Here's a little kick start for your weekend!

[DTro]

Amongst the dozens of white bass, crappie, and other rough fish I've been catching in some backwaters of a nearby river. This one found it's way to my hook.

Here's hoping each and every one of you have a chance to hold one of these this weekend.

29" 9lb 2oz and immediately released after a quick pic

[musky hunter]

Nice fish, congrats. Glad you released it immediatly.

[LEECH21]

Some guys have all the luck

Nice fish

[Swimmer]

Nice fish...and I hope you are right in your prediction for the rest of us!

[IFallsRon]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this illegal possession of a walleye out of season?

[WigglinMyWorm]

Oh boy.......here we go again!!!!!!!!!

[rebel]

Post deleted by rebel

[rundrave]

Quote:

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backwaters of a nearby river

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you guys are too quick to jump to conclusions, it could have been fishing for walleyes in the Mississippi (Pool 2), you don't need to wait for opener. correct me if I am wrong but you dont have to wait until opener to catch walleyes in some areas, like pool2

I dont know dtro personally, but I know from reading his post he probably is not the type to target fish out of season,

nice catch, and props for letting it see another day

[hanson]

Quote:

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correct me if I am wrong but you dont have to wait until opener to catch walleyes in some areas, like pool2

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You are correct sir! You can fish walleyes on Pool 4 as well. Walleyes are also open year round in North Dakota and you can fish them in South Dakota right now as well.

There is alot of assuming going on IMO. I wouldn't jump to quickly to conclusions and make accusations like that without knowing the full story behind the photo.

[WigglinMyWorm]

Rebel you should really think before you post something like that......especially since it's the the time you've ever posted.

[Guest]

Nice walleye dtro! I dont care where it was caught, I know it was not targeted and it was released!

I guess some on here arent familiar with shore fishing.. often fish are drug up on the bank to land them, and the ground does get a fish dirty when you are trying to remove a hook even when a net is used.

It too bad some others have nothing better to do than surf the forums and try to create controversy all day long. I guess thats not prohibited activity.

[Da Beak]

I could be wrong, but it seems to me there are a whole lot of people that like to jump on public forums such as this, and display their "Holier than Thou" attitude.

But are you really?

Nice Eye DTRO! Congrats.

[Chubby]

In or out of season it would be a shame to see a walleye that size drug up the bank or layed in the dirt.

[Random guy]

"Fishing in total darkness"? I'm not sure Dtro knows how to fish in daylight.

I know Dtro personally and I will tell you that I'm pretty sure he was looking for a catfish, carp, sucker who knows what with him. He loves his rivers and his river fish especially at night when the cats are going. So he lucked into a walleye, in Dtro’s eyes he was probably let down it was a walleye and not a channel cat.

[HARPOON-OR-BUST]

No Kidding some of you guys need to chill out! Whats with the first time posts that are so negative, thats not a good way to start out how about a congratualations........? Anyway I don't want this to turn into something it was not meant to be soooo, congrats on the catch Dtro. I'll be sure to top that this weekend

[The Grebe]

Isn't boundry waters like the St. Croix open for wally's? What about Wisc.? I thought my nephew said that opened last week-end? Some of the fellas mentioned the lower Mississippi. I don't even know the guy, but I'd bet dtro was fishing one of those areas.

For those that follow the posts you will know that dtro isn't about to pull a boner like that and then be naieve enough to post a picture of it!

But, I for one would not get my unders in a bunch over this....it lets all of us know that there are sharp eyes out there on the look out!

[Ralph Wiggum]

Some people really need to lighten up. The fish was caught accidentally. It was released. A nine pound walleye doesn't get that big by being a delicate flower. I'm sure the fish is fine. I find it very hard to believe that anyone of you would toss the walleye of your life back without a picture, no matter what you say.

Great fish, Dtro! Thanks for sharing

[riverrat56]

Some people..........

He stated he was fishing for in season fish, I want to meet any one of you that can say you will have a 29 in eye on the end of your line and then make a water release with out even lifting the fish out of the water, then after you say it go out and prove it.

I've caught two decent eyes already this year while crappie fishing as well as a northern, all 3 were boated for a quick picture with the camara that lays on the seat and returned to the water in 30-40 seconds top, did I break a law as well?

