Yearly Limit

[HarryG]

I have been reading man posts regarding catch and release and being responsible with the amount of fish for meals. How many eye's should a guy keep on a yearly basis? What about Sunny's and Craps too? I fish quite often and don't catch too many fish. If it is eatable, I keep it. It just so happens that I don't catch too much therefore I don't do any harm. This is not my intent. I wish it weren’t this way, but it is. I do think too many people keep too many fish and still stay with in the regulations. It may be time to impose a yearly limit. I don't know how to enforce it, but it is an idea. Another idea is to have a walleye stamp just like trout and salmon. Maybe stocking is the answer to deal with the fishing pressure. I do know this; filling up the freezer is a thing of the past. I think the DNR must find a way to limit the harvest. I don't think having a C/O go into every house to inspect the freezer is the answer, but something has to be done. I do talk to people on the lake and I don't see a lot of fish being caught. I know if there were, someone would open their mouth. What can we do?

[Guest]

I usually keep 1 extra meal of fish in the freezer. Other than that, I keep fish when I want to eat fish. I eat a lot of fish and I dont(wont) buy any at the grocery store.

A yearly limit? Sure, on sturgeon and muskies there should be. Common food type fish(walleye, panfish, etc), the regs are already tight enough for most bodies of water.

I have a very good success ratio on catching fish. I do practice selective harvest, and just as often, no harvest.. dictated by my food desires.

To impose a yearly limit across the board? No way. Some people still like to eat fish, and there is no way I am going to be registering my catch daily to keep tabs on what I have harvested.

I catch a lot of fish because I have the ability to spend a lot of time on the water. I keep up on where the fish are and what they are doing in my *back yard*. Just because fish are not always easy to catch doesnt mean we have to further limit everyone to what they may harvest so everone has a slightly greater chance to catch a fish on their next outing.

If that school of walleyes has 40 fish in it today and only 38 tomorrow becuase I kept 2 tonight.. your still not going to catch anthing unless your where the fish are.

[island guy]

Check out the regulations book. Daily and possession limits are the same unless otherwise noted. So you need to keep eating them to keep your possession limit at the legal amount. In other words, if you went fishing say 10 times, caught an average of 3 walleyes per outing, cleaned them and put them in your freezer, you would be over your limit. You can only keep your possession limit. No more.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

I fully agree with "That Guy"!

We do the exact same thing.(My wife's limit!)

You may not be as bad a fisherman as you think! Maybe you only need to fish another lake.???

If everyone else on the lake you are fishing is also doing poorly, the lake may just plain not be a good winter fishing lake.

If you hear of someone who is getting fish on that lake, talk to them and see if they would be willing to show you what you need to be doing to also get fish. You will be supprised! Many fishermen are happy to help others!

Good Fishing!

Cliff

[harvey lee]

I used to keep fish in the freezer.The only thing that I do anymore is to catch what I need for a meal and keep extra for friends if they would like a meal.If I have enough and they are still biting then it is totally C&R. The problem with alot of the small lakes that get hot is they get hit very hard,but you can still fish them without alot of damage by only keeping a few and not becoming a pig.There are to many people that will take two limits a day by fishing morning and evening,but you can cure that by calling the CO.I usually catch my share plus of fish but I fish alot and usually know where the bite is happenning.

[Bobby Bass]

A Yearly limit? If you spend time on the water you are going to catch fish and I hope you will improve in your fish catching abilities. To put a yearly limit is to penalize someone who has spent the time to improve on his or her hobby. Granted there are people who will do a double limit on the same day or stock a freezer with fish. I hope these people fall into a few small classes. The greedy fishermen who hit it hot and just does not know when to stop. Or a fishermen who is not that good of a fishermen and does hit it right. Or a pure meat fishermen who catches fish to eat and I hope eats all that he does catch and does not let them rot. ( I don't approve of any of these ) but I am not going to say that they don't exist. I will make a broad statement and say that most good fishermen return far more fish back to the water then what they harvest. And if they eat some good for them. That was why the first guy threw a spear in the creek. To put a general yearly limit is just another law we don't need. If you feel that everyone is catching fish but you, maybe you just aren't a fishermen. I for one know I am not an ice fishermen but I am not asking that we have reduce limits during the hard water season. Some people can fish and some people just can't. Life is not fair and no one ever said fishing was fair..

