DNR considering changes to Lake of the Woods walleye and sauger regulations

In case you missed it.

DNR considering changes to Lake of the Woods walleye and sauger regulations

June 18, 2018

Angling regulations on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River in northern Minnesota would change under a proposal being considered by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to reduce the number of walleye and sauger allowed to be kept in the winter on the lake, and on the river allowing only catch-and-release fishing for those fish in the spring.

“We recently went through a public process of updating the Lake of the Woods Fisheries Management Plan and identified several potential areas of concern with regard to current levels of harvest,” said Phil Talmage, Baudette fisheries supervisor. “That’s why we’re discussing these potential changes.”

The proposed changes would reduce the aggregate limit of walleye and sauger in the winter to align with the summer regulations on Lake of the Woods, and make spring angling on the Rainy River catch-and-release for walleye and sauger. The changes would go into effect starting March 1, 2019.

Anglers will see yellow signs at public water accesses around Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River later this month notifying the public of the proposal. Future news releases will provide the details of a formal public comment period during the fall, and will include ways to provide comment to the DNR on the proposal.

For more information on Lake of the Woods management go to mndnr.gov/lakeofthewoods.

This is a welcome change IMO. There are WAY more ice fishermen on that lake now than when that regulation started(I don’t know when that was even).

I think limits need to come down pretty much across the board if we are to sustain the good fishing we have.

Yeah, all fine with me. Heck, they’re simplifying it which I wish they’d do more of.

“The proposed changes would reduce the aggregate limit of walleye and sauger in the winter to align with the summer regulations on Lake of the Woods”

The C&R regulation during the spring is fine too. Although I’ve always felt bad when accidentally catching a walleye while sturgeon fishing and it’s bleeding and have to throw it back because it’s in the slot.

Sounds good to me. I agree that the limits should be lowered for the best interest of the lake and the future. There is an intense amount of pressure on that lake year around.
I’d be fine with the daily limits being lowered on all species state wide.

I’m fine with the proposed LOTW regs but I’d still like to see one fish under 19″ for the Rainy.

It doesn’t amount to a lot of fish being taken and it adds a lot of enjoyment sitting around a fire having a lil walleye fry. Just my opinion. It’s been a tradition for my family for a lot of years, so it’d be sad to see it go.

Joe Scegura wrote:

I’m fine with the proposed LOTW regs but I’d still like to see one fish under 19″ for the Rainy.

It doesn’t amount to a lot of fish being taken and it adds a lot of enjoyment sitting around a fire having a lil walleye fry. Just my opinion. It’s been a tradition for my family for a lot of years, so it’d be sad to see it go.

I could get behind this too.

Wonder how many people would skip the spring river run if they couldn’t keep anything?

lindyrig79 wrote:

Wonder how many people would skip the spring river run if they couldn’t keep anything?

Probably very few. I know I’d still go. I just love the cold air, sitting around a fire, eating a walleye meal with my family and friends. Just a tradition, not a deal breaker for this guy.

lindyrig79 wrote:

I’m fine with the proposed LOTW regs but I’d still like to see one fish under 19″ for the Rainy.
It doesn’t amount to a lot of fish being taken and it adds a lot of enjoyment sitting around a fire having a lil walleye fry. Just my opinion. It’s been a tradition for my family for a lot of years, so it’d be sad to see it go.

I could get behind this too.
Wonder how many people would skip the spring river run if they couldn’t keep anything?

Agreed Joe, and it wouldn’t stop me from going, although it’s nice to have some fresh fish for dinner. In a vacuum of just LOTW I fully support this change!

However the DNR logic baffles me once again (catching 8 or 6 fish on one side of Pine Island thru the ice is fine but none on the other side…a dead fish is a dead fish blah blah, harvest during the spawn doesn’t negatively impact a fishery etc. etc…)

Joe Scegura wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>lindyrig79 wrote:</div>
Wonder how many people would skip the spring river run if they couldn’t keep anything?

Probably very few. I know I’d still go. I just love the cold air, sitting around a fire, eating a walleye meal with my family and friends. Just a tradition, not a deal breaker for this guy.

I would still go and just catch and get pics. of the big girls

Maybe all fishing in MN should be catch and release? Then when numbers fluctuate they’ll blame hooking mortality, then it’ll be only fish viewing via underwater camera. You would obviously need an underwater camera stamp on top of regular licensing

ajw wrote:

Maybe all fishing in MN should be catch and release? Then when numbers fluctuate they’ll blame hooking mortality, then it’ll be only fish viewing via underwater camera. You would obviously need an underwater camera stamp on top of regular licensing

Meanwhile, in the Mille Lacs forum…

I’ve always thought that 8 fish on LOTW in the winter is excessive given the amount of pressure it sees. I’d be just fine with a 3-4 fish limit, and wouldn’t argue with the same being state wide. Even in the 6 years I’ve been going to LOTW in the winter, the quality of the “keepers” has gone down hill quite a bit.

I am all for this and would like to see changes like this everywhere. If you want more fish, get out and fish more days. I skipped going to LOTW this year because of how the quality of the fish has gone down.