A lake near me apparently has a good panfish bite going, full parking lot on a Friday morning. A couple of the guys I talked to say it that way all week. These are probably the same people that are going to be complaining about how all the big panfish are gone next year. Pound a good thing until it’s gone, I guess…I’m not even a panfish guy but it 
me…
I’m to assume you know that they are keeping these fish? If so, I agee. BUT. I fish the 
out of panfish this time of year at a lake in northing MN where a buddy of mine has a cabin, but never keep a one of them. Big Sunfish on an ultralight can be a blast, especially for my 4 year old son.
Yeah, I saw fish in a few of the boats that came in. I would wager that a very high percentage are keeping limits.
But dont you guys think alot of these lakes need some fish taken out to keep them from stunting?
Dont get me wrong, where Im at I watch guys keep 10″ Saugers and complain about no big ones as their throwing them in their bucket!
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But dont you guys think alot of these lakes need some fish taken out to keep them from stunting?
Not if they are catching big ones. If you have a lot of big panfish, that is a healthy ecosystem where it is all balanced. If man doesn’t touch it and barring a winter kill or natural disaster, it should stay in balance.
But start slaughtering and keeping all the big ones and it is sure to get out of whack and eventually the fish will all be stunted. If they don’t cull it should limit their effect as well.
For me it is just my wife and I, so I keep 6 or 7 ,that is enough for a meal for us . I try to only keep sunnies that are between 7 and 8 inches. I use icefishing instead of our freezer. I know everyone is different, that is just how I do it. 
It is extremely frustrating. In my observation it is usually the old timers doing this kind of crap too (Old timer meaning mid 60’s and older). And I am not saying all of the old timers do this!!! Back in the day there were no regs or limits so they weren’t taught catch and release. Plus what ever the caught they ate no waste, where as today there are people that go out and catch limit after limit and throw them in the freezer. Just to eat some of the fish and majority go to waste do to freezer burn. Which brings up another question. I have a buddy that fishes a lot on a lot of different lakes! Obviously he catches fish, and I know what his freezer looks like! I have talked to him many times about how ignorant and wasteful he is but it goes in one ear and out the other. I have been considering turning him into the DNR but am having a hard time with it. What should I do?
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It is extremely frustrating. In my observation it is usually the old timers doing this kind of crap too (Old timer meaning mid 60’s and older). And I am not saying all of the old timers do this!!! Back in the day there were no regs or limits so they weren’t taught catch and release. Plus what ever the caught they ate no waste, where as today there are people that go out and catch limit after limit and throw them in the freezer. Just to eat some of the fish and majority go to waste do to freezer burn. Which brings up another question. I have a buddy that fishes a lot on a lot of different lakes! Obviously he catches fish, and I know what his freezer looks like! I have talked to him many times about how ignorant and wasteful he is but it goes in one ear and out the other. I have been considering turning him into the DNR but am having a hard time with it. What should I do?
I am 62 and and do not believe it is usually just us “old timers”. I have seen many “youngsters” do the same thing!
That is why I said not all and mostly do you see anything in there saying it isn’t the younger audience
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