The sole reason I have not purchased one to date is because of your insight BK. I believe that the proceeds went into some kind of general fund??? I’d hate for that money to go toward all those scaly fish 
I would certainly purchase one if proceeds go toward sturgeon research. I would even purchase one for everyone in my boat as well. I would love to see an early spring catch am release season.
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2006-1,485 sturgeon tags sold/5 sturgeon harvested on St.Croix-30 sturgeon harvested on RainyR./LOW
2007-2,031 sturgeon tags sold/7 sturgeon harvested on St.Croix-46 sturgeon harvested on RainyR./LOW
2008-2,101 sturgeon tags sold/2 sturgeon harvested on St.Croix->??< sturgeon harvested on RainyR./LOW
Harvest-able Size on St Croix raised from 50 to 60 inches
2009-2,488 sturgeon tags sold/1 sturgeon harvested on St.Croix-240 sturgeon harvested on RainyR./LOW2010-2,903 sturgeon tags sold/1 sturgeon harvested on St.Croix-319 sturgeon harvested on RainyR./LOW
Look at the massive increase of tagged sturgeon on the RR.
I’m quite concerned about that huge increase of harvested fish on the Rainy. That’s a serious upward trend and I have no doubt it has something to do with all the exposure the Sturgeon has gotten the past few years.
I wonder what a safe threshold is?
319 fish for the whole season? is that really a big deal?
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319 fish for the whole season? is that really a big deal?
Not at all concerned about the 319 number. Most certainly concerned about the 1000% increase in 4 years. At that same rate, the harvest will be 3000 in 2015.
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319 fish for the whole season? is that really a big deal?
Probably not…but since a female sturgeon will need to be 20 years old (about 50 inches) to be sexually mature and then they only spawn every 3-4 years, it could be.
Since the population was all but totally wiped out in the late 1800’s and only now are the DNR starting to see 100 pound fish in their sampling, I’ll go out on a limb here and say that all the people that have fished sturgeon over that last few years don’t ever want to see an over harvest of the awesome Lake Sturgeon.
The last time I checked with the DNR office in Baudette, they had over 5000 sturgeon tagged.
Still this doesn’t answer the question “what is the threshold of degrading the fishery.”
Biggill, at $5. a tag with today’s government, I’m guessing it’s a break even deal.
Not bashing…just the way it is.
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I would love to see an early spring catch am release season.
Stay tune for more information…
How about a $10 tag to fish for them and a $100 tag to harvest one ?
An $10,000. when they are floating dead from a commercial fishermans net?
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An $10,000. when they are floating dead from a commercial fisherman’s net?
Little mixed on that.Wouldn’t want to hurt the way a man makes his money to feed his family.Just wish their was more oversight of this industry.
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Stay tune for more information…
You’re such a tease!!! 
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Little mixed on that.Wouldn’t want to hurt the way a man makes his money to feed his family.Just wish their was more oversight of this industry.
I’m not mixed at all. Just like every business there are the ones that follow the laws and check the nets frequently. Then there’s the other ones.
I’m not against all commercial fisherman, just the ones that are told by the WI DNR to move their nets out of an area…then move them back a few days later.
But I shouldn’t have brought this up in this thread. 
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319 fish for the whole season? is that really a big deal?
Not at all concerned about the 319 number. Most certainly concerned about the 1000% increase in 4 years. At that same rate, the harvest will be 3000 in 2015.
I wouldn’t be complaining.. for 1) the increase in numbers caught could mean an increase in population 2) the more sturgeon tagged the more info fisheries biologists can learn.. 3) I’d be more worried about St. Croix.. 7 to 1 caught each year.. as a struggling sturgeon fishery this is not good at all
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319 fish for the whole season? is that really a big deal?
Not at all concerned about the 319 number. Most certainly concerned about the 1000% increase in 4 years. At that same rate, the harvest will be 3000 in 2015.
I wouldn’t be complaining.. for 1) the increase in numbers caught could mean an increase in population 2) the more sturgeon tagged the more info fisheries biologists can learn.. 3) I’d be more worried about St. Croix.. 7 to 1 caught each year.. as a struggling sturgeon fishery this is not good at all
huh???
we are talking about harvested sturgeon. The “tagging” is done by the guy eating it (harvest tag). 
I don’t think the DNR is learning much from that, other than a fish hittin the smoker.
oh and the Croix fishery is alive and well Last year was my best year by far. The new regs there has basically turned it into a C&R fishery.
My best year by far as well on the Croix. I had 2 weekends where I could not keep 4 lines in the water. I had to leave because I ran out of bait. Also boated a few over 50″ and a couple PB’s in there.
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I wouldn’t be complaining.. for 1) the increase in numbers caught could mean an increase in population 2) the more sturgeon tagged the more info fisheries biologists can learn.. 3) I’d be more worried about St. Croix.. 7 to 1 caught each year.. as a struggling sturgeon fishery this is not good at all
I disagree. I think that sturgeon fishing has exploded in the past few years. Sturgeon populations can not grow that fast considering their reproductive strategy. I am not concerned about the current harvest, I’m concerned about where it’s headed. Need to do something now to prevent a disaster.
I didn’t even notice the price increase when I purchased my tag the other day. Thought it was always $10, maybe that’s the Trout stamp I’m thinking of…
Add Sturgeon wars to the list of things to follow!… 
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