Pool 4 Walleye Limit

Because I don’t know I will ask. Is there any adverse health effects if you eat Walleye (or any fish) to often from the river? I’m talking maybe 3 times a week.

trumar wrote:

I for one DO NOT NEED regulations put in place to throw back female <em class=”ido-tag-em”>Walleyes during those time frames as mentioned.Just saying ……..

Our first fish yesterday was a 18″ female. Tossed her back.

buckybadger wrote:

An effective catch and release with 1 over 28” would be great from March 1st to May 1st.

That and lengthening the minimum distance below the dam for fishing would be great. On Saturdays at this time of the year, I could net a limit of floating 10-12” saugers and small eyes 1/2 mile downriver with minimal effort. The scour hole decimation of small “released” fish is ridiculous. If only people knew that there’s places out of sight from the dam that produce bigger fish and provide a shot at survival after being released…

FWIW I was out on thursday and the time I was up at the dam not 1 boat was ever in the scour hole.

FishBlood&RiverMud wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>buckybadger wrote:</div>
If only people knew that there’s places out of sight from the dam that produce bigger fish and provide a shot at survival after being released…

Most of them are probably told by a certain resort to fish the scour hole…

I launched from there in february and the guy working told me the scour hole was producing. That day I saw 7 boats actively fishing it. First time I have ever seen that

buckybadger wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>FishBlood&RiverMud wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>buckybadger wrote:</div>
If only people knew that there’s places out of sight from the dam that produce bigger fish and provide a shot at survival after being released…

Most of them are probably told by a certain resort to fish the scour hole…

I cannot confirm that and don’t want to drag a resort through the dirt. I think it’s just the herd mentality and the fact that any average joe with a boat can catch dozens of fish there…they just won’t be big but make for a “50 fish day” story.

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>nhamm wrote:</div>
I know we all like to discuss how each of us are C&R guys, but the fact is most fisherman are not on these forums, and most keep everything they catch (mostly).

I truly believe it is a carnal instinct to some degree, catch meat eat meat. It is changing a little bit, but not fast enough to sustain our waters for years to come.

Agreed. There is a slight change in attitude, but it isn’t wide-spread. Go on P4 this weekend and observe amongst the bumper boats how many 15+” eyes are released…not many. The MNDNR is going to either have to step-in with tighter regulations on most bodies of water or see the quality of fishing erode. The changes will never happen overnight, and therefore will be tough for most anglers to notice. People can’t compare this year to last, or even the year before that to see the trend. When people begin to use long-term data, it’s clear that technology (boats, clothing, flashers, graphs, social media, cell phones, etc) are going to hurt populations of all species – not just the beloved walleye. Walleyes and saugers are just going to be the first as they are seen as table-fare for both the latest generations AND the old-timers.

The MNDNR speaks with the walleye searchers every year in January. He brings the long term data. P4 is doing just fine on the walleye side of things. That being said I’d be game for reducing limits during march/april and tossing a minimum on sauger.

Dutchboy
You shouldn’t eat walleye from any lake 3 times a week due to mercury in the water. The DNR book notes this. If you are going to eat fish that often you should eat panfish. I guess they don’t have the same mercury levels as walleyes and northern.

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Thanks Mojo, I guess my next questions would be is that fact posted at the landings on the river? Also, wouldn’t that in it’s self be a determent to guys limiting out every time they are on the river? I always have a problem with guys taking limits every time out be it on a lake or river. I just don’t think guys eat fish that often and alot of those fish end up in the garbage.

Dnr should leave well enough alone. If they don’t stock it why change it.(don’t want or need stocking on river) already best in area. Work on your skills if your striking out. Nobody make anyone keep fish. Watch your own bobber and leave limits and seasons way they are and have been for quite some time.

Fishbloodriver?…I do not know or have control of what our employees say at Everts Resort concerning the scour hole but this I will tell you:
We as a resort do not promote this and this is the 1st I’ve ever heard of these words being spoken by an employee.please do not lump “A certain resort” into the actions of an individual. You know who I am, why not contact me personally and make me aware instead of on a forum like this.

My personal stance is to move the “off limits ” boundaries down stream another 300′ and I am willing to look at some more restrictive harvest regulations as well. Of course, I do not want it shut down nor do I believe that is needed but some sort of reduced bag would not hurt my feelings or my livelihood.

Just my $.02

4seasonsport wrote:

Fishbloodriver?…I do not know or have control of what our employees say at Everts Resort concerning the scour hole but this I will tell you:
We as a resort do not promote this and this is the 1st I’ve ever heard of these words being spoken by an employee.please do not lump “A certain resort” into the actions of an individual. You know who I am, why not contact me personally and make me aware instead of on a forum like this.

