Freezer Stacker

[Fisher Dave]

A freezer stacker found one of my most dependable, easy access flathead spots last night... that was not the good ending of a day.

I blew a fuse and pulled away from the spot, along with everyone that happened to be with me when the 2 pound flathead hit the bucket.

In my eyes.. and probably on a length/age chart.. that is like keeping a 10" walleye.

I have protected people many times for wanting to keep fish and getting hammered for it. Myslef, I keep fish when I desire fish to eat... VERY RARELY is it ever a flathead.. I have only kept a couple small ones(10 pounds) in my life... Throwing a stone because he kept one tiny fish.. NO.. Throwing a stone because I know this individual will take all he can get when his schedule allows him to fish as long as it looks like its *big enough* to keep(what flathead doesnt look like it holds at least a little meat?) and just filling a freezer with fish for a single guy.. YES.. that gets a stone toss from me.

I am not assuming this person will harvest as many fish as possible.. I witnessed it earlier this year(this individual) on another specie of fish that could handle moderate harvest in another area earlier this year.. Channel Catfish.

I guess if people are going to keep some catfish to eat.. keep some catfish to eat for your personal needs/desires.. If you are going to keep them, please keep the ones that at least have some meat to cater to your needs...

If its going to be a flathead.. at least try to keep one in the 10 pound class that is still young enough to eat, and has some meat.. rather than harvest several babies.. without those babies.. there is no future.

[Ralph Wiggum]

That's a shame, Dave. Was this at "the spot?" Should've tossed him in

[Pig_sticka]

Very sad to hear, I am trying to learn more about catfish and hopefully sometime get my first catfishing experience in. All I know is every one is back in the water because I barely ever eat fish anyway.

Would you be able to call this type of person in to the dnr? or maybe they wouldn't check his freezer because he didn't have over his limit while fishing.

A nice fee and liscense removal might help things out.

[Fisher Dave]

If he has the *charisma*, or ignorance to go back to the spot on a regular basis.. anything is possible... I wouldnt ever want it to go there.. I would prefer to make my best effort to educate, and pursuade them away if need be... I know who this person is, and I think I know most of the people he knows... It is already common knowledge that I would be less that happy to be brushing shoulders when, or where I'm fishing.. and that is just about every night... I hope he has the common sense to understand that he is really not wanted at that location by myself, and the couple other regulars that fish the spot...

Most of us dont go where other people dont want us. There are some people here that know me very well.. and I can be persuasive(sp??).. I wont call the DNR unless I absolutely had to... BUT... I will be one to cut the line on someone I know if they were pushing the boundaries.. or poaching.. if that wouldnt turn someone away, I dont know what would.

Educating and a peacful resolution is the best solution.

Ralph Wiggum.. yes, it's where your thinking..

[DTro]

with all those pics, I knew it was just a matter of time

I assume this is a public place so technically "the spot" is owned by everyone, however it takes some gall to take advantage of a guy trying to help out a fellow fisherman. It's really too bad. In the end it really hurts all "fishermen".

[hanson]

Thats too bad Dave.

I figured I'd pull the regs out for a refresher.

Channel or Flathead Catfish (either or combined)

Possession Limit 5 (Only 1 fish over 24"- Not more than 2 can be a flathead)

Sooo... If more than 2 flatties hit this gentleman's bucket, that is worth a call to the TIP line or local CO no doubt. Maybe even the police would respond. I've had my license checked on a few occasions by Minneapolis police. I guess if they feel the need to check licenses, how about responding to a game violation?

[Fisher Dave]

hanson.. it will never go that far.. I have put a lot of heat out there on this person, and its going well out of my hands into the hands of other friends on trying to begin an education for this individual... I really hope it works.. it will be better for everyone if it does.

I am sure we will make it somewhere.. I will let people know sometime in the future how it turns out.. until then, I am fishing.

The Pictures... No, I am not very happy about the inclinations of our *photographer* either.. its one thing to post a few pictures of special fish.. Its another to post pictures of every fish they witness... way to post to the world there is consistant fishing somewhere... wonder if he will get pictures of the 15 lb fish that blacksportsman caught tonight up before he goes to sleep? Or will it wait until tomorrow? Every other fish goes up.. why wouldnt that one?

I think a word of the wise would be to try to talk the photographer into deleting a bunch of old posted pictures... either that, or we may as well post an address for the entire world.. it wont be long before the rest of it is fishing there.

[Dennis Steele]

I might be missing something here but wouldn't be better to keep that small fish than a 10 lb fish that is sexually mature?

Its the breeding stock that we shouldn't harvest.

Personally, I don't keep flatheads at all. I do not allow any clients to keep flatheads either.

However, every time I show someone a spot, they may return to harvest fish at another time, and worse show all their friends that spot.

