Ice Fishing 2004-2005 publication

The magazine, Ice Fishing 2004-2005, a FW publication is on the newsstands. Got mine at Super America on 4 Stree S.E..
This addition is of special interest to our area. Several excellent articles concerning panfish, crappies, bluegills and perch. The one article that really caught my attention, “Panfish Experiment” on page 62 addresses tighter regulations improving bluegill fishing in the backwaters north of Winona and pools 5, 5A and 8.
Dan Dieterman, fisheries biologist for the Minnesota DNR and oversees this area, makes some very interesting observations. Do the regulations on bluegills, size and numbers make a difference? After reading this article, I was left with the impression that YES they do. They, the DNR are also optimistic. Some very good reading.

To better peak your interest in this article, let me highlight a few key areas
Was it local anglers who insisted or the DNR that dictated that these regulations be implemented.
Depending on the circumstances, some blugills will be on the prowl and eat actively all winter while others are dormant. Dormant to the point that they appear dead, but are still alive.
In pools 5 and 5A, there are several key areas that hold between 500-600 blugills per acre. Throw in crappies, perch and northerns and that number jumps up to 1,000 fish per acre.
Less then desired habitat will still support panfish.
Two bluegills the exact same age in the same body of water may differ in size. Is it their appetite for food or their sexually maturity?
How was the size 7 inches and limit of ten bluegills arrived at and were other sizes and numbers considered.
Finally and most important what is the future, good, bad or indifferent?
I found it to be a very enlightening article.

Thanks for the info Ron! Looks like some good stuff related to what many of us consider a local fishery. I’ll be getting a copy.

Good Fishing,
Mike

Thanks for the info Ron. And I also will be getting a copy. Thanks, Bill

I stopped into SA today on fourth and picked me up a copy of the ice fishing 2004-2005. They still had a couple of copys left, better hurry if you want one. Very good articles in it. While I was there I also picked up a copy of In Fisherman Ice fishing. Also a very good read. Thanks for the tip RHW

Troy Pike

Picked mine up at SA on 37th St NW and also have the In-Fisherman Ice Fishing Guide but can’t read them yet as I have my order in for nice weather through the end of November so I can play with my new toy AND then we can have ice. Thanks, Bill

I read the article again, for about the fourth time. I am trying to imagine how big an acre is. Someone said it was about half the size of a city block. Do you guys believe those numbers, 500-600 bluegills per acre.
Then to top it off, Dieterman says that there are SEVERAL KEY AREAS to support those numbers in pools 5 and 5A.
It was also interesting to see that the Minnesota side has these regulations and that Wisconsin doesn’t. If lower water levels causes stress on fish, then this year should be stress free as the levels are at a nice height. The way I interpret it, sure first ice has little adverse affect on fish, but as the season wears on, a guy should be looking for them in about 5 to 10 feet in this region or deeper. What is going to be very frustrating this ice fishing season is wondering, am I sitting on that magic acre or not?

Quote:

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I am trying to imagine how big an acre is. Someone said it was about half the size of a city block.

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An acre is 4,840 square yards, or 43,560 square feet.

A better reference.

Click here.

500-600 sunfish per 91% of a football field seems like a lot.

Ron

An acre is 43,560 SF, or the slightly smaller than the inbounds area of a football field.

UG

2nd edit the charm? – I’ll get right one of these times…..

I found the article very interesting! Considering that many of us fish the exact areas they refer to really puts things in perspective.
To think that certain small areas contain 500-600 bluegills plus an additional 400 other fish per acre is impressive! I don’t doubt it a bit.
Think how many times you catch fish one after another, and the next day you can’t seem to catch 6 fish in several hours. You just know the fish are there, but they are not biting at that time. Those days when the fish are off the bite tend to be the days when you can really experiment and stumble across a new lure or presentation that works. It usually pays to keep trying different lures or persentations, but there are days when nothing seems to work. I guess the fish may go dorment as the article indicates.
Boy, now I’m ready! Bring on the ice!!!

Good Fishing,
Mike

Lets put things into persective here. Not all of those fish would be considered keepers. Still it is encouraging to know that there is a good population. The most likely intent then for implementing regulations would be to increase the number of keepers. It was also sad to read in the article, that many consider the panfish species as “Meat fish”. That mentality has got to change or one day when the fisherman goes to the meat market, he may be met at the door, with a sign that says, sorry, closed, ran out of meat.