going to get into a pi#@ match. I wanted to know where you stand and I do. As for as PWT, I actually did not know that PWT sloughtered all those trophies until a couple of years ago when I attended a weigh in. Frankly I was shocked, it is rediculus to think that on one tourney thay butchered 360 some walleyes over 10 pounds including a fair number of 12+ pound fish.

[can it be luck?]

Bigeyes, PLEASE realize this, the fisheries that are selected can handle the pressure. Each lake is different and needs to be managed accordingly. I agree with you that most lakes can't handle this type of pressure...But some still can. PS: Do you REALLY know where I stand based on this???

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[This message has been edited by can it be luck? (edited 02-04-2004).]

[Guest]

hey big eyes,

Take your big eyes and go to sleep and maybe youll catch some so you dont have to whine at everyone cuz your jealous. A sportsman pays his fees to be a sportsman and as long as he follows the rules, he can do as he pleases.

Note from moderator:

He was stating his opinion without belittling CIBL, you should try the same!!!

[This message has been edited by Chris Haley (edited 02-06-2004).]

[Guest]

hey big eyes do you not realize that a person pays there fees to be a sportsman and as long as they follow the rules they can do as they please. Oh and how old are you to be crying?

[bigeyes]

Wow truly special! I hope you were just tolling if so you got me. LOL If not, no matter cause I will still be putting back the nice fish I catch so hopefully other people(like you and your kids) can experience them someday.

[Chris Haley]

This thread has gotten out of control!! It was intended as a place for people to post their success. CIBL's success on Erie is not the same as fishing the smaller lakes of MN. He is correct by stating that the resource needs to be harvested, the growth rates on Erie are different also. If the resource goes unmanaged, then the populations get out of control. When populations are too high forage bases are wipped out, when forage bases are gone then populations plummit.

CIBL's argument pertains to Erie and Erie only!! He is not saying that he comes to Leech Lake and takes home limits of ten pounders!! Erie is a natural fish factory.

Game needs to be managed!! This year we could shoot five deer in my area!! Is this wrong to people in areas where you have to apply for and be drawn for one tag?? The land can only feed x amount of deer, and without management they die.

Before you judge CIBL, make sure you are comparing apples to apples.

[Chris Haley]

This also reminds me of a couple years ago when it was discovered that a DNR stocking pond hadn't winter killed in five years. Now the walleyes were all between 14 and 16 inches long. Now the pond is shot because the walleyes would eat any fry stocked. The max depth of this pond is eight ft. It would winter kill at some point. The word gets out that you can catch your limit in ten minutes, and the DNR loves it. In fact they would go there to tell people to keep every fish, no catch and release. They could only keep six each, but they wanted the fish gone so they could have their pond back.

Was this wrong?? You have to look at each circumstance seperately.

[can it be luck?]

Chris, Thank you very much. Out of control? Yes! There seems to be a constant "battle" that seems to take place almost every time with the CPR folks vs "take some home for the pan guys", regardless what the thread. I for one believe in both, as I think others should too. For the most, all my fish pictured are from the Great lakes which I believe can handle the pressure. Most of my "meat fishing" is done there. The only fish I've ever kept from MN waters over lets say 23"s has been a 29 1/2 incher which I mounted, the fish was caught on Farm lake near Ely in 1995. I have caught fish up to 29"s from MN which have ALL been released. Based on that, where do I "stand" now? In regards to the issues of harvesting fish, people need to be a little bit more "flexible" in thier beliefs. As Chris stated, your "right way" of thinking, maybe be wrong for the fishery. PS: I was holding out for my 1000 post, this seems to be the appropriate place for it. Fisherman, LET'S STICK TOGETHER!!!

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[Chris Haley]

That's my point!!! If we went to total CPR, we would see lakes and populations going in cycles. Large populations of preditor fish consuming forage fish until they are all but wipped out. Then the predator dies off until the population is to a point sustainable by the forage base. Then a platow while species recover, and as one surpasses the other a boom and bust situation once again.

