Need Catfisherman and women input to this question

There is talk by local fisherman and fishing groups to ask the Minnesota DNR and the North Dakota Game & Fish to make it illegal to keep a channel catfish over 24″ on the Red River. Would you like to see such a thing to help save this trophy fishery. Please vote

Why do you want to do this? Is the fishery in trouble?

If you have ever been to Lockport you would know what this river system can do. It is a true Catfish adventure when you fish that streach of river. These anglers are just trying to save preserve this river system.

Slop, I posted this in another forum.

Anyone I’ve ever talked with says eaters are between 2 to 5 pounds…with 3 pounds being the best. Above that weight…there were many reasons they wouldn’t be good to eat. I voted and support the release of Channels over 24 inches just for the fact that the Red is a true trophy fishery…but, it could be better with the proposed limit.

I’m not an expert…but I feel that if we would let the big ones live out their life in the river, it would be a benifit to the fishery and to the anglers that fish there.

All of the above is in my humble opinion.

You guys can’t compare the fishery at Lock Port to another strech of the Red. There L.Winnipeg is helping out that fishery. So even if you were to change the reg on another strech to a trophy reg the cats will probably not grow as large.

I think I hear what your saying Whiz…but the Fargo and Grand Forks area have some very nice cats (pics in the Red River Forum by Landscats and our beloved Icatchbigcats).

It’s true that these stretches may not ever be a Lockport with a dam, but wouldn’t the C&R of 24 or greater fish improve these areas in numbers of bigger fish?

Question 2: Forget the above. Since most people prefer smaller fish to eat. Limiting the “take home” size should improve the trophy fishery?

Is my thought process way off on this?

I have never fished the lower Red above the Fargo area except for the Lockport section, but I do know that it contains some truly immpressive cats.
You hear of upper 20’s all the time and even a 30 here and there.
Would a 24″ regulation produce more trophy fish? I don’t know for a fact.
Some bodies of water need some harvest to reduce the population so that they can produce tropy fish. But usually this harvest contains the smaller fish.
The Red however is a very fertile system and I beleive that a 24″ inch regulation would produce larger fish.
Besides, like Brian said, the best eaters are under the 24″ lenght anyway.

It says I already voted, and I didn’t! Who signed in as me????

First thought was Putz…but he’s fishing!

So far it looks in favor of saving the big fish. Thanks for your votes. All that voted yes to the rule and then left a message on to why they thought so thanks. I would like to see messages from those that voted no, and why they feel that way. Then we can voice you opinions also.