Tonight on The Ticket Outdoors Radio 105.1 fm

The show starts at 7pm the cat fishing talk will start just after 8.

Subject:

Dear Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources,

One Day’s Limit of Flatheads Will Feed him for 22 years.

Let’s talk the St. Croix River (Wisconsin–Minnesota) and Mississippi River border water cat fish regulations for a moment.

Let’s not talk about how many catfish are in the river. Let’s not talk about the trophy fishery we have even though the “growing season” is so short with our cold winters. Let’s not even talk about how many fish are harvested each year.

Let’s just talk about what “excessive” means.
Webster defines excessive as: exceeding what is usual, proper, necessary, or normal.

Now let’s talk about the one day limit of Flathead Catfish on our border waters.

Twenty five fish. No size restriction. Just 25 fish, any size. Wouldn’t this be defined as “excessive” or even wasteful?

For example: A one man, one day limit of 10 pound flatheads would feed that person (according you the Wisconsin Fish Consumption Advisory) for 22+ years. Yes, 22 years.
Here’s my math. Please feel free to check it.

25 fish
x 10 pounds = 250 pounds.
1/3 is typically eatable. The rest bones ect. (some will say more is eatable on a flathead)

83 pounds of eatable fish x 16 oz to a pound =1328 oz

The US Food and Drug Administration defines a meal of fish at 5 oz.

1328 / 5 = 265.6 Five oz meals

The WI Fish Consumption Advisory states we can eat one meal per month for adults. Less for younger people.

265.6 five oz meals / 12 months in a year = 22+ years.

Isn’t 22 years of fish in one day whether or not the fishery can support it “excessive”?

WI DNR’s Mission

To protect and enhance our natural resources:

our air, land and water;
our wildlife, fish and forests
and the ecosystems that sustain all life.

To provide a healthy, sustainable environment
and a full range of outdoor opportunities.

To ensure the right of all people
to use and enjoy these resources
in their work and leisure.

To work with people
to understand each other’s views
and to carry out the public will.

And in this partnership
consider the future
and generations to follow.

Just imagine if these were Muskies.

Good stuff BK, I’ll tune in. I actually thought the Ticket went all national broadcasts, so glad to hear Ticket Outdoors is still on air.

They have Muskie Pay Lakes?

Brian Klawitter wrote:

The show starts at 7pm the cat fishing talk will start just after 8.

Subject:

Dear Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources,

One Day’s Limit of Flatheads Will Feed him for 22 years.

Let’s talk the St. Croix River (Wisconsin–Minnesota) and Mississippi River border water cat fish regulations for a moment.

Let’s not talk about how many catfish are in the river. Let’s not talk about the trophy fishery we have even though the “growing season” is so short with our cold winters. Let’s not even talk about how many fish are harvested each year.

Let’s just talk about what “excessive” means.
Webster defines excessive as: exceeding what is usual, proper, necessary, or normal.

Now let’s talk about the one day limit of Flathead Catfish on our border waters.

Twenty five fish. No size restriction. Just 25 fish, any size. Wouldn’t this be defined as “excessive” or even wasteful?

For example: A one man, one day limit of 10 pound flatheads would feed that person (according you the Wisconsin Fish Consumption Advisory) for 22+ years. Yes, 22 years.
Here’s my math. Please feel free to check it.

25 fish
x 10 pounds = 250 pounds.
1/3 is typically eatable. The rest bones ect. (some will say more is eatable on a flathead)

83 pounds of eatable fish x 16 oz to a pound =1328 oz

The US Food and Drug Administration defines a meal of fish at 5 oz.

1328 / 5 = 265.6 Five oz meals

The WI Fish Consumption Advisory states we can eat one meal per month for adults. Less for younger people.

265.6 five oz meals / 12 months in a year = 22+ years.

Isn’t 22 years of fish in one day whether or not the fishery can support it “excessive”?

WI DNR’s Mission

To protect and enhance our natural resources:

our air, land and water;
our wildlife, fish and forests
and the ecosystems that sustain all life.

To provide a healthy, sustainable environment
and a full range of outdoor opportunities.

To ensure the right of all people
to use and enjoy these resources
in their work and leisure.

To work with people
to understand each other’s views
and to carry out the public will.

And in this partnership
consider the future
and generations to follow.

Just imagine if these were Muskies.

“Just imagine these were muskies”
or netted walleye.
just saying the obvious.

If they were netted Walleyes they would be sacred. If they were Muskies they would be sacred.
You cat guys need to form the soverign nation of St.Croix.

I Agree photo doesn’t look like anything I’ve seen in my time fishing both pools 5 4,3,or St. Croix. Have you ever seen this many large flatheads at once in possession in Wisconsin? Looks like a pay lake poser photo. Not real accurate photo. But 25 is excessive by any measurement. But I do keep flats myself but don’t feel I need a limit

I live in WI and do feel 25 is excessive. Having said that, without the use of nets, or a setline (which you have to have a special permit for) I do not see myself ever catching 25 flatheads in a 24 hour period. I know it is generalized as “catfish” and does not specify species.

I would take the argument a step further to ask that the states discuss managing bodies of water instead of state lines. Bait, quantities, size, etc… should not be dictated by imaginary lines across a common body of water. Moving a boat 50 yards could be the difference between a ticket and a successful trip.

Thanks again BK for all you do in this addicting sport.

My argument wraps around the “excessive” limit. Doesn’t really matter if they are or not… or if the species can support it.

Excessive is Excessive, waste is waste and snagging is snagging.

I think the most important thing I’ve learned over the last few years going to the Catfish Workshops and listening to other groups at the DNR Round Table is what I think works in my little portion of the fishing world might not work State wide although it makes perfect sense in the area I fish.

I would have to agree with you Oldmill, the rules should be the same on both sides of the river at least as far as flathead limits go.

I never expected to see the use of cast nets allowed in MN or a closed flathead season in MN much less the border waters in my life time.

Hopefully we’ll see one more wrong made right in the future.

Almost forgot.

That photo was used not as an example of folks showing off their catch.

It was used because there’s two States worth of people that do not know what a flathead catfish is or the size they can obtain. When they hear “catfish” they think of the 1 pound fish found in the grocery store.

It wasn’t that long ago and the above person was me.