I don't know about the walleyes in Erie, but a ten pound walleye in most of the lakes in MN are not productive spawners. You are only releasing that fish for someone else to fight another day!!! They are past their prime and their eggs are not as fertile as they were when they were seven pounders. Hence 90% don't even hatch, and of the ten persent that do less than one percent reach maturity.

[ccarlson]

Chris,

I would just like to comment on the following statement you made.

"I don't know about the walleyes in Erie, but a ten pound walleye in most of the lakes in MN are not productive spawners. You are only releasing that fish for someone else to fight another day!!! They are past their prime and their eggs are not as fertile as they were when they were seven pounders. Hence 90% don't even hatch, and of the ten persent that do less than one percent reach maturity. "

This is a myth. Each year I view the egg take at the Pine River just north of Brainerd. As the Co-founder of our Brainerd chapter of the MN Walleye Alliance, I have worked closely with our area fisheries manager and I can tell you what we have learned about his subject.
Large fish like what you are refering to actually produce larger eggs which are just as highly successful in the hatching process (the brainerd hatchery has over a 90% success rate on all walleye hatching). And because they are larger eggs will actually produce larger fry and therefore healthier, larger, more likely to survive fingerlings after a summers growth.

Not trying to step on your toes and I'm not sure what your occupation is or where you are getting your info but it is contrary to what I have learned from fisheries biologists and their actual egg hatching statistics.

I just don't want people to think they are not really doing any good by releasing a big walleye in MN. Reality is they are helping preserve quality genitics by releasing walleye even over 10 pounds.

Thanks,

ccarlson

[ccarlson]

Chris,

The reason I mentioned what you do for a living is that I wasn't sure if you possibly were in the fisheries business for the DNR or privately. Hence, the statement, I didn't want to step on your toes either. I certainly didn't intend for it to sound like your occupation would influence your knowledge or opinion. It sure doesn't.

I also understand that different fisheries personell may have different views. I can only tell you what our area hatch rate is statistically and the statements pertaining to larger walleye producing better quality and size eggs coming from our area fisheries people.

Anyway, I will pull some numbers together from our fisheries guys and post the results. May take a while but I'll let you know what I get from them again.

I still believe we don 't want to send a message that keeping a big one in Minnesota isn't doing the fishery any good anyway. I believe it is doing good in most cases in terms of reproductive capability and I think the statistics will back me on this one.

Thanks and hope you can see I meant no harm in the statement that you refer to in my last post.

ccarlson

[Chris Haley]

Point taken!

I also didn't mean for it to sound as if it doesn't matter, I should have worded it differently.

I would like to see some facts though.

[kwkfsh]

ccarlson, I am glad to see some factual info posted on the subject of large fish being non-productive spawners. I have never bought into this theory and have always believed that the largest fish had some advantage probably genetic which allowed them to attain that size.
By taking the largest/genetically superior specimens out of the gene pool you are in effect limiting that gene pool in its ability to produce the very same fish.

CIBL, while Erie may be capable of sustaining such a harvest you are setting yourself up for criticism by posting pics showing the floor of the boat covered with dead trophy walleyes.

[bigeyes]

KW-according to the caption that pic is not even from Erie.

[Guest]

Bigeyes;

I looked at CIBL's HSOforum. I didn't see anything referring to the caption that told me they were Erie fish or not. The lake looks like Erie.

Erie is not your normal fishery. It does have alot of commercial harvest. It also sports huge fish. 10 lb fish are common.

I may not agree with everything of what everyone does. But in true light of things, if CIBL is in fact taking these eyes from Erie, so what?

Do you see what charter boats do to salmon and trout???

Now, if CIBl was doing this on LOTW, Mille Lacs, or any other similar fishery, then I would agree with you and your point.

I had this same conversation with CIBL a few months back. When everyone was discussing how big of a walleye to put on the wall.

We have all seen abuse on all waters. And a new study has come out that the Erie walleye conditions are less than what they were. Why??????? Probably because of the commercial harvesting.

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Let 'em go so they can grow!!!

[bigeyes]

Your right, I believe the caption and pic were on a post he wrote on the general ice fishing forum. If memory serves it was on the post talking to kids for a school project I think he said LBDN was the place? Maybe CIBL can tell us if these were more Erie fish.