[HarryG]

I think the restrictions on certain lakes are enough. What I am trying to say is the total amount of fish taken per year should matter. If a guy hits a good spot and takes 20 walleye, he does just as much harm as a guy who fishes every day and takes 20 walleyes in 20 days. Yet the guy who take 20 walleye's in 20 days is within the regulations and the guy who take 20 walleyes in one day will get hit with a big fine if he gets caught. And he should be fined. I have noticed that many FMers say the lakes produce fewer and fewer fish. This is because there are more and more fishermen. I think responsible fishermen should be aware of the total amount if fish they keep each year. I am not going to give an exact number but I wanted to know what others thought.

[Guest]

No, its not legal to have 20 walleyes at home unless you caught them somewhere the possession(not daily) limit is 20 or more.

Please read your regs. The possession limit is 2 times the daily limit.. or 12 fish with only 2 being over xx inches(2 combined daily limits).

If you see people out there overharvesting, call TIP.. more power to you and I hope the violaters get caught.

I will be the 1st to agree with you that some people out there do overharvest. Its not as common as it used to be, but its still happening out there. This doesnt justify making a yearly limit, but it does justify having stiff penalties for those who violate.

There are more fishermen, especially ice fishermen than there were 10 years ago. The tecnology has improved greatly, and it seems everybody and their brother is doing it with often more success than summer fishing. You dont need a boat when the lake is frozen, anyone can go wherever they wish, and its no secret where some of the *holes* are when there are constantly fishermen there.

There are many people out there like yourself that dont get to fish as often as they like, or have the success when they do make it out to ever have an impact on a lake.. this doesnt make you less of a fisherman, it simply states you dont get to fish as much. When you do hit the fish well, I hope you can capitalize on the opportunity to put a few fish in the frying pan, or release them to catch another day if so desired. It is your choice.. A choice you wouldnt have with a *yearly limit*.

Ask yourself for a minute.. If a person was allowed to harvest 40 walleyes per season(generous amount for single individual).. do you really think the DNR can keep up to enforce it? I would rather that extra money that is going to be needed for more enforcement on crazy new laws to be spent on the fisheries we are angling in.. stocking fish when needed to sustain a population, or improve our fishing.

Selective harvest is very important, so is watching for over harvest.

If your not getting fish now, I would highly recommend moving on your chosen body of water, or go to another body of water. If you dont have some of the modern equipment, I would invest in a flasher at the least to try to eliminate dead water. Anything you can do to give you a slight advantage over the fish in your little bit of time fishing is worth it. There are plenty of decent used units out there if the finances are tight.

It doesnt take long at the grocery store to pay the price of a used flasher in fish fillets, and there not as fun to catch there.

There are many people here more than willing to point you in the right direction to get some fish. Many of us dont mind putting another person right on a spot to get some fish.. people will share more info by email.

[Pistol Pete]

That Guy, maybe YOU had better read the regulations. Possession is 6 NOT 12 walleyes in Minnesota. Possession in NOT twice the daily limit. If I'm wrong you had better show me the page in the regulation where it says so.

[HarryG]

I know what the regs are. I am merely comparing two situations, one legal and one illegal. In my opinion, they have the same result. I am saying that the regs do not promote conservation. For years the limits have been 6 walleye daily limit and possession limit. I think that needs to be changed because the fishing pressure has changed. If you think 40 years is a generous limit, and then impose it on yourself just like Catch and Release. I don't care if he DNR can enforce it or not, but something must be done. If the trend continues, a lot of people will stop fishing. I am not suggesting that the DNR spend extra money on enforcement, but to suggest a yearly limit, spend more on stocking and change the daily limit on fish on some lakes. If the money is not there, then a Walleye stamp on specific lakes may be the answer. In recent years, the limits of Crappies and Perch have been changed and will make a difference in years to come. I think the DNR needs to make additional changes. I am concerned about over harvest. If fishermen don't use some sort of restraint, we all may eating a lot more chicken.

