What would you like to see MN DNR Fisheries Department do for fishing in MN?

As far as the Sams Lessard Fund (AKA Legacy fund) This is what drives me nuts.
I want to pay for clean water not a cherry on a spoon.

You lost me there.

Better enforcement of the rules which have already been in place.

They pitched the legacy act as the “clean water act”
Saying – Don’t you want clean water in MN? Then they piggy backed arts in the bill.

Oops.
Here ya go.

Hmm?
Not loading a pic. Let’s try this.

https://walkerart.org/collections/artworks/spoonbridge-and-cherry

Got ya. Yes they had to give stuff up to get the bill passed. But, something is better than nothing. They have done some amazing things with the dollars they collected. Cleaned up watersheds, restored upland prairie & grasslands for hunting. I think they have even done something to improve duck hunting but that will be hard with farmers draining every puddle they can drag a plow across.

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

Also, come on. We’ve got lakes full of bazillion dollar wakeboard machines and bass boats and these guys are paying the same to license those things as I am to license my little 17-foot tin can? This is Taxesota! How can we not ALREADY have a luxury boat tax?

I believe it’s the same cost to license a watercraft for every vessel that’s 10 feet or longer across the board. That doesn’t make a whole lotta sense. A 12 foot canoe should not be paying the same to have a registered watercraft as a 24 foot fiberglass speed boat. Although, I am not quite sure up how they would be able in incrementally charge people solely based on boat length.

FishBlood&RiverMud wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Buzz wrote:</div>
What would you like to see MN DNR Fisheries Department do for fishing in MN?
DNR Virtual Roundtable coming up?

I’d prefer DNR

NOT query the public regarding how to manage any fishery in particular or in general.

But, that’s how they’ve been trending lately, too late.

Due to folks making these broad strokes:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Reef Whooligan wrote:</div>
Lower limits for most things. Definitely walleye and crappie.

Couldn’t agree more FBRM. Manage lakes and rivers based on Biology not a public survey.
Not saying they shouldn’t take public opinion on other issues.

legalize jaw jackers and similar devices. slot limits on crappie. more funding for stocking public waters

not to be selfish or anything, I just wish they would clear the roads when I head north in June.

just kidding, as an out of stater I wouldnt mind paying more for a license,but I would want it to go straight to the DNR funding more CO’s.
too many of our tax dollars in every state already fund the general fund.

get rid of the cabin tax!! I wouldnt mind paying that if it went to the DNR as well.
BAN lake home associations, its public water for goodness sakes !!
while you are at it,BAN all lawn chemicals applied by anyone !!

sorry if I went off of the rails.

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Wallyhntr1 wrote:</div>
Good luck if you believe the DNR has any say in anything tribal.

Yes, amazing there are still some who believe that the MN DNR could shut down tribal netting if they just wanted to. Also love the ones who still think it was the DNR who “allowed” tribal netting in the first place.

You’re right. Those laws are defined Federally as a result of treaties from the 1800s. The Indians have won challenges against them in the US Supreme Court as recently as the 80s.

That doesn’t mean the State of Minnesota cannot attempt to negotiate a more reasonable arrangement between the two parties. The state has plenty of leverage, but chooses not to use it. There is no mention of casinos in the Federal treaties. Plans to build a series of state-owned casinos across the state would get the re-negotiations opened up real quick.

What should the limit be on crappie 3 fish ? Isn’t it at ten now ?

gimruis wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>TheFamousGrouse wrote:</div>
Also, come on. We’ve got lakes full of bazillion dollar wakeboard machines and bass boats and these guys are paying the same to license those things as I am to license my little 17-foot tin can? This is Taxesota! How can we not ALREADY have a luxury boat tax?

I believe it’s the same cost to license a watercraft for every vessel that’s 10 feet or longer across the board. That doesn’t make a whole lotta sense. A 12 foot canoe should not be paying the same to have a registered watercraft as a 24 foot fiberglass speed boat. Although, I am not quite sure up how they would be able in incrementally charge people solely based on boat length.

No, that’s incorrect. Registration fees are separated by type and lengths.

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/watercraft/index.html

I agree with many people that more enforcement of laws would be nice. As for adding the number of CO’s, I believe they have had plenty of unfilled openings for a number of years (lots of baby boomers retiring) so it’s not a matter of not enough jobs, it’s not enough applicants.

blank wrote:

I agree with many people that more enforcement of laws would be nice. As for adding the number of CO’s, I believe they have had plenty of unfilled openings for a number of years (lots of baby boomers retiring) so it’s not a matter of not enough jobs, it’s not enough applicants.

Excellent point Blank.
What does a position like that pay? I bet the hours are brutal.

2 lines yr rd.

What does an angling license cost now? If a license is $20, sell a 2nd line endorsement for the same price. Lots of people would pony up and it would raise a lot of cash in a hurry. Getting a pile of funds from willing donors would be the best option for all.

Matthew Sandys wrote:

Lower limits and 2 lines in summer.

This is what I was going to say. Although I’d be happy with some stricter slots and keeping the limits the same generally.

But let me fish with two lines.

Gobbler wrote:

What should the limit be on crappie 3 fish ? Isn’t it at ten now ?

I agree with this comment. I think lowering panfish limits is ridicules. You drop sunfish limits to 10, people are going to start keeping those pigs that everyone says need to be released, just to get a decent meal. Crappie is already at 10. A limit a 5 is silly. I know how unpopular this opinion is on this site so go ahead and bash away. But I like to fish, keep fish, and eat fish A LOT.

I think they could raise boat registration costs and make it more in line with the vehicle system (i.e. the more expensive the vehicle the more expensive the registration). I don’t think they should raise fishing license costs. That should remain inexpensive so everyone can enjoy.

Lower Limits of Bluegill, Crappie, Walleye statewide
2 lines year round
Increase out of State License

Bearcat89 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mahtofire14 wrote:</div>
As I mentioned on the FB group, hiring enough CO’s to enforce the laws and regs so they are actually effective.

Oh, and year round C&R for Largemouth……

AND I really do think it would be cool to try and stock Lake Elmo with Lake Trout.

Why do you want to pull the bass off the beds at spawning?

Because they go right back to the beds and it has little to no effect on them. This is about the only state in the country that doesn’t have a bass season during the spawn or prespawn. Clearly hasn’t hurt the bass numbers in other states where bass angling is WAY more popular.

A $2000.00 check to all Minnesotans
who bought Walleye stamps last season.

Year round Catch and eat seasons for Muskies And all species of Bass

blank wrote:

No, that’s incorrect. Registration fees are separated by type and lengths.

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/watercraft/index.html

