Input needed for new MN State Record Fish rules

A committee was formed during the last MN DNR Roundtable, that will be looking at new rules for State Record Fish in MN. If you have any idea’s on what you think should happen, please post them here and I will get them to the Committtee Chair.

This is what the current rules states;

If you catch a fish that you think could be a record, follow these steps:

Weigh the fish on a state-certified scale (found at most bait shops and butcher shops), witnessed by two observers.

Take the fish to a DNR fisheries office for positive identification and a state record fish application.

Complete the State Record Fish submission form and send it along with a clear, full-length photo of your fish to the address listed on the form.

I think that you should be able to transport a potential state record fish (alive) to the local DNR office or to a C.O. I would hate to have to kill the new state record walleye just to take her off the water. I understand that there would be abuses however, I don’t think there would be all that many.

I think the same. A fish should be able to be transported alive and/or kept alive where need be until all records are taken of the fish. They shouldn’t have to be killed to make the record book.

I might be somewhat off topic, but I think all fish should be allowed to go directly to your home (or the DNR office) alive.

MOST fisherman only fish one body of water, and drain there live wells/buckets in there driveway.

It seems that with this law everyone suffers because of a few.

I agree on the idea of keeping these fish alive. It might be nice if these applications for state record fish were on-line or available at bait shops. It would take me quite awhile to figure out where these offices are. Perhaps if a bait shop indicates a potential state record, the DNR could get out to the bait shop instead of the other way around. These new state records are good for business, from tourism to DNR license sales!

I agree with you briank, but I think what the dnr is worried about is that the water from you livewell and what is in the water (zebra mussels, no native algae, etc.) is going to find its way to the nearest lake.