Guys. I noticed on Saturday when coming off Pool 4 at Bay Point someone from the DNR was surveying everyone in terms of what they caught, threw back, sizes etc. It was a pretty thorough set of questions etc. I was just curious if any of you knew if the DNR posts the results of those surveys online somewhere? It’s public data, so I’d think it’d be open to anyone to see. At least that’s my guess.
It will be available through the DNR down the line. It won’t be available for about 2 years because the creel survey runs for a year. The guy surveying said he was working until Oct 31st and then someone else is taking over Nov 1st.
They were at Evert’s on 3/21 doing the same.
It always makes people nervous when the state is looking into their lives, but our track record at self control as homo sapiens has been a bit spotty, so we gotta do it if we want to maintain a resource…
These are creel clerks. They have no legal authority to look in your livewell or write tickets. The data they collect is pointless because they are asking fishermen to tell the truth! 
-J.
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They were at Evert’s on 3/21 doing the same.
Actually, it’s one guy that bounces from launch to launch.
All the “information” is collected and formulated into a catch percentage. This is all done without seeing the fish, and only going by word of mouth. Like JJ said above it is far from an exact science.
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These are creel clerks. They have no legal authority to look in your livewell or write tickets. The data they collect is pointless because they are asking fishermen to tell the truth!
-J.
FWIW…I was reading the 2012-13 Wisconsin regs last night and it states that it is illegal to refuse to answer a creel clerk’s questions. Granted, the creel clerk may not have any authority, but I’m sure the local CO is just a phone call away.
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FWIW…I was reading the 2012-13 Wisconsin regs last night and it states that it is illegal to refuse to answer a creel clerk’s questions. Granted, the creel clerk may not have any authority, but I’m sure the local CO is just a phone call away.
The Pool 4 survey is being done by the MN DNR. When I was approached, I was asked if I had time to answer some questions. I am not 100% sure but it sounded like I had the option to answer the questions. Of course I answered the questions but the way it was asked it sounded like you had the option.
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I was reading the 2012-13 Wisconsin regs last night and it states that it is illegal to refuse to answer a creel clerk’s questions.
This would not hold up in court. You have a right to remain silent. (and to be left the hell alone!)
-J.
The statement that: “It is illegal to withhold catch and fishing information when interviewed by authorized DNR creel clerks.” has been standard boilerplate in the Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations under the “Other” category for at least the past 10 years, perhaps longer. The data collected is used when making rules changes regarding various gamefish and panfish possession limits. The data obtained may be subjective, but it is preferable to guesses and speculation when making decisions about existing fish populations.
Dr. J.
I think these guys are just trying to do their job. 
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These are creel clerks. They have no legal authority to look in your livewell or write tickets. The data they collect is pointless because they are asking fishermen to tell the truth!
-J.
Cut the guy some slack, the data collected is very helpful in regards to the fishery, the real data in this survey is very accurate because each fish is measured and recorded by not being a willing particpant your hendering them from achieving accurate results!
I don’t cut them any slack.
I’ll try to get a good solid rip in there when I can.
Some of you guys remember Steve Vick at Evert’s before Dean?
He was a snot nosed creel survey guy…now he’s snot nose tourney guy.
The moral of the story? Creel survey guys are people too. 
MN DNR creel clerks gather info to determine various things. Hours fished, number of boats on water, anglers on ice….etc…species targeted, fish caught, fish released, fish kept, exact length of kept fish, estimated length of released fish, ultimately determining a fish caught per hour number…..perhaps they may collect boat length, motor size, zip code……they may collect scales or otolith bones to determine ages of fish….the list goes on and on. Any person/fisherperson with a detectable brainwave….even as little as some (BK!) should be able to see the value of this information.
Sure there are a bunch of 
holes that will report a bogus catch or lack thereof, however, the consistent and random sample of the population takes all that into account. Years and years of creel surveys on individual bodies of water create great comparisons of trends and tendencies.
