Upper Red new Proposed REGS

Saw these proposed regs on the Outdoors Weekly .com

Angling regulations proposed for 2006 Upper Red Lake opener

Angling regulations proposed for 2006 Upper Red Lake opener
Walleye regulation calls for a two fish possession limit and a 17- to 26-inch protected slot, with only one over 26 inches allowed in possession

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced the proposed walleye regulations on Upper Red Lake. The regulations will take effect when walleye fishing resumes in spring of 2006.

All of Upper Red and Lower Red lakes have been closed to walleye harvest since 1999 under a recovery agreement between the Red Lake Band and DNR.

The Red Lakes Fisheries Technical Committee has determined that walleye recovery is sufficient to resume some harvest by 2006.

“In anticipation of high angling pressure on a newly reopened fishery, regulations will need to be fairly restrictive to manage harvest within safe harvest levels,” said Henry Drewes, DNR regional fisheries manager in Bemidji.

Fisheries managers utilized a citizen advisory committee to help select from a limited number of possible regulation options. The walleye regulation calls for a two fish possession limit and a 17- to 26-inch protected slot, with only one over 26 inches allowed in possession.

“The two-fish bag limit option has the best chance of spreading the available safe harvest over a full summer and winter season,” Drewes said. The protected slot was selected to protect the bulk of the mature broodstock that has been built up during the recovery period.

“The Upper Red Lake Citizens Advisory Committee clearly recognizes the importance of protecting this fishery through conservative regulations” said Drewes. “We sincerely appreciate their support and hard work over the last 12 months.”

In addition, there are concerns about maintaining the quality northern pike fishery known to exist on Upper Red, with the expected increase in open water fishing pressure as walleye angling resumes. A 26- to 40-inch protected slot, with only one in possession over 40 inches, is being proposed to provide quality management for northern pike.

Public input meetings will be scheduled in September, with dates and locations to be announced.

These proposed regulations have been announced for public review.

Jack…

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I think these regs sound great. I think slot limits sound great. I’d like to see slot limits on more lakes (AND RIVERS!!!!!)!

John

Personally, I dont like the “one over 26” type regs.

It’s pointless taking a fish that big. You shouldn’t eat them because they have too much crap in their system and you shouldn’t harvest them because they are good breeders and you’re trashing the sustainability.

While people will undoubtedly whine about not being able to keep “trophy fish” why not make them REAL trophies — let’s say 34″+ ?? 35″+ ?? Now that’s a trophy.

Honestly… what are you going to do with a 26 inch eye from URL? Dumb.

I agree with you about one over 26″. I think one over 30″ would be about right. A 30″ eye is a trophy to most people and 34″ is long shot. I personally would always go with the replica, but have no problem if someone wants to keep an eye over 30″. The Northern slot is a great idea. I wouldn’t mind it if they set the top end at 42-45. It’s seems logical to me that with the increased fishing pressure, there will be a lot of northerns caught and you know a lot of people are willing to throw anything in the tank. There aren’t a lot of lakes in MN were you can catch the big jacks like red and it would be a shame to see these big beatuies get plucked out of there.
Overall, I’m in favor.

Are the nets also going to be put out in 2006? If so, any ideas of the quantity of fish they will be allowed to harvest? I’m really curious to see if they learned their lesson.

???? NETS ??????

LET”S hope that doesn’t happen again. Don’t really think the DNR is in the practice of closing a lake for 15 years of stocking only to open netting again.

I do like the reduced limits on the Walleye, and think the Northern big slots are very important. I would also not mind seeing a bigger size for min. keep. The toughest part is enforcement, a lot of folks do not read their regs, and also do not read the signs at the boat ramps.
Jack….

I dont have a prob with the slots. I also would like too see the 26″ mark bumped up. I have always thought 28″ was right on. 30″ is my personal bench mark for even thinking about taking one for the wall, but a 28″ fish for most people is a fish of a lifetime. Most 26 1/2″ fish are getting the knife so that 26″ mark is rediculous too me. I really would like too see the northern slot put in, there arent too many lakes in MN anymore where you can catch fish like that these days.

Jack i think the biggest problem is not that people dont know the regs its that some people just dont care what the regs are. They traveled too get up too Red and in there eyes because of that they think its there right too take whatever fish they want home.

james w,
I agree with your REG comment. and the only way to straighten it out with those that don’t care ENOUGH, is to have good Enforcement, that is backed by the court system. that costs big bucks so we can’t get the Enforcement that this state NEEDS. The TIP program is a pretty good one and needs to be used whenever it is necessary. Make the CALL.
Jack..

Don’t think the d.n.r. really has any control over the Indians nettin again, could be wrong but don’t think so. It’s a sad situation.

add another person to the list that doesn’t understand the 26″ upper slot…. 30″ IMHO.

hello all We are looking forward to moving up to low. its realy exciting . thinking about being so close to URL. we so like fishing that lake im all for the new regs. inforcment of all regs is so important. I ran into a very tough situation a few years ago with a former friend fishing up there , he is one of those people that thinks because he drives 6 hrs up there he can do what ever he wants. needless to say we dont hunt or fish together any more. also while staying at one of the guides cabins up ther some of his peopl had gross overage on the crappies my fault i should have turned them in. but we havent been back the the guides place any more either. i think he should have been the one to deal with it, but seemed more motivated by the money. its a shme peolpe think that way.well i have made a decsion to not ever do that again from now on if i see its wrong i will call tip people and turn them in. looking forward to fish and hunt the north country.