Didn’t see where Fish blood and River Mud said it was Everts…but you must’ve connected some dots? Also now noticed that Fish Blood and River is now the “alleged” namesake…sans the “Mud”?

I suppose without other dramas, we here on IDO can create our own “Jerry Springer” show.

This sometimes seems like an audience/participation play with the cast weaving in and out, and you’re left guessing what…what did they really mean?

He did not name “Everts” specifically but there is no other resort. Im not upset at all,I would just like to know these things so if they are being said i can nip them in the butt.

Please tell me where the scour hole is. Is there such a hole below every dam or is red wing a one-off in these parts. I have never fished red wing but I’m interested in trying out this scour hole for big cats.

Deleted wrote:

Please tell me where the scour hole is. Is there such a hole below every dam or is red wing a one-off in these parts. I have never fished red wing but I’m interested in trying out this scour hole for big cats.

There’s a scour hole below every dam in just about every river. No, not just Red Wing. Years ago, my limited river fishing found me on the Wisconsin River at the Dells. Sure enough, there were those fishing below the dam. Thankfully, I had an experienced guide that took us downriver for bigger and better fish.

Very sad…the guide I had that day died a few years ago, going through the ice on other waters.

A while back after the DNR did the studies on the effects of pulling fish out of the scour hole, they had free flyers dropped off at fishing businesses along the river.

If these places were actually concerned as they say they are, the flyers would be on their counters in the spring or at least posted in the shops.

4seasonsport wrote:

if they are being said i can nip them in the butt.

I am a big fan of nipping incorrect idioms in the bud

a frightening trend I see on this site is the calling for more laws and regs. all the time.

I’d say close it down for a month or 2. March/ April or just April. Keep the limit the same and just tell the people from Iowa to start releasing the 25″-30″ fat females

riverrat09 wrote:

and just tell the people from Iowa to start releasing the 25″-30″ fat females

There oughta be a law…

ajw wrote:

a frightening trend I see on this site is the calling for more laws and regs. all the time.

And there should be a regulation on how many people can fish that are from Iowa.

Brian Klawitter wrote:

If these places were actually concerned as they say they are, the flyers would be on their counters in the spring or at least posted in the shops.

…never underestimate an advanced education! Although…? One would think that if these “scour hole 2nd class anglers” were pulling up fish looking like this, they’d see what’s wrong with the picture. Maybe they think that bladder will deflate on the way back down?

Maybe we do need more of those flyers handed out.

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riverrat09 wrote:

I’d say close it down for a month or 2. March/ April or just April. Keep the limit the same and just tell the people from Iowa to start releasing the 25″-30″ fat females

We have all seen bad behavior from people from all states.
Iowans are no worse or better than people form other states.
I think that is a very unfair statement!!

Walleyestudent Andy Cox wrote:

Maybe they think that bladder will deflate on the way back down?

But it swam away fine! If I had a nickel…

I agree Mr. Hix. When dad and I went up to Winni, we wanted to eat fish and come back with a limit. Had there been a scour hole on Winni, I’m afraid we would have been there too.

I don’t believe it really matters where a person is from, we all just want to bring home fish when we travel to a destination.

Besides according to my dear old dad, people from Iowa just want bullheads.

Besides according to my dear old dad, people from Iowa just want hah bullheads.

Oh No Now we have moved up to catfish!!!!

Hope to see you soon ’cause No matter what happens I still have Hope!

Dutchboy wrote:

Because I don’t know I will ask. Is there any adverse health effects if you eat Walleye (or any fish) to often from the river? I’m talking maybe 3 times a week.

. I have been eating pool 4 walleyes an pan fish regularly from the late 1940s to the present. An I am not glowing or in a box under ground yet. . rrr

river rat randy wrote:

. I have been eating pool 4 walleyes an pan fish regularly from the late 1940s to the present. An I am not glowing or in a box under ground yet. . rrr

…and thankfully you were never pregnant. Uh…oh, guess I should not assume anything. With today’s gender “self reassignments”…you may have been a Randi in an earlier life?

riverrat09 wrote:

I’d say close it down for a month or 2. March/ April or just April. Keep the limit the same and just tell the people from Iowa to start releasing the 25″-30″ fat females

Painting with a mighty broad brush, aren’t ya? I have been fishing p4 with guys from Iowa for years and we always release big females. I bet there are far more people from MN and WI that keep big females than people from Iowa.

…and thankfully you were never pregnant. Uh…oh, guess I should not assume anything. With today’s gender “self reassignments”…you may have been a Randi in an earlier life? whistling

Really wish IDO still had the polling feature, there’s a good Iowan poll to be had here….

hawkguy wrote:

I bet there are far more people from MN and WI that keep big females than people from Iowa.

You could be right about that. Although we don’t label them as big…just curvy.

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