What do you think of this idea

[Tom7227]

Today's Star Tribune has an interesting article by Dennis Anderson about a private late where the folks with access have agreed to some rules about keeping fish. Read it and let's hear what you think about the idea of conserving the resource.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/outdoors/246714201.html?page=all&prepage=1&c=y#continue

[foulpole18]

Sounds like it would benefit lakes statewide to be managed the same way. Good luck getting the keep everything crowd and the spearers to get on board.

[Alagnak]

Even just making a few lakes catch and release only just to try for a while. Why not?

[20lbSloughShark]

Who wouldn't want more lakes to be managed well? I don't think there should be a lot of catch and release only lakes, but there should definately be more lakes with slot limits. Most spearer's are fine. Its the ones who boast about getting multiple 40"+ pike that I have a problem with. Getting one for the wall is fine. Getting another just a little bigger is just being a jerk. Same for anglers, with the addition of boasting about getting a bucket of 2 lb crappies. That is not impressive, that is foolishness.

[minky]

Most spearers I know don't take a lot of fish or a lot of big fish.

The amount of people spearing is very low compared to hook and line.

I believe you will find most spearers are true sportsmen and really care about the resource!

[Mike89]

2nd that minky.

[harvey lee]

NO reason it would not work but try to get all the lake shore owners to agree to this or even a percentage of the public. If they picked a few lakes it may work to show what can happen but I would guess the majority of the lakeshore cabin owners would say, let's do it on some other lake, not our's.

Personally, for me, I have been more than happy with the slot's set up for the lakes. I know some are different than others but some need to be.

In the last 5 years, my fish size has increased and without a doubt, I catch more fish every year, year after year so I say to the DNR, nice job.

NO, I do not catch the numbers of eyes locally as I do on Rainy lake or some others up north but I catch enough to keep me more than happy.

Slot limit's and such are fine with me.

[gunner55]

I know this is the exception to the rule but SLPOA(Sand Lake Property Owners Association) was approached at our Aug. meeting by the DNR about a walleye slot on the lake.It was decided to do a survey to see how everyone felt.The results of the survet were surprising as it came back with the following info........about 800 people responded to the DNR(this surprised everyone)....192 lakeshore owners/74% in favor,124 local residents...59% yes,345 non local...58% yes,130 out of state...44% yes.With those stats & the support of the local DNR Biologists,the slot was turned down.This didn't sit well with some of the SLPOA so the head of the Assoc. contacted the Commishioner of the DNR several times,emails & phone calls,looking for an explanation.Finally after a month or two got a response.His answer was that it needs to be studied more.So like almost all of us here already knew,when dealing with the people in St. Paul,common sense & logic isn't enough.

[Spike76]

My dream lake might be different than yours. I used to have a dream lake until the experimental slots were put on it. I would have two or three fish houses for spearing or angling, and the grandkids could come back and forth from the cabin when ever they wanted. With the slots they're afraid of killing one in the slot so they don't want to go out. One over thirty is a state wide slot now, if that isn't sufficient maybe they should close some lakes every other year or as needed to help some get larger fish. My dream was shattered with the experimental slot 24 to 36. When you are older, you loose these years of enjoyment with your grandkids and great grandkids. After the slap in the face with the old timers needing to buy a spear license, until 90, I took the year off from spearing, and let my five fish houses stay on shore.

[20lbSloughShark]

Your grandkids are scared of killing a slot fish? What did you tell them? Put the fish up to a measuring stick. If its in the slot, good, if not, put it back. Its a slap in my face when guys keep any fish they catch, and ruin the lake. There are not nearly as many big fish in a lake as most believe.

[Fred_Bear]

Your grandkids are scared of killing a slot fish? What did you tell them? Put the fish up to a measuring stick. If its in the slot, good, if not, put it back.

He's talking about spearing... you can remove your foot from your mouth now.

[Fred_Bear]

My dream lake might be different than yours. I used to have a dream lake until the experimental slots were put on it. I would have two or three fish houses for spearing or angling, and the grandkids could come back and forth from the cabin when ever they wanted. With the slots they're afraid of killing one in the slot so they don't want to go out. One over thirty is a state wide slot now, if that isn't sufficient maybe they should close some lakes every other year or as needed to help some get larger fish. My dream was shattered with the experimental slot 24 to 36. When you are older, you loose these years of enjoyment with your grandkids and great grandkids. After the slap in the face with the old timers needing to buy a spear license, until 90, I took the year off from spearing, and let my five fish houses stay on shore.

I have 1 sincere question... Do you live on this lake?

[tisosy11]

He's talking about spearing... you can remove your foot from your mouth now.

[crothmeier]

I think it has to be looked at on a lake by lake basis.

What happens in lakes in my area (SW MN) every 4-5 years in the winter. Winter kill.

Nearly zero reproduction and frequent winter kills would limit the big fish potential in these lake types, but a more restrictive slot limit on other lakes I would completely be in favor of.

There's a balance that can be achieved by setting slot limits that favor both trophy fisherman, and people fishing for a meal.

[Spike76]

The question was, what do you think of the idea of dream lakes with slots. I posted what slots did to me on my dream lake. I feel slots are wrong. Minnesota's fish and game regulations should be for healthy and sustainable populations period. When I speak about slots, I mean northern pike slots. My son lives on the lake, and the whole family uses his house. I also believe that more big northerns die from catch and release than are speared each year.

[20lbSloughShark]

I agree, there are a lot of people using bad catch and release practices, and not many spearers. I would bet more die from line than by spear. I feel slots are a good thing for all species, as there is always that guy that goes out and keeps every single fish. I hate to tell you tough luck, its for the better, but That's what guys are telling me about pelican lake in wright county so I know the feeling. I just don't think the lakes are good enough as they are. When the average pike is 20" something is not right. The best thing would be to just have ethical fisherman, but there is always that one guy who ruins it. Pike especially, one guy can eradicate all the big pike, and they may never get big in that lake again.

[GIANT1]

The best thing would be to just have ethical fisherman, but there is always that one guy who ruins it.

Well said but its way more than one