Very interesting Tagging Info from Pool 2

[DTro]

Good new guys and gals!

The smaller fish that Gordie and Nick caught during the past Whisker Run contest is a testament to all of our efforts in promoting catch and release and I have to say that I’m very excited to report this. I have to admit that I had some reservation about this contest in regards of dragging fish back to the launch and was honestly undecided on how it would affect them. But we now have confirmation.

This fish IS INDEED a fish that was caught during last year’s Whisker Run contest in June and was most likely caught by Justin/Mike last year. This fish was caught last year 6 miles downstream, then brought back and registered/tagged at the launch area and then released there. Believe it or not, it was then caught by Gordie/Nick within a mile of where it was caught last year….about 6 miles downstream (it might even be closer as I only have the nearest mile marker location of Gordie/Nick’s fish) but for sure within a mile. In other words, this fish most likely overwintered and then returned home this year!

Last year the fish measured 28.5”. This year the fish measured 30.5, so it grew about 2”. Joel did not have time to get a weight or age on this fish when he tagged it last year.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I think Gordie and Nick may have just made a little bit of history here in MN catfishing!

The second tagged fish they caught (measured 37”) was tagged last year in July caught on a trotline (maybe some of you have seen the same DNR trotlines out there this year). At that time it measured 35.7” and weighed 21 lbs. It was aged at 15 years old. So that means it grew about 1.5” from last year. Also Joel said these tagged reports are quickly speaking volumes about their summer preference to a home range. This fish was caught approx 500ft from where it was tagged last year (again, only had marker mile information from Gordie to go by).

This is awesome news and all of us as a group are slowly but surely making in impact on how our cat fishery will be managed. A big thanks goes out to all of you from Joel for your cooperation in this tagging effort. I as well echo that thanks.

On a side note, IMO, it is becoming quite apparent that if you want to have a trophy fishery, you best keep as many of those big old fish in the system as long as you can. It takes a long time to replace them.

[aanderud]

Thanks for the info, Dtro! Catch and release works! Keep a few small guys for the pan and let those big girls go -- they could win you some money someday!

[TruthWalleyes]

I think it's great the local fisherman get to participate in the DNR tagging process though these tournaments. Glad to hear it's producing results!

I'll be fishing the same stretch this fall where i got my 46" last fall on the Croix. Hopefully it's 48" by then OOOOH BOOY!