Operation Squarehook MN DNR Page

I’m not sure if this has been posted already, but the DNR has a dedicated section on their site to this fiasco. Looking at the pictures of discarded fish makes me feel sick. Such a waste…

Operation Squarehook

Good thing I don’t eat walleye. I’d hate to have eaten one of these because it is illegal for the end consumer to purchase one of these from a restaurant as dinner.

I doubt there’s a ‘surprise groundswell’ about this. Individuals, many from this site, have been trying to tell officals of the dumping activity for many, many years but always ‘seemed’ to fall on deaf ears.Well, maybe it didn’t afterall Now it’s out in the general public and beyond the borders on Minnesota, were the lakes and rivers are being netted for game fish resources, up-setting the balance of these resources. Limits placed on the sportsman to pay for this travesty, along with resort owners, and any other individuals or businesses associated with the sport fishing industry, hurt us all.Now finally, everyone is taking notice, except for maybe two groups obviously missing, and not ‘chimming in’ on the issue, those being our MN legislators and those that are currently still netting these waters. Good Lord, what does it take? And for how much longershould this ‘slaughter’ be allowed to go on?

I’m glad they broke up the “ring”. Kudos to the enforcement folks. This is much better time spent than running around checking licenses. I just wish it could have been accomplished faster than 3 years so that some fish could have been saved.

Good work to the DNR.

I’m not sure it’s fair to critize the length of the investigation. The goal needs to be to roll up the entire criminal enterprise and nail as many of the perps as possible. That kind of investigation is always going to take time and I’d rather the DNR take that time rather than just going for quick-hits that just take out one perp at a time.

Also, were talking about indians here, so there’s all the complications of having multiple agencies and “soverign nations” involved. Again, the goal should be to nail as many perps as possible and get them with the max charges possible. It’s fine with me if that takes time. More = better.

I totally agree, this is one area where the DNR is maximizing its value to the taxpayer and the license-buyer!

There’s no way IMO that this activity is a one-off. The perps involved knew what they were doing and they didn’t come up with this little enterprise all on their own. There is way more of this going on and I hope the DNR keeps up the good work with even more busts and hard jail time handed down to the perps.

Grouse

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I just wish it could have been accomplished faster than 3 years so that some fish could have been saved.

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I was talking to some anglers from that area last night. This has been going on for many many years.

And “will continue as long as there’s a market for walleye.”