Question on regs...

[Stick in Mud]

If I'm ice fishing and I see a fish on the camera that is out of season....say i'm perch fishing in March and i see a walley come on the cam....is it illegal for me to continue fishing knowing that the walleye is essentially the species I'm fishing for? Or should I reel up the line until the fish goes away?

Just wondering...

Carmike

[Everclear]

????

[SalmonSlayer]

I'm of the opinion that if you have to ask if something is wrong, you probably already know the answer; However, I'm not sure a C.O. would be able to prove you saw the walleye on camera and didn't move your jig out of the way unless he's watching through your windows.

[Dave S]

say i'm perch fishing in March and i see a walley come on the cam....is it illegal for me to continue fishing knowing that the walleye is essentially the species I'm fishing for? Or should I reel up the line until the fish goes away?

Carmike

refer back to your post and review the text I put in bold. If you're "essentially" fishing for walleyes out of season, what do you think you should do?

I don't think that's what you meant by your post.....

If you do see a walleye on your camera, there's nothing that says you have to remove your lure/bait in order not to catch it. They'll bite on most anything regardless of equipment. Just make sure you're not using bait or lures that are too big for perch in the first place that would throw up a red flag.

[DTro]

Sorry, going to step on my soapbox here a second.

This is one of my biggest gripes I have with our current regs. For whatever reason we seem to be stuck in the dark ages in regards to catch and release regs. It seems everything is geared towards harvesting a fish. Does it always have to be about that? What if I just want to go out and have some fun catching a species that is out of season? I’m probably in the minority, but think about it a little bit….what’s wrong with that?

Why can I go to the Miss and catch Walleyes year round, but heaven forbid I want to reel in a walleye in April on the MN river.

I’m a firm believer and fully support wide open regs in which we have a “harvest” season and a “C&R” season. It would totally take the ambiguity out of the whole thing and then people could continue catching Walleyes in March, Bass in April, Muskies in May, and Sturgeon in December, because….*news flash*… it’s happening anyways.

I’ve asked this question several times and I’ll try again. I would like to hear 1 confirmed story, just 1, in which an individual had no fish in possession, but was convicted of catching fish out of season. Not ticketed, a CO can write tickets at will. I’m talking about a conviction in which a judge finds you guilty. I have yet to hear of a single time it’s happened.

[Tullibee]

dtro, I couldn't agree more.

[muskE]

What if I just want to go out and have some fun catching a species that is out of season? I’m probably in the minority, but think about it a little bit….what’s wrong with that?

1. It's dangerous to the breeding fish populations by adding additional stress and fishing pressure. With all the "small fish" complaints on these boards why would you want to contribute to the problem?

2. It's dangerous to the human fishing population to be on melting ice in late March/ April. (Darwinian Law?)

3. It's poaching.

I'd love to hunt for deer in July but it's slightly against the law.

[Schollmeier]

Amen brother Dtro!

It doesn't impact me much as most of my favorite fishes are open season all year anyway. Though it would be nice to have a longer C&R sturgeon season... And to be able to fish for Suckers in "trout" streams when trout fishing is closed.

I lived in Colorado for last three years before moving back to WI this summer. I'm thankful for the great fishing opportunities in WI and MN. I will say that while Colorado had many goofy regs of their own, they had few that would be great to see in MN. No closed seasons (at least that I am aware of). They have some C&R only regs and they close all fishing in many major spawning areas during the spawning season - like what we have below some of the dams on the Miss' in March and April (I know that reg exists for the dam in Alma at least. I do think that with all year fishing, even with C&R, that spawining areas would have to be off limits.

Oh and in CO you can use two lines...