[Law Firm]

I grew up strictly fishing walleyes. After moving to central MN, I found that many people that I talk to are panfish crazy. For these people, IT'S ALL ABOUT CATCHING THEIR LIMITS. The size of fish that these people keep is unbeleivable! I wouldn't have said this about 5 years ago, but I think that limits should be lower especially with Walleyes. It's really frustrating trying to practice some conservation and the guy next to me is keeping everything he catches.

[Ice9]

I'm a careful conserver who keeps few fish, both small and large, but I have an issue with this "possession" vs. "limit" distinction. Before you get all flamy with my please note that I'm talking theory here, not practice, but I'd say that the DNR's right to limit possession of fish legally caught and kept is suspect both legally and in terms of enforcement and prosecution.

Note also that I'm in favor of limits, and perhaps even stricter limits, but I don't like the idea that the DNR can invade my freezer. Gross overlimits are gross and should be prosecuted somehow, but the "two times the legal limit" rule is not a good way to do it. When I'm in my boat on the water, even in my ice house, which is a kind of boat I guess, sure. But it gets legally weird when I already have fish in the freezer at home and my legal actions on the lake suddenly render certain fish in my freezer illegal. I have three kids and a wife--am i therefore entitled to have two full and six half-limits of walleyes in my freezer? Is that fair? My wife has never intentionally caught a fish and wouldn't be able to pick a walleye out of a lineup, but I can legally store "her" fish in our freezer. What if I have 200 walleyes in my freezer, but when the DNR shows up I happen to have 20 houseguests?

More to the point, I'm generally careful about how much fish I have, not because I am so concerned about limits but because I like to honor the resource by treating the fish carefully and cooking and eating it promptly. Typically you have to have intent to be guilty of violating the law, so if I miscount my filets or lose track of a package of fish, that creates a problem. What if my neighbor gives me a package of legally caught fish? I agree that mathematically it's a violation, but should it be?

THere's a difference between regs that are intended to make citizens behave a certain way, and regs that are intended to serve as law. Regs that are intended to make citizens behave a certain way, such as a regulation that I can evade simply by having the neighbor keep the fish in his freezer until I want to use it, are practically unenforceable and though they might do what is intended they should not stand.

ice

[Guest]

Well... this one got out of proportion.

Ice9.. there are several different laws already that cover every aspect of your theory. Sure, you can get fish from your neighbor but they still count against his posession limit, and they must be labled with his name and information. If they are not properly labeled.. they are yours. To keep fish and put them in your freezer and have it covered by some other license holder in the house is illegal, unethical.. but more or less couldnt be proven any other way as long as whats in your possession(freezer) doesnt exceed whats allowed by licensed anglers in the house. My guess is that people freezer stacking like that really dont care what the possession limit is anyhow, even if they reach that limit that would be still harvesting fish to add to the freezer.. Is this really important enough to start alter a topic over? Its probably more suitable to the political forum.

Too often we see comments on how to try to get around the laws we have here. I dont agree with all the laws we have, but its the game laws we must abide by, or eventually pay a penalty, or revoke our fishing/hunting privledges, or even do a little jail time if its severe enough. People do some foolish things.

As for on the origional topic.. all I can advise is to get out and get some fishing in... it will eventually pay off.

Need some help finding some fish?

fisherdave at mn dot rr (Contact US Regarding This Word)

I am done with this topic, it is soon to be way out of hand.

Back to fishing or talking about it for me....

