2006 Walleye REGS debate

[ccarlson]

DEADhead,

Yes, our chapter and I have worked with Tim B. quite a bit over the past 7 years. He's a good, hard working, knowledgeable person. Right now he's working on getting rearing pond reclamation approval for a private pond that our club has paid the lease on since we started our chapter. Our Brainerd Lakes Area Chapter of the MN Walleye Alliance would donate $10,000 towards the project and that would be matched by RIM funds. We've also done many hands on projects such as netting bullheads and minnows out of rearing ponds in our area, helping with fish release at the Ice Extravaganza and more.

Although we have been very happy with the number of walleye that accelerated Fry stocking has produced on some of our lakes, the demand is still great for fingerlings which is why we are looking at helping to fund the pond reclamation project.

I want to say thank you for communicating with the public in this forum. As one post above also said, I feel that often times the DNR on a statewide level does not communicate adequately on why they do things and make certain decisions. Sure I read articles in the MN Conservation Volunteer about why things are done but many run of the mill resource users do not see these articles. We need more ambassadors from the DNR, such as yourself, helping to clarify why things are managed the way they are. I know you guys are busy and I think the DNR management needs to look at doing a better job of having their public relations people get the word out on more venues such as Fishing Minnesota and outdoor publications.

ccarlson

[DEADhead]

Quote:

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I want to say thank you for communicating with the public in this forum

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I'm just trying to pass along what I know...

I agree that there needs to be better communication to the public on the decisions that are made in the DNR. In the past year they have been doing a great job internally, but there is still room for improvement. The best bet for staying informed on DNR issues is still their news release HSOforum:

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/news/releases/index.html

Also, I would stress that if you still have questions regarding fisheries management issues, to contact you local Area Fisheries Office information can be found by clicking on the link to the Area Office here:

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/areas/fisheries/index.html

Carlson, it's possible that I may see you on a few projects sometime down the road...

- J.P.

[DEADhead]

Here is an update on the interperetation DNR Fisheries has on the 2006 Walleye regs:

The statewide walleye limit is "1 over 20 daily"; consequently, a person can have in possession 6 walleye over 20 inches as long as they only take one each day.

Minnesota Statutes 97C.001 and 97C.005 gives the DNR the authority to set seasons, limits, and other rules that can be different than the statewide rules, but only on experimental and special management waters as listed in MR Chapter 6264. (Confirmed by the Commissioner.)

So the new "1 walleye over 20 daily" statewide law does not apply to those experimental and special management lakes that are listed under Minnesota Rule 6264 that indicate a "1 over some length". It will apply, however, to all the other experimental and special management lakes in that Chapter that don't have that language. For example, MR 6264.0300, subp.63 for Winnibigoshish and connected waters has in the language that it is a "one walleye over 26 inches in possession". Consequently, for Winnie the statewide "one walleye over 20 daily" doesn't apply. However, MR. 6264.0400, subp. 39 for Osakis doesn't have a one over in the language, so the statewide would apply to Osakis. Which means that they can only have one walleye over 20 each day.

The 1 over 20 daily walleye limit is a statewide inland waters law and does not apply to any of the border waters listed in MR. 6266 because MS 97C.401, subd. 2 ( indicates that it doesn't apply to boundary waters.

[carlcmc]

Deadhead, would you care to comment and reply in this topic about a new water project in rochester. How do we go about having DNR supply management guidlines and appealing for conservation of the bass supply in this lake to prevent overfishing?