[Smeds]

Interesting how this thread is moving along! Back to the original post for a minute. I caught a 32" right after Christmas, and decided to put it on the wall. I've always released the big gals, but this one I felt deserved a place on the wall. I had along my brother & nephew; they were LOW virgins, and had only really ice-fished two or three times before (with me). Just having them with me was special. The fish came thru suspended about 11' off the bottom, I reeled up to it on the Vex, it hit right away, and I thought POUT! I saw it go by the hole about 6 feet down, and told my brother to come check out this big burbot ... then it went by @ 3', and I saw a white tip! Eventually got it's head in the hole, and my brother knocked it off the hook trying to help. Chairs everywhere, flashers knocked over, 1 coffee and 1 beer spilled, but after diving for the fish, got it on the floor of the shack. At this point, my nephew (10 yrs.) said, "Get that f**ker out of here before you drop it down the hole!" His dad busted up laughing, the look on the kid's face was priceless (did I say that out loud?) This is what memories are made of, and I wanted to immortalize this fish for everytime they come to visit me. Is this wrong? I think we have to realize that it's not just a black and white issue with C&R, there are some grey areas. Just my story, and my $0.02.

[fiskyknut]

Smeds, nice story and nice fish. A 32 incher is a possible fish of a lifetime for most anglers, and who would say you should have thrown that fish back....not me! Congrats! I live/fish LOTW and have no probs at all with locals or visiting folks keeping a trophy fish for their wall. One guys trophy is anothers subpar, and I kinda frown inside when I see folks keeping those 27-29 inch 8-9 pounders, whether their headed for the Taxidermist or the cleaning shack. It'd be nice if those 'lesser' trophy fish were returned to maybe reach the 30 inch mark which I personally feel is the goalpost as to what a trophy Walleye is. I don't say a word as folks are allowed to keep these fish, it's within their legal right, so who am I to preach my personal views to them.

In defense of CIBL.....I have had the pleasure of fishing Erie and Saginaw bay a few times. Early June, summer of 99 on Erie we caught tons of 18-21 inch Walleyes, decent eating fish in my book. 2001 and 2002 I fished Erie in July both years. Again dozens of fish, however they ALL ran 4#'s and up! I have fished Saginaw bay a dozen times over the past 4 years, always late July, early August out near the Charity islands. I've caught loads of fish out here each time, all 4 to 9 pounders. So what size fish do you keep if you want a meal? Guess you have no choice but to eat some of these larger fish, being that's all a guys catches on these watersheds at certain times.

Can It Be Exploitation? I don't think so.

Bigeyes you would flip out if you walked into a cleaning shack on Saginaw bay midsummer. You just don't see the smaller {16-17 inch} fish I like to eat. Why? Because you just don't get into these eater size fish, the 3 and 4 pounders are the 'small' eating fish for the folks fishing out there! I feel bad for them!

Best wishes for BIG fishes.....fiskyknut

[Guest]

Smeds;

Reminds me when I was about that tender age of 10 years old.

Dad took me fishing and I caught a bullhead. Dad told me to be carefull and also told me how to grab it. Being 10 years old and knowing everything in the world (as I thought), I just grabbed it. Well, needless to say, I hit the fin spike, and screamed "B@$TARD!!!".

Dad calmly said: "what did you say?"
Me (scared): "nothing"
Dad smoothly said: "that's what I thought you said".

I think he was laughing on the inside, but I never said it again in front of him.

We laugh now when we talk about it when we go fishing.

Got to love those memories!!!

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Let 'em go so they can grow!!!

[bigeyes]

Hi Fisky have not talked to you for a while. I was actually getting worried cause you had disapeared for a while? Go to Erie and LBDN each a few times a year so I am pretty acustome to seeing lots of nice fish in the cleaning shack. Sag is still on my long list of places to fish, but it sounds like Erie in the sense that the shacks are loaded with 2-7 pound fish cause that is what you catch. I was just not used to seeing quite so many 8+ pound stuff taken in one outing. Anyway no matter sounds like my mentality is clearly wrong and out of line. I always like to hear from you Fishy cause I know you know your stuff and are a dang good walleye hunter too! Hope you are having a good season up there.