New Limit on red?

[bbird5310]

Hey I heard there is a new limit on Red for walleyes, Is it true? You can eat em on ice now to? Last year it was only 2.

[PerchJerker]

For starters, welcome to FishingMinnesota.com

You should check out our Red Lake forum, your questions will be answered there along with a lot of other info.

I haven't followed it very closely but I believe the walleye regs for this winter are 2 fish, protected slot of 17 ot 26 inches, and you can eat fish on the ice but they count toward your daily limit of 2 and you have to keep the carcasses as proof that they aren't in the slot.

[Scott M]

Yes, PJ is correct. The limit stays the same but you can fry up a few fish to eat, just keep some evidence and don't litter the guts.

The rumor you may have heard regards the next open water season. Things are confidently moving towards a 3 fish limit for the next fishing opener.

Personally I can see Red moving towards a progressive spawner-protected slot similar to Mille Lacs, including an eventual 4 fish limit. Only time will tell.

Welcome to FM.

[RJT]

is three or four fish limits normal in MN?

[PerchJerker]

Statewide is 6 walleyes per day, with daily and possession limits being the same. Many lakes have specific regulations that are more restrictive, including reduced bag limits and/or protected slots.

In the case of Red Lake it had been closed to walleye harvest for several years (8 maybe) prior to this year. The lake was commercial fished to the point of essentially eliminating walleyes from the water. Walleye harvest was banned and the lake was restocked and natural reproduction kicked in, and the walleye season was opened this year with a 2 fish limit. Later in the summer it was raised to 3 fish and the rumors were it might stay 3 for the ice season, but it is reverting back to 2.

[fisherman27]

It was actully at 4 for the last halk of the summer up until dec. 1st.