URL – Selective Harvest Program for Northern Pike

UPPER RED LAKE AREA ASSOCIATION
SELECTIVE HARVEST PROGRAM

The Upper Red Lake Area Association, In Fisherman and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recognizes-the benefits of selective harvest. By releasing quality size northern pike into the lake we have increased the potential to maintain and improve the average size of the northern pike population so that other anglers will be able enjoy catching those fish again. Those fish will be able to continue producing future generations of harvestable, enjoyable, quality fish. The following are the highlights of our program.

1) Only Northern Pike caught and released in Upper Red Lake and the Tamarac River qualify for this program.

2) Anglers must fill out the attached application indicating the measurements of the fish and submit it along with a photograph to Artistic Anglers if they want a replica made.

3) Anglers must follow up with a phone call to Artistic Anglers indicating a method of payment.

4) The angler will receive a replica of his fish from Artistic Anglers at a wholesale price.

5) The Upper Red Lake Area Association accepts NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY for the finished product. This is a contract between the angler and Artistic Anglers.

6) If anglers wish to participate in the program without having a replica made they must still fill out an application form and submit a photo to the local merchant.

7) Applications are available from Upper Red Lake Area merchants. Application forms will be filled out in duplicate and once the merchant receives their copy along with a photo, the angler will receive a Selective Harvest pin-and can purchase a hat.

8) Only one pin per angler will be given away, however additional pins for other released fish can be purchased at the local merchant’s establishment. If the northern caught and released is 45 inches or larger the angler is entitled to a gold pin however the photo taken of the fish must show the length of the fish with a ruler or measuring device in the picture.

9) Records will be kept on the participants and the number of fish released back into the lake.

10) The Association may at the end of the year invite participants to partake in a SELECTIVE HARVEST BANQUET to raise funds for the program and to honor the fish and the anglers.

11) The association reserves the right to use any photo taken for promotion of the program.

12) The Upper Red Lake Area Association THANKS YOU for your participation in the SELECTIVE HARVEST PROGRAM and hopes you enjoy your fishing experiences on our lake.

Very honorable!!

For years we’ve seen many large pike taken out of that lake and killed. As much as my group tried to educate people, it’s nice to see “officials” take the lead on this and promote CPR.

We (the Upper Red Lake Area Association) have had this program in effect for many years although it has fallen by the wayside. I brought the topic up at the last meeting and we voted to promote this program and get it back on its feet along with starting the process of adding walleye to the program also.

Another thing I would like Upper Red Lake anglers and visitors to check out is the URLAA and possibly becoming a member. We are membership driven with non-profit gambling proceeds for grants, programs and so on. The URLAA does great things for the area with beach cleanup, education grants, crappie cribs along with grants and assistance for just about anything you can imagine. Just check out the grants paid list on the website and you will see the URLAA plays a major roll the maintaining the Upper Red Lake Area and its respected fishery. Sadly many of the anglers or outfitters on Upper Red Lake have yet to join the association or spring the $25 yearly membership fee.

URLAA web site

Jonny, that selective harvest sign to the south of Waskish on Hwy 72. We took a picture of it and blew it up. Anytime someone would come back from Red with a trophy pike. We would leave a copy of the selective harvest sign picture on their desk. Obviously this was at our respective work places.

The pike gets a small token of respect.

Sounds like a great program. Anything to protect those big gators is a good thing!