Pool 2 walleye harvest

Last minute trip yesterday (too nice to work) to Pool 2 last night. I fished w/ some guy from the site who drank my beer, didnt net my big fish (23-25″) but still somehow left a good impression.

Anyway, at Minnehaha creek we saw some a*hole catch a walleye and go right for his stringer. I told him that he could not keep it, but he acted like he didnt understand me. When he lifted the stringer, there was one or two other good sized eyes on there. Talk about frustrating. I emailed the DNR and TIPS today, maybe they will do something, but I doubt it.

Others were cleaning fish right on shore and dumping the guts into the river. I only saw them doing this with roughfish, but I dont believe they would stop there.

The bite has been very good in front of the Minnehaha this year and it is scarey to think how many fish these thieves have stole this year.

BTW-slower bite than my previous trips. We got about 15 decent eyes, tiny smallies, a good sized drum and 12″ pike in 5 hours.

That doesn’t surprise me. One day I got an 18″ smallie just south of the Hidden Falls boat landing. There were a couple of shore fisherman that were dismayed when I released it. They told me if I caught more, they would take them. I tried to explain that the area was catch and release, but they didn’t get it.

What I really want to know is who was the beer thieving boat partner?? He needs to be heckled a little!

I will leaving it up to him to come forward.

I heard of people actually going into the river with nets down in that area. Have you seen that?

Basically us sportsman save the fish for the aholes. It is unbelievable this stretch is not heavily patrolled. I get checked for fish all the time on the Croix and you can actually keep fish there. What an f%$#ing joke.

Does anyone know the per-fish fine for keeping a pool 2 walleye. Just curious.

Anybody up for a nite of kicking over buckets?

-J.

I’d bet they would understand the 1 finger salute, and if you held up a cellphone, they’d scatter for the hills like various Vietnam Vets have told me in great detail…

Not that it matters, but these “hombres” probably havent seen Asia.

That’s exactly what I was going to say Dave. Africa maybe, Asia no.

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I fished w/ some guy from the site who drank my beer, didnt net my big fish (23-25″) but still somehow left a good impression.

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Hmmm… sounds like JickyJack

This is where we as a site a group of anglers, can try and make a little difference, and start pressing the DNR. Obviously poaching has been huge this year, and I suspect there are CO’s out there that really do care.

Otherwise I’m up for some bucket kicking

These situations chap me to no end!!
This happens all over the place and I am sick of it.

Program the DNR TIP (Turn IN Poachers) hotline right into your cell phone and call that number each and every time you witness a incident or even if you are suspicious of unusal activity. Enough calls will get the DNR’s attention.

Statewide toll-free: 1-800-652-9093
24 hours a day

Also, one little tip would be, if you have your digital camera along with you and can catch them in the act? At least this may be a pic of someone the DNR could keep their eyes on for future? Just a thought.

This was one of few times when I wished that I carried a cell phone.

I didnt think of a camera, I am sure that even if I pretended to take some pictures it would have scared the carp out of them.

Just for the record and to get this post back on a politically correct track ANY human catching then keeping game fish on pool 2 is SCUM.

On Saturday there was a guy by the Hwy 5 bridge with 2 lines. I did speak up and he pointed to a woman 1/4 mile down the river. That still does not make it right and he did reel it up till she came back.
On the net question: just a week ago there were kids , probably 12 years old or so , working a 15′ seine by the creek. We did not see them long enough to know if they were catching anything.
It’s time to do some pail kicking.
Dino

Add jobs to the local economy plus save you fisheries. Gentelmen there is way too much of this going on- and it is going on everywhere! The Co’s are too few and budget cut too far to do any real good. Pail kicking may work to deter these scum bags for the short term. Myself and a fellow angler came up with an idea to save local fisheries. For lack of a better term a “fishieries bounty hunter”. As a bounty hunter if you have the evidence that the party involved took fish in an manner against the rules, the bounty hunter turns the person over to the DNR and collects reward after conviction.
The reward money would come from the convicted and would be above and beyond the DNR fines.

Dino,
That’s what my buddy saw. He’s a novice fisherman and he was asking me if that was legal. I asked him if he had any pictures. Unfortunately he didn’t take any.

I contacted the DNR on Friday. An officer got back to me over the weekend and said that they will make some stops down in that area over the weekend.

So maybe we will get a 1-2 week break until start again.

Does this mean I need to start bringing my license out there now too, Kidding….

Great hopefully they keep a little better enforcement up from now on, the area sure does get a bunch of shore pressure. One of the few times I’ll be happy to be stopped, normally it bother me a bit, but I understand it’s their job, and that’s what we pay them for.

There is a perfectly good explaination for everything!!

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who drank my beer

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I didn’t want the last one to be all alone in the cooler.

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didnt net my big fish (23-25″)

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Resulting in beautiful trout-like release at the side of the boat.

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…still somehow left a good impression.

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Well… that one I paid him 20 bux for.

Actually, I had a really great time and learned a lot. DaveB knows the river contours in that area like the back of his hand and has a ton of knowledge. Additionally, he’s mostly a fairly pleasant guy to be around.

As far as the guy on shore it was enough to make you furious. Like DaveB mentioned, he had a stringer of eyes, all 18″+. I guarantee this isn’t an isolated experience either. While it may be “theft” for one guy to do this on one day, it’s actually no-holds-barred looting that’s actually going on. There are many guys just like this guy and it’s happening everyday!!

Over the weekend I asked myself some questions… Do I think that this was his first time doing this? How about his last? Do I think that if they pull this guys license (assuming he has one) that he won’t be back? Do I think that seizing his tin can wrapped in line, lead sinker, and hook, is sufficient encouragement to make him stop? Argh! — Enough to really make my blood boil. I’m glad you called the TIPS line — hopefully we’ll get some swift enforcement down there.

Whew — felt good to get that out.

DaveB, anytime you have an open seat let me know — I had a great time and would welcome the opportunity — next time I’ll bring the beers.

Finally, @ CPRDave, if were playing Pyramid you would have won $10,000. But since this is IDA, you get something better — you get to fish the next two IDA events with me! Man, you’re lucky!!

JJ