With the warmer than normal temps we are having this winter the lack of ice production it would seem to me the fishing pressure for the winter will be considerably less than in normal years.
Now I’m not much of an ice fisherman, but I am curious as to if the lack of winter pressure can bode for a better open water season and better fish classes for the fish reproducing in the Spring.
andy
Last year Lake Mendota did’t freeze all winter long. Looks like that might happen again this year. Big perch were just about everywhere last summer. Best year anyone I know can remember. Fishing pressure does matter and giving them a rest isn’t always a bad thing.
I sure plan to find that answer this spring. 
Yes the lack of pressure should mean more fish to catch as they weren’t harvested during the winter. I guess I’m going to ice fish on the other bodies of water that have alot better ice to get me through the winter then come spring its FISH ON at Lake Zumbro. 
Thanks, Bill
Seems logical that fishing should be pretty darned good if there isn’t many fish harvested in the winter. But, fishing was going to be pretty darned good in the spring anyway…..
Who knows, but maybe there will be some incredible sized bull gills coming out of there? OK, I’m ready! 
Good Fishing,
Mike
Thiss might impact the spring fishing a little, but I doubt very much. Historically the Zumbro has not been an outstanding crappie lake for winter fishing for the general masses. Water fluctuations driven by electrical demands are a constant challenge with the fish and I have never seen a lake so affected by weather.
Granted, good bites occur for a few days at a time but they seldom hold together for long periods of time.
I think the sunfish are far more vulnerable to winter harvest. There are some locals who fish that lake on the ice every day and go home with limits each trip. I have seen these persons take home twenty sunfish by mid-morning and come back a couple hours later and start the harvest all over again. And we are not talking about six or seven inch sunfish here either.
Based on what I was seeing in the net at boat-side late into the fall, I would say that the Zumbro was headed for an outstanding spring to begin with.
My last two trips out there were after the buck season ended. Neither of those trips was what could be called a flop….the numbers were iffy, but the size….well, the size was very, very nice. To give you an idea on the size, four fish, eight fillets, were all that Ma and I could eat at a sitting. And we are lovers of fish dinners.
The crappies out there seem to manage themselves from year to year. Those sunfish though….it wouldn’t break my heart to see a six fish limit put on them, with nothing over 8.5 inches being kept. Once those really big sunnies are gone, they’re just that….gone. In lieu of youur question, I think this winter’s lousy ice is probably doing the sunfish a huge favor and we can likely look forward to seeoing a very decent open water season next spring.
Took the boat over to my oldest daughters for storage in her garage after work but sure was confused about what I was doing. 
It was so darn nice out that I had to ask myself if I really knew what I was doing. Felt more like I should of been heading for the river or something. Oh well, it will be a nice place for me to play with it and get some things mounted on it and ready for spring. Give me some good safe ice for the next couple months then bring on Spring.
Thanks, Bill
ps. jon boat is still in the driveway for emergencies. 
Quote:
I think the sunfish are far more vulnerable to winter harvest. There are some locals who fish that lake on the ice every day and go home with limits each trip. I have seen these persons take home twenty sunfish by mid-morning and come back a couple hours later and start the harvest all over again. And we are not talking about six or seven inch sunfish here either.
I know this is a touchy issue, but…..
there is a phone # that can be used to remedy the abuse, and you can remain anonymous. 1-800-652-9093
At a minimum:
Double tripping
Most likely:
Double tripping and over the limit
This applies to any lake/stream/woods/field situation. If we don’t stop the hogs, we all loose.
UG
Does icefishing take a toll on fish populations, I have no doubt it does indeed. For a moment, think about the hundreds of fish taken during the season. Those fish taken simply will not be there the coming spring. Simple math. The little guys that are released won’t grow that much, if any between now and spring.
Years ago, there was an argument over at the Faribault area. Some suggested that is was icefishing that was responsible for lower numbers. Some reasoned that during the icefishing season, fish were more congregated and all one had to do was look for the congregation of fisherman. Others said the icefishing technology was also responsible, such as flashers and now cameras.
Regardless if it is icefishing or open water fishing, fishermen will decide by how many they keep.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
