Sunfish article in the Conservation Volunteer

[bobbymalone]

interesting article. talks a little about the lack of big sunnies. if you don't read the conservation volunteer already, it's free on your computer or in your mailbox. It's a good toilet tank magazine.

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/volunteer/mayjun12/sunfish.html

[OnAFly]

Yep, the way to have big sunnies is to release those big sunnies. It's no coincidence that the lakes with big ones are the lakes with very little pressure.

[Jim Uran]

I caught nice big gils all winter long, and all of the ones I caught ended up swimming again, except a dozen or so for the pan one day. I firmly believe in releasing the bigger gils.

I know a lot of people who think, well if i don't keep it someone else will. But that's just dumb lol

[Rick G]

CV is a good read. I have been preaching for years to let those big male sunfish go to guard the nests from the smaller fish. Got to let the 8-9in fish go if you ever want to have 10-11in gills in the system

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Without regs in place it ain't going to happen IMO.

[Zelmsdawg]

Without regs in place it ain't going to happen IMO.

Sadly, I agree.

Maybe a couple of just catch and release lakes would be fun. Not sure if the DNR has any or not?

[icefisker]

There are a few catch and release lakes around the state. Some with some very nice fish.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

There are a few catch and release lakes around the state. Some with some very nice fish.

How can you find out about them?

[h8go4s]

"How can you find out about them?"

2012 Fishing Regulations booklet, starting on page 34. There are quite a few lakes with sunfish limits of 5 or 10, but none that I saw that were C&R only, although I didn't read the whole list.

[deacon]

thanks for sharing. think it is safe to say the 'good ole days' for sunfish will never return.

[WallyGader]

thanks for sharing. think it is safe to say the 'good ole days' for sunfish will never return.

Very sad to hear this... I dont know about what others think but my passion for fishing started when i was a kid fishing for sunfish with my granpa, and i would have to guess most fisherman who got started at a early age also found there passion for fishing in a similar way. Sunfish and family make for some memorable times.

[OnAFly]

If good ole days you mean going out to any lake and catching big sunnies, then yes. They are still out there, but keep in mind how most fisheries got the way they are. Let those big ones go.

[itchmesir]

So thumbing through this issue of F&S.. there is a Best Summer Ever article.. 31 ways to catch more fish.. yadda yadda.. anyways.. #26 Catch A "Tit-ty Bream" .. which goes on to explain that it's just a big sunfish worthy of photoing and then... eating!..(showing a picture of what seems to be a 10-11" gill) seems to me F&S should maybe watch what they suggest.. they must live somewhere with an overpopulation of BIG sunfish

[flipper]

Way back when they use to protect the prime spawning areas until the main spawn was over. I sure wouldn't mind seeing that again.