As an angler, you do not have to answer the questions of a creel clerk (from MNDNR). As a creel clerk, I was told not to lecture, turn anyone in, threaten to turn anyone in, or portray myself as an officer. My job was to gather as much accurate information as possible, and that included the degree of lawbreaking that may be going on.
I could go on and on! I have walked many miles in those shoes. Cut them some slack! Just doing their jobs….which more than likely includes a passion for improving the sport in which you are participating in!
Good post Steve…although I hate those ( ) things. 
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Good post Steve…although I hate those ( ) things.
Ya, but they fit you so fine!
First, my original reply was to the person who gets nervous being checked. If you are nervous, just say no.
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Cut the guy some slack, the data collected is very helpful in regards to the fishery, the real data in this survey is very accurate because each fish is measured and recorded by not being a willing particpant your hendering them from achieving accurate results!
Never in a 1000 years will anyone convince me this is true. The data is flawed from the start and is worthless in the end. Of course, this is my personal opinion only. And I see things a lot differently than most.
If the DNR wants to collect this data, they should recruit volunteers to do it. Then train and equip them with the tools to do the job correctly. This should not be a problem since the vast majority of you out there appear willing to assist.
-J.
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If the DNR wants to collect this data, they should recruit volunteers to do it. Then train and equip them with the tools to do the job correctly.
I’m not sure they have to be volunteers. Maybe we could reclaim a little AIS money and hire a couple more guys to help the guy down there.
I see a few posters above mentioning measuring every fish. This was NOT my experience. I was asked how many we kept and what was the largest and smallest. I can’t imagine one guy can keep up while surveying and measuring every fish. If they are going to take the time and money to do this survey I wish they would have the staff and ability to do it accurately. I have nothing against this creel survey and think it is a good thing. I just think it could be refined. But then again I’m not a DNR biologist and could be off base.
Thanks Steve for a insiders view.
I didn’t mean to start anything controversial with my original post. I was just curious about whether this data was available for us to see. Sounds like it’s not immediately available, which is too bad. I certainly agree it might not be that accurate in many instances, but given that it’s all nicely tabulated (the guy had a pretty thorough spreadsheet when he asked me questions), seems like it’s the sorta thing they could upload to a web site once a week or something. Again, I get that it might not always reflect reality, but heck, I wouldn’t mind looking at it. Oh, and someone had mentioned something about them measuring the fish etc…..that wasn’t my experience. The guy just asked questions; he didn’t inspect anything.
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I see a few posters above mentioning measuring every fish. This was NOT my experience.
From my understanding, they measure the fish when they have time. My only experience with the survey is what I see at Everts and Grady(?) does it exactly how he’s been trained.
How do I know? I’ve talked with his boss a couple times now.
Volunteers? “Well meaning people that seem to lose interest.” Broad paint brush I know, but I don’t have to look any further than our own catfish group. Over 200 diaries were sent out last year. Everyone was gungho in helping out the DNR (and the rest of us cat folk), FIVE surveys were returned.
The Pool-4 survey is completed every 6 years I believe and runs for 2 years. Having that data (even if some is in accurate) is better than nothing and combining the survey’s with the netting and electro fishing data rounds out the status of the fishery.
If it was just the survey that was used for this measure, yes could give a person a false interpretation.
Here’s the results from the last survey…
I have no problem with sharing my recent fishing success or lack of. I look at these guys as a great source if fishing information on the current bite. If you help them out they are more than willing to share the recent information they have gathered. How good the bite is and locations. Use them to your advantage.
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How good the bite is and locations. Use them to your advantage.
That’s my first question to Grady! Where are the larger fish coming from? Up or down stream?
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Having that data (even if some is in accurate) is better than nothing and combining the survey’s with the netting and electro fishing data rounds out the status of the fishery.
I fully agree with you on this comment. Another thing I didn’t consider, if they conduct the survey the same every six years I’m sure trends are easy to spot.
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