[iffwalleyes]

I have a question and you guys might have an answer. If I am fishing LOW like I do alot and the limit there is 4 walleyes and 4 saugers. Well to transport the fish I have to leave the patch of skin of the eyes and leave the saugers more or less whole. But then when I get home I fillet them out fully and put them in the freezer so now you can no longer identify the fish whether walleye of sauger. So the question is I have 8 fish a combination of walleyes and saugers but MR DNR officer doesn't know which are which so my freezer gets check and I have 16 fillets or 8 fish I am over my state limit. But I have to correct limit from LOW. How do I prove they are LOW fish? Now if I have been to a resort some can package and that would explain it but. But lets say I was doing my own thing out of portables and did my own processing then what? Do I have to keep the fish identifable in my freezer not just in transportation of them? I guess I don't worry too much about my limit in my freezer because I don't keep that many and I have licenses in several states so even if my saugers were to be counted as walleyes my freezer is ok. But I was just curious if anyone knew how the situation above would be handled.

[not_nuf_time]

Hey "That Guy" possession is your daily limit per liscensee. Unless you are talking about yours and your wifes you are over.

[Captain B.R.K]

I understand where you are going, you want fish to be there for later days and for our future generations to catch. But if the DNR were to put a (example) 40 fish limit of a certain type of fish for someone a year, how in the world would they be able to enforce that? They are so limited to what they can/can't do that they can't & isn't enough of them now in the field to help those like yourself with the same issue of over harvesting.

I to agree that we all need to do more C&R if we aren't going to eat the fish in a timely manner. Nothing burns me more than to see someone catch a fish to bring home only to brag about it, clean it and let it sit in the freezer to spoil.

I just don't think the idea of putting a limit on someones total catch for the year will fly.

[Captain B.R.K]

Quote:

---

I have a question and you guys might have an answer. If I am fishing LOW like I do alot and the limit there is 4 walleyes and 4 saugers. Well to transport the fish I have to leave the patch of skin of the eyes and leave the saugers more or less whole. But then when I get home I fillet them out fully and put them in the freezer so now you can no longer identify the fish whether walleye of sauger. So the question is I have 8 fish a combination of walleyes and saugers but MR DNR officer doesn't know which are which so my freezer gets check and I have 16 fillets or 8 fish I am over my state limit. But I have to correct limit from LOW. How do I prove they are LOW fish? Now if I have been to a resort some can package and that would explain it but. But lets say I was doing my own thing out of portables and did my own processing then what? Do I have to keep the fish identifable in my freezer not just in transportation of them? I guess I don't worry too much about my limit in my freezer because I don't keep that many and I have licenses in several states so even if my saugers were to be counted as walleyes my freezer is ok. But I was just curious if anyone knew how the situation above would be handled.

---

As I read your dilema, I would say you should have the fish be easily identified for safe measures. Most resort owners up there SHOULD know the regulations about transporting fish and probably deal with this daily with mix bags of sauger/walleyes.

What if you take your situation in hand and you are transporting all your fish without identification and you get pulled over. Now what is your answer going to be..."Honestly officer, they are walleye and sauger" I bet they hear that all the time.

It doesn't hurt to keep the skin on em' in the freezer if you aren't eating them.

I like to fish and wouldn't want my licenses ever to be revoked...but that is just me.

[hanson]

iff-

I understand your problem. Solution? I don't know.

I'm not going to get into the "transportation" lingo because I read it the way you read it.

However, I will discuss storage. Under the "Storage" section on page 19, the regs state that "Frozen fish should be packaged in a way that they can be counted and identified".

I really find that wording troublesome.

Does that DNR mean each package of fish needs to be marked with "number, species, angler, license #, etc." so they can easily be counted if a CO decides to pop into your freezer.

Orrrrrrr... does identified mean that you need to leave skin (and with saugers I'd be leaving the tail as well) on your frozen fillets so that the CO can open up your packages and try to identify the fillets.

I know some of the resorts up there have licensed packers so when they are cleaned up there, you are good to go.

I guess what I'm saying is I believe the regs are left a weee bit open there for interpretation which doesn't help any of us out.

Solution, call the Minnesota DNR and ask their opinion. It is ultimately their interpretation and not mine.