[IFallsRon]

So, you're saying it's not a valid question?

[DARK30]

I stopped down to check for a few white bass last night. I only got one bite and it was a 10lb 11oz walleye. It measured right around 29-30". I did obviously weigh it and would have taken a picture too if I had the help. This fish was returned to the water unharmed just as it would have been if the season were open....except I would have tried a lot harder to get a pic.

Onward Through The Fog.

[Juan Grande]

I don't think it's a valid question since he said he released it right away. In my opinion, the term "in posession" implies the intent to keep the fish.

What's a guy supposed to do when he sees an accidental out of season walleye on the end of his line? Cut the line so that it can swim untouched for fear that the fish might be "in possession" for that 2 minutes it takes to take the hook out and snap a quick picture.

I viewed Dtro's post this morning and thought to myself "nice fish" and moved on. I came back to it this afternoon and saw there were 17 replies and said to myself "Uh oh, someone made an "out of season" comment."

Come on man, it's not a big deal.

[cjac]

Dark30....you're a brave man, opening yourself up to this "out of season" debate! Kidding! Nice fish!!!

It's Opener Eve, I'm in a good mood, and we all should be excited to get out ourselves and we should tip our hats to these river fisherman for their walleyes. Not the nicest of nights last night, I'm impressed they were out! I feel bad for Darren catching a fish, sharing it, and then getting lit up for it. Guys like dtro have been contributors to this site for years, and share the wealth of their learnings with us.

In my humble opinion, he did nothing with ill intent, and in fact was respecting the carefully handling the resource. This is a great group of sportsmen and sportswomen, we do a good job of "self policing" the site and are all stewards for the environment. Let's be respectful of that in each other, not just in this discussion, but on the water this weekend and all season.

If someone out there has never gone 1 mph over the speed limit, never changed lanes without a blinker, never recorded a movie or downlaoded a song, never cut the tags off the mattress, in short never deviated from the word of the law one inch, then I'll bite my lip and keep quiet forever after!

Good luck to all, have a successful and SAFE opener!

Chris

[schweady]

Geesh, guys! If he sez he got a good one and there's no picture, do you believe him? I'd bet you'd ask him to post one. Is he supposed to recognize that distinctive tap-tap-tug and cut the line? I've caught my share of walleye while shore fishing for crappie... and bass while trolling for walleye. You send 'em back and hope they're there again next week. Lighten up.

[DTro]

Just a few points I would like to make to clear things up.

First off... Dark ...... nice fish man!

1. Can someone please point me to where it says that an out of season fish must be released "immediately" without regards to a measurement or photo. It says you cannot target fish intentionally, I'm 100% legal here. I can show you countless pics of the white bass, carp, buffalo, crappie and other roughfish I was catching, do I need to show you?

There is a statement about immediately releasing non utilized fish, but this section is in regards to wanton waste.

2. What about all the nice eyes (and pictures to go along with them) that were caught on the Sturgeon Excursion? These were obviously not targeted.

3. 99% of the people I told at work had the same response....Did you keep it? First of all I wouldn't have kept it IN season.....why?? If I want it on the wall I would get a replica. Would you rather have me catching this out of season or someone else killing it in season?

4. About it being dirty....have you ever shore fished? Dave nailed this one, you net it, then what? Can I not set it on the ground. I guess I could've washed it off, got it all purty and then take a picture. I obviously wasn't too concered about a quality picture.

5.I would like to know how many of you would not take a picture of you biggest eye ever, because it was out of season......**crickets**

6.It was not completely dark, in fact there was still quite a bit of light left. I didn't have my digital camera with me, and remembered I had an old film camera in my bag for such instances. The film was over two years old and this is how it turned out. I have no idea what that bright spot is. I can show you some other fish pics on the roll that didn't turn out at all. I'm just glad this one did. Fact is there was another guy there that took one with his phone that clearly shows how light it was, and also clearly shows the spot I was .

Thanks to all of you that "get it".

GOOD LUCK THIS WEEKEND!

[cliffy]

Right on dtro! I think that pretty much clears it up. Now, can we all get along with our lives and enjoy the opener?

Good luck to all!!!!!!!