[reinhard1]

i think we went through this before on this issue. i'm of the opinion to let the regulations take care of our fisherie. if someone wants to catch and release fine, and otheres keep some for the table fine. we have had posters who wanted to close down certain months on certain fish, or just catch and release for x amounts of months. what would this do for our fishing licence sales? this money is important to all of our fisheries.

i release all large fish and haven't taken a limit home for some time. if i do keep some it's for a meal only, not to stock up the freezer. a catch and release licence? i'm in favor for it if it is an option. however, why have one when that oppertunity already exists? how about our tourists industry? would a catch and release season not hurt our tourism trade, already slowed down with a down turned economy and energy costs? how would a catch and release season affect guides, bait shops, resorts and more? our economy needs the cash flow and the DNR needs licence income as well to maintain our outdoor resources. well that's my soap box. good luck.

[river rat316]

1. It's dangerous to the breeding fish populations by adding additional stress and fishing pressure. With all the "small fish" complaints on these boards why would you want to contribute to the problem?

Really? So fishing must really suck in all the other states that allow harvest year round... but wait it doesn't

2. It's dangerous to the human fishing population to be on melting ice in late March/ April. (Darwinian Law?)

I think I can make my own decisions on when I can safely go out, I don't need a law to tell me this. And if it does turn out to be dangerous then I should be left to pay the physical and real cost of recovery

3. It's poaching.

Only because they have the current outdated seasons in place

I'd love to hunt for deer in July but it's slightly against the law.

Cant release a deer you just shot so this argument shouldn't even be on the table

[TruthWalleyes]

Sorry, going to step on my soapbox here a second.

This is one of my biggest gripes I have with our current regs. For whatever reason we seem to be stuck in the dark ages in regards to catch and release regs. It seems everything is geared towards harvesting a fish. Does it always have to be about that? What if I just want to go out and have some fun catching a species that is out of season? I’m probably in the minority, but think about it a little bit….what’s wrong with that?

Why can I go to the Miss and catch Walleyes year round, but heaven forbid I want to reel in a walleye in April on the MN river.

I’m a firm believer and fully support wide open regs in which we have a “harvest” season and a “C&R” season. It would totally take the ambiguity out of the whole thing and then people could continue catching Walleyes in March, Bass in April, Muskies in May, and Sturgeon in December, because….*news flash*… it’s happening anyways.

I’ve asked this question several times and I’ll try again. I would like to hear 1 confirmed story, just 1, in which an individual had no fish in possession, but was convicted of catching fish out of season. Not ticketed, a CO can write tickets at will. I’m talking about a conviction in which a judge finds you guilty. I have yet to hear of a single time it’s happened.

+another1

[bassmann77]

+1 on Dtro and River Rat

[motley man]

Must return to water immediately any fish out of season. That includes Muskies when spearing. Northerns on a slot lake the same rule when spearing.

[Tullibee]

"I'd love to hunt for deer in July but it's slightly against the law".

"Cant release a deer you just shot so this argument shouldn't even be on the table"

Maybe a paintball deer season...sorta like catch and release...

[Deitz Dittrich]

Not to start a debate on this.. But it will actually harm some species spawn. It has been proven in Smallmouth Bass for sure, not sure on other species.. and the debate about how great fishing is in other state s doesnt work with me as I dont think their fishing is as good.

I'm fine with closed seasons..

[river rat316]

I don't think anything has been "proven" a study done 600 mils north in a completely different climate doesn't "proove" anything for our different ecosystem. Smallies and Largemouth flourish in the river south of Hastings and they are fished heavily the whole time there is open water. If they do anyhting to the season they should open a c&r season but make it extend well into June for bass if they truly wanted to protect the fishery, about 4 out of every 5 years the bass are still or haven't even started their spawn before season opens. But tourney guys will never go for this.

[Tullibee]

Not to start a debate on this.. But it will actually harm some species spawn. It has been proven in Smallmouth Bass for sure, not sure on other species.. and the debate about how great fishing is in other state s doesnt work with me as I dont think their fishing is as good.

I'm fine with closed seasons..

Smallmouth? Just a non-native invasive species anyway.