So the best a guy can do is just do your best to educate those people on the benefits of catch and release or at the minimum how to selectively harvest those fish for the future.

Or... never share the joy of the sport with anyone.

Not an option for me anyway.

[Aquaman01]

I don't like spot abuse 'cause then it's harder to share in the future with others, or be clued in by others.

Freezer stacking? Well, if he's over his limit he's a poacher, and if he's not - he's within the rights of the license he paid for.

[Fisher Dave]

Dennis.. I guess I was just trying to say that I would rather see someone go home with(if they absolutely need to keep one) one 10 pound fish vs several baby fish over a few trips to support the same amount of meals. I dont think baby flatheads have many predators besides humans.. maybe giant flatheads?

If it came down to him keeping more than the daily/possession limit.. I will make the call... I would hope he curves his harvest to primarily channel cats... people are making some effort..

A person that will harvest every flathead that looks like it has some meat.. is every flathead fishermans nightmare.

[Aquaman01]

Hmm - let's think about a guy eating mature flatheads from the END of the MN river...

A Flathead is a top-chain predator in a less-than pristine waterway. The merc and pcb levels must be off the charts!

How many of those things can the guy eat before he can't remember how to get back to the spot?

[fiskyknut]

Quote:

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If he has the *charisma*, or ignorance to go back to the spot on a regular basis.. anything is possible... I wouldnt ever want it to go there.. I would prefer to make my best effort to educate, and pursuade them away if need be... I know who this person is, and I think I know most of the people he knows... It is already common knowledge that I would be less that happy to be brushing shoulders when, or where I'm fishing.. and that is just about every night... I hope he has the common sense to understand that he is really not wanted at that location by myself, and the couple other regulars that fish the spot...

Most of us dont go where other people dont want us. There are some people here that know me very well.. and I can be persuasive(sp??).. I wont call the DNR unless I absolutely had to... BUT... I will be one to cut the line on someone I know if they were pushing the boundaries.. or poaching.. if that wouldnt turn someone away, I dont know what would.

---

WOW, you may want to be careful with your persuasions, the tide may be turned and this guy may call the warden/cops on you for angler harrasment. Do what you say you may and he should. Someone comes over and cuts my line I would flip out totally!

I'm all for catch and release, but I'm also all for eating a fish or 3 now and then too, catch and release into the grease. Maybe this guy enjoys a meal of catfish now and then. So you fish there 'just about every nite', iffin its an area open to the public he has every right to fish there too, and to keep a fish or 5 if he so chooses.

Perhaps in the future you may not want to tell the tales of 'the spot' on this and the other websites I have seen you post on. Curious that you left an open invitation for folks to email you regarding spot info on another site?!?!?!?

Enjoy our outdoors while allowing others to do the same.

Regards.....fiskyknut

[Ralph Wiggum]

I think it may be time for different regs for flatheads and channels. I liken them to muskies and northerns. No one is going to have a problems with someone taking some northerns from a lake, but a guy harvesting muskie will be criticized. Flatheads are a giant, predator--top of the foodchain. Although both are catfish, they are distinctly different. I think the flats need a little more protection than the channels.

[Mark Christianson]

Fisky

You covered exactly some of the thoughts I had too.

[Fisher Dave]

The regs are set up in a strange way on Catfish... The daily limit is 5(Combined) of only 2 may be flatheads, and one fish of either specie can be more than 24"(1 fish over 24" in the 5 fish limit).

This does protect the flatheads some.. basicly, anything worth keeping(to a person who eats fish) you are allowed one flathead per day.

I agree that they should have seperate regulations myself.. 1 Flathead with a minimum size limit.. somewhere in the upper 20" class. Maybe even a *slot* with one fish between certain lengths, whatever would average out ot 8-15 pounds. And then open it up for 48" and over so if someone does catch a state record.. they can rightly keep that fish to claim their title if desired(which would probably be an upper 50" class fish.

[Fisher Dave]

Fisky and Big Lake.. yes.. I get a *hot head* once in a while.. but when it does happen there is usually good reason. I appologize for going over board.. there is much left out from the past that doesnt belong anywhere in this forum about the individual that is in question.. Lets just say that things have built up over time.. this only topped the iceberg.

This is a public waterway.. I dont own it, never said I did. This is someone that I had a great disliking for before this ever happened.. and then he was invited and the inevitable happened.. he once again did many things over the course of the evening to make everyone upset and not enjoy themselves... and then kept a fish that everyone was against.. and tried his best to get more...

I am not the law, but I will be sure he doesnt break it where I am at on an issue that directly is going to effect the future fishery at a place I frequent... or any place if I know about it. I know for a fact that this person WILL NOT STOP at the harvest of fish the law allow's.. this is not good with any specie of fish, and it is a full blown nightmare on a flathead fishery. He should have never been introduced to it.