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7lb 14.9 ounce Smallmouth from Mille Lacs


corncob

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The rules call for immediate release[no transporting fish],so he caught it on the end of the dock?????????????

Very likely in the fall.

And also with the weight being down to the 10th of an ounce he could have called the DNR to get it weighed on a certified scale and they gave him permission to bring it to shore in the livewell.

Until we hear more to the story they are all just assumptions at this point.

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http://millelacsmessenger.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=40088:big-day-on-the-big-lake&catid=56:fishing&Itemid=176

Sounds like he was out in the lake fishing in 15 FOW. Article also includes another pic.

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So, according to Jeffery's own story the smallmouth was caught by Hennepin Island, yet the picture is of him by shore. Any conservation officers care to ticket this fellow?

Who cares? If it were any of us we would want to do the same thing.

We all do things at times that are against the law but it does not always

mean that its wrong.

I think its a nice fish and am glad to see a pic of it.

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Well, I think I'll be looking around Hennepin Island next year for the next state record....trying to catch walleyes, of course. smile

So....there seems to be some confusion on this point. IF I catch a state record and the fish is out of season, I might just be able to bring it in to be weighed if I release it? Frankly, I have no problem with others doing this--as long as the fish is legitimately close to a state record. I can just see some fella bringing in a 20'' smallie saying he thought it was a record. smile

Carmike

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NO you can not bring it to a scale, record or not, they are to be immediately released. A law is a law, a lot of people are saying big deal, when really it is a big deal, smallies are grouped up so tight in the fall months there is a lot of potential to do serious harm to the population, this is why the law is there. If they allowed you to take one to the scales because it was "close" or a possible state record how many would take a trip across a lake? There is alot of fisherman that have no idea how to judge the size of a fish, and a 6lb smallie looks like a monster, but in reality is no where near a stae record fish. Then you would get the guys that would fill there livewell with smallmouth and when checked would say well these are all close to the record so we are going to go weigh them. Obviously the pond has a slot in place but it would happen on other lakes/ rivers.

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Probably tell you to release it... At least thats what I would imagine.

Could you imagine the backlash if they allowed the rules to be broken for someone to weigh or enter a state record from Mille Lacs. You cant make acceptions to the rules. I think it would open the door for even more people to disregard the current limits and laws.

Even if you only have a 'somewhat accurate' scale and it reads 7.5 lbs your still off by at least a 1/4 lb + or - (record is 8lbs correct?). I wouldnt kill it for a weigh-in even if I could legally keep it, but thats just me...

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Remember a few years back when the state largemouth record was broken? The DNR gave the guy permission to transport it alive to a tank, either the Lindners or Cabelas were interested, unfortunately the fish didn't survive but this is an example of the DNR giving special consideration for things like this.

A record breaking fish is a huge thing for the DNR, mainly because it brings in a ton more money to the area. But it also shows the stuffed shirts at the Capitol that the DNR is on the right track and makes them more willing to fund large projects.

It is important to note that this guy was not fishing for them illegally, it was perfectly legal for him to target smallmouth. What he may not have done right was bring it to shore, BUT IMO I don't see a reason the DNR should be chasing him down and ticketing him if it was so close to a record breaking fish. After all this fish in reality will bring more fishermen and money to the area just from the story of a near record breaker swimming in those waters.

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Quote:
Could you imagine the backlash if they allowed the rules to be broken for someone to weigh or enter a state record from Mille Lacs.

You are correct! Remember the guy that has the largemouth record now? He transported the fish in the live well to a Cabela's store I believe. He wanted to give it to them to put in the aquarium. This was right after the new livewell draining law. I am not sure if he was tagged or not but there was a lot of blow back from that move.

CAMAN beat me to it. grin

You can only imagine how bad it would be if said fish was transported when it was not even in season.

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Well here is the deal after talking with the DNR......If you catch a fish out of season or in a catch and release lake there is no possible chance of getting it weighed for a state record. In order for the fish to be officially weighed and measured it must be DEAD and taken to a certified scale for weight, length and identification. Sooooo we all know there is a state record somewhere in Mille Lacs but there is no possible chance of ever getting it certified if its out of season.

Really dont agree with this but it is what it is......Not a big fan of catching a potential state record bass somewhere and having to kill it.

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Sooooo we all know there is a state record somewhere in Mille Lacs but there is no possible chance of ever getting it certified.

Why's that? You ARE able to keep one 21+ inch Smallmouth per day between Bass opener and September 12th on Mille Lacs.

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Remember a few years back when the state largemouth record was broken? The DNR gave the guy permission to transport it alive to a tank, either the Lindners or Cabelas were interested, unfortunately the fish didn't survive but this is an example of the DNR giving special consideration for things like this.

I believe the story goes, the fish was transported and weighed alive because the guy (Mark Raveling?) who caught it called both the DNR, but didnt talk to anyone to get permission to transport the fish alive, and he also talked to the Lindners on the phone and they said keep it alive and they would pay any fine the DNR slapped on him. I think he did get the fine of a few hundred dollars.

I think Mark intended to release it alive if it did not actually weigh enough for a state record.

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I say take it easy on the guy. Let it be. I probably would have done the same thing he did given the circumstances. Heck of a fish sir, congratulations if you're reading this!!!

Agreed,

Who cares, it just makes me want to go fishing myself.

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*NOTE TO SELF

If I catch a potential state record smallmouth out of season, throw it in my livewell, zoom across the lake and have the fish weighed on a certified scale...REMEMBER to take the picture with the lake in the background instead of the shore so there's no controversy... grin

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I'm really surprised to see such a casual attitude from some towards breaking a fish and game law. Laws are there to protect the resource, and should be followed - period. Take a picture and send that sow swimming. Not judging anyone, I just don't think it's good practice to try to justify carving out exceptions as to when it's "OK" to break the law.

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I'm really surprised to see such a casual attitude from some towards breaking a fish and game law. Laws are there to protect the resource, and should be followed - period. Take a picture and send that sow swimming. Not judging anyone, I just don't think it's good practice to try to justify carving out exceptions as to when it's "OK" to break the law.

+1

Also why does it matter to get a weight on a certified scale? They are not going to certify a out of season record.

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Also why does it matter to get a weight on a certified scale? They are not going to certify a out of season record.

IT WASN'T OUT OF SEASON...IT WAS PERFECTLY LEGAL TO BE FISHING FOR IT. If a CO with a certified scale would have pulled up as he was reeling in the fish, and it had broken the record, it would now be a new record.

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Correct me if I'm wrong but part of the certification of a record requires killing the fish (to make sure you didn't jam 6 ounces of lead down it's gullet). This means a record cannot and will not be certified in a catch and release situation.

We live in a different time, no need to get your name in a record book. If you catch a really nice fish and take a good photo of it, people online will take note.

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