State length limit from 40" to 48"

[SHAQ]

dude it aint just sheilds its darn near every lake in the state. esp minnetonka, that lake may have some fish left but nothing like it did 30 years ago

[Shawn Kellett]

We met Bullfighter???? If we ever did you'd know that I would NEVER roll in a RANGER. LOL!

[10,000 Casts]

Jeez, I just don't see why a 48" minimum is something to get so worked up about.

As b1f stated mortality after the release could be an issue and I agree but who wants to keep a 45"er that is dieing? Give her all your efforts and hopefully she swims away but if she doesn't, what are you going to do with her? I am sure not going to eat her and my first mount will be of a replica of a fat 50"er not a 45"er that died...

48" minimum sound like a winner to me and enforce the $%@* out of it... Maybe even stop all the out of stater's at the border and search their boats! oohh jk

[cherokee]

John, I've mounted one musky and that was a 45" fish that died on me after it totally engulfed a suick. I could have left it float but I decided to mount it. Do I regret mounting it. No. I have let fish in the high 40's and 50" fish go and haven't even considered mounting a bigger one. What for? I have one on the wall. I really don't care if my buddies have a 50" fish on the wall and mine is a mere 45". It's a shame to see all the dead fish floating on musky waters.

Nothing wrong with a 45" unless ones ego gets in the way. If you are willing to fish for muskies and unitentionally kill one you should be willing to mount it or eat it. IMO

[10,000 Casts]

Cherokee, Thanks for that perspective

[b1gf1sh1]

Quote:

What for? I have one on the wall. I really don't care if my buddies have a 50" fish on the wall and mine is a mere 45". It's a shame to

i'm with you, except the mount, i'd rather ''say'' i let one one go than ''show'' one on my wall. besides, i'd feel guilt every time i looked at it. so far i've been lucky, every muskie release has been a swimmer. couple close calls where i had to super aerate the live well but they recovered.

there's something i don't hear much now that i'm thinking about it. if your livewell has the capacity AND works correctly it can be a good recovery tool if your having trouble getting them recovered in the water. let them recover with their head on the intake side. lot's of extra oxygen in there. in fast current, rivers, it's a good idea to let them rest in there and release them in a more suitable dead water area. current will take them to the bottom and bounce them around if they are tired. just a couple thoughts.

[TBone1]

I pulled a 49" out of 4 fow last summer that went belly up 5 minutes after it was released by a nearby fisherman and we did this exact thing.

After trying to revive it boatside I had my buddy get the livewell going. We put her in there, kept her upright and after close to an hour we were able to let her go.

She swam off with no problems.

[b1gf1sh1]

Quote:

I pulled a 49" out of 4 fow last summer that went belly up 5 minutes after it was released by a nearby fisherman.... after close to an hour we were able to let her go.

awsome. since you know where it lives, you may be rewarded with a 50''er ...and thanks for taking the time.

[cherokee]

That's a good point about a livewell big enough to hold a big musky for revival. My first boat had one that ran the entire width of my boat. Used it once many years ago on a 36" fish that struggled. She revived nicely and went on its way.

[Muskiefool]

I'll go in order of your questions BF'er

Yes there is, DNR Biologists testified to the benefits to get the 48 since they had existing comparisons it was an easy study and I'm pretty sure the average was 2 inches difference but you can call St. Paul and ask to be directed to the Muskie Biologist.

A Lake Shore owner has no more right to the lake than any Human, if he doesn't like boats he should move to a Cul-de-sac, Lake = Water = Water= Boats, pretty much since the beginning of time.

DC Nailed it, not all but MANY would love this world. http://www.mnhealthylakes.org/

DNR process.

DNR Process.

DNR Process and theory and what do the MN Deer Hunters Assn. have to do with this.

2 lines will increase harvest across the board on all species 30-50% call St Paul if you think different, Muskies are only one fish affected; others you may not consider are Sturgeon, Pike and Smallies that susceptible to gut hooks and mandated dead release within slots or under the minimum.

$10 dollars will raise an estimated $1,000,000.00, will that increase your stocking by 30 or 40%??, you tell me the numbers. will you be happy to know that all lakes with special regs will not have a 2 line or will the fact that they will lower limits, add slots or possibly both if needed to maintain the quality of the fishery make that $1,000,000.00 taste like shore lunch for the soul.

I took the notes and they are duly noted.

I enjoy your posts they cause me to reflect and stay fresh, sorry I axed questions in my answers. Thank You sir.

[Muskiefool]

Cherokee Great perspective and attitude, my sentiments exactly

[b1gf1sh1]

Quote:

2 lines will increase harvest across the board on all species 30-50% call St Paul if you think different

well, i gotta say that number throws me back a bit. if i fish one line i can keep six walleye or three northern. if i fish two lines i can keep six walleye and three northern. i guess it just doesn't add up to me. i've stated before i fish waters with two lines almost exclusively. um, legaly, lol, border waters. when i get into a school of fish it's impossible to fish that second line no matter how i use it anyway. bobber or set. it's just too fast of a bite. maybe trolling. if they were thinking selling a second limit with the line that would be dumb though. i've also been skunked more times than i care to admit useing two. i'm not going to go on here too much. whatever is decided i'll follow the rule just like always, but if they think harvest will go up..., personally i think that just doesn't make sense. and i am completely in favor of lower limits of every species of game fish. crappies and perch included. who the heck can eat six walleye a day? or ten crappies?... oops, i just noticed this is the 40-48'' forum. ...lower limits would help. why not? anyway, the benifit i see most is getting more people interested, especially kids, and getting the people buying licenses to border states offering multiple lines back here where they belong. way more than a million bucks worth right there. not to mention tax dollars from extra equipment sales, and the ones we would actually atract to OUR state from over the borders. but we'll let the powers that be decide. sorry, i know i said i'm not going to...