[fishnowworknever]

If I'm ice fishing and I see a fish on the camera that is out of season....say i'm perch fishing in March and i see a walley come on the cam....is it illegal for me to continue fishing knowing that the walleye is essentially the species I'm fishing for? Or should I reel up the line until the fish goes away?

Just wondering...

Carmike

You can continue fishing, if the walleye bites just throw it back. It's as simple as that. What about the people who don't have a camera, how are they supposed to know? What about when I see a fish on my flasher in March on tonka...should I pull up my line in case it's a walleye? Hell no.

There is nothing in the regs about removing your line if you see a fish out of season on your cam checking out your wax worm.

[Cheetah]

I have a solution for carmike.

Thrown the camera down the hole when the CO comes around. Problem solved.

[Jim Uran]

1. It's dangerous to the breeding fish populations by adding additional stress and fishing pressure. With all the "small fish" complaints on these boards why would you want to contribute to the problem?

2. It's dangerous to the human fishing population to be on melting ice in late March/ April.

3. It's poaching.

I'd love to hunt for deer in July but it's slightly against the law.

1. Tell that to North Dakota! I don't think that it's a major problem. In Mn, we have an awesome panfish population all over the place and it's open year round

2. People are on the ice til ice out anyhow, with the panfish open year round so that isn't a factor

3. If it's legal it wouldn't be

[otis]

Dietz - So when you tourney fish early in the "season" you never target bass on beds? Doubtful. OPen it up to C&R

[schweady]

So I should be allowed to tromp around in my waders on all of those freshly laid walleye eggs at the river mouth just because it would be SO COOL to catch and release some of those huge females finning around in water barely deep enough to keep them wet??

Deitz, I'm with you. And I'm really surprised at dtro and some of the others continuing to bang the drum with such a silly complaint.

oh, and carmike: Keep fishing. Release the walleye. Maybe fish earlier in the day for your perch.

[Surface Tension]

I could get behind a C&R season but think some areas should be closed to fishing.

We already have areas closed off on the Opener along with additional closures when there is a late Spring to protect spawning fish. Of coarse the closures are to stop harvest but they are often small in nature with very high congregations of fish. So high it becomes a circus like atmosphere. A creek with spawning eyes for example. I see no reason to allow those fish to be molested and could probably prove that it to be a negative impact on spawning success.

On the other hand I don't see a reason why there isn't a C&R season on Sturgeon on the St Louis harbor and River.

We do know that the COs are are already understaffed. Opening a new season when fish are at a vulnerable time is going to spread that enforcement out thinner.

I guess I'm not for an across the board C&R season outside the open season dates.

I am for C&R season based on a case by case. That isn't going to stop the guy that thinks he can get away with fishing for eyes and says he fishing for crappies. It will open up opportunities for the guys that do obey the laws.

Just my

[Schollmeier]

I could get behind a C&R season but think some areas should be closed to fishing...

[mccullen]

So many of you guys have written things that have me shaking my head.

Why do you guys have such a big problem with the DNR and it's regulations?

Follow the LAWS and just be happy that you are out fishing. Do you always have to push the limits and bend the laws set in place? I find it ridiculous that some of my fellow fishermen want to catch fish that are out of season. Why? Just to say you caught a fish that day or what? Target the species of fish that it is legal to fish for, it's pretty simple. If walleye are closed go after something else. Wait til your particular season opens and then go out and have the time of your life targeting those fish. We have ample opportunities to catch your fish of choice during that set season for that species.

If you do have a problem with the season's go and take it up top and go to the DNR and get some FACTS. Most of you pushing for longer seasons, or totally open seasons, have absolutely no clue why the seasons are set as they are. I'm not saying that I know, but I'm not pretending to be a ecology major like some of you are. I trust the DNR, as they have given us these fine waters to fish on and make them the best that they possibly can. It's not an exact science and they will make mistakes, but so have each and everyone of us.

Simple solution: DO NOT TARGET OUT OF SEASON FISH!!! And if you accidently catch one release it. Not too difficult guys.