[HarryG]

I don't know how they would enforce it. Maybe if the DNR promoted a yearly amount, fishermen would respond to it just like Catch & Release. I also think the DNR should increase the stocking in many lakes. If the requires a Walleye Stamp, then so be it. I myself would not mind paying an additional fee for additional stocking. Sometimes it seems that more and more people are fishing and no one wants to keep up with more stocking resulting in fewer fish being caught. All I hear is keep a few and release the rest. The few we are keeping and the ones don't make after release seem to be more than the amount we can restock. I don't seem to hear anyone coming up with solutions, just reasons why we can't do anything. That will lead to very few fish being caught.

[iffwalleyes]

Right Hanson it is more a question if Storage rather than Transportation. I always transport legally. Usually I just leave the fish whole and fillet them all once I get home. I will give the DNR a shout to find out there take on it and report back. This was just a question that came to my mind while reading this thread.

But personally I think a yearly limit should be the possession limit just how it is. If you eat all your fish and never have more than the allowed possession that is fine. It would be impossible to regulate how many fish are caught by an anlger per year. I also don't think that a Walleye stamp is necessary. The thought is by some is that if they stock walleyes in the lakes then walleye will grow in the lake. However there are thousands of lakes that are going to be unsuccessful with stocking. Many of these the DNR have stocked and found out it wasn't worth it. So I in my opinion stocking is successful but it has to be done on a lake that has a chance at also having natural reproduction. I also think that fishing is as good as it has ever been. The idea of CPR is catching on and it is helping.

[HarryG]

iffwalleyes,

Thanks for your opinion. Maybe fishermen don't keep as many fish as I think. I doubt that there are a lot of fishermen that gain a few pounds off the fish the catch and I do think freezer stocking is a thing of the past. I just listen to a lot of fishermen that think the fishing has gone down. Maybe because they are fishing stocked lakes that are unsucessful in the stocking effort. I just wondered the opinion of FMer's.

[iffwalleyes]

Always good to have topics like this for discussion it is fun. I am not saying I am right it is just my opinion. I hear people saying fishing isn't what it used to be as well but for me fishing is as good as it has ever been. The same lakes might not be as good but there are other lakes out there that are good.

Just got off the phone with the DNR to sum up what they told me the fish need to pretty much stored the same as if you are transporting them. He said the package should be easily identifiable as to how many fish are in each pack and the species of fish. He also said the package should be written on as to how many fish are in each pack.

[Guest]

I also think the fishing is as good as its ever been on the average. I dont see the same success out of each lake year to year, but I have good success regardless. There are some exceptional years where there are strong year class of fish in certain bodies of water. These strong years are usually due to stocking effort, and natural reproduction combined. This is true on all lakes wheather they are stocked, or are all natural reproduction. We need good spawning/stocking to create big fish in the future.. these fish are also the future spawners to help sustain a population.

Sometimes fishing can be frustrating when the lake has been heavily stocked, and has good natural production on the same year.. and equally as frustrating with excessive stocking efforts by the DNR to bring up the walleye population to their ideal level. The same lakes often have good numbers of decent walleyes in them already, but it is aweful hard to catch a decent walleye when there is a mass amount of small walleyes to grab your bait.

They have been changing stocking efforts in the last few years. I look forward to the fishing available in my area(metro) in the next few years. For now, there are some nice walleyes in all these lakes, but you will work to get them through the little ones.

The muskies are getting fat feeding on all these small-medium walleyes too. I almost got some stitches a few times trying to land 20" class walleyes by hand(open water) and having a musky come smash them boat side.

[Guest]

Ok,

How about this one:

I go to Mille acs and catch 4 eater walleyes that I take home and freeze. I then go up next week and bring 2 more home and freeze them.

Being that the limit on Mille acs is only 4, but the state limit is 6, am I legal?

[Bobby Bass]

Hmmmmm I would say yes, you fill the letter of the law taking only 4 from ML and you are with in your possession limit of 6 for the state. But here again is a case of pushing a law to it's limit. The law is written in black and white but interpretation is grey. If I was a judge I would rule in your favor unless you were stupid enough to label all fish from ML... ( gavel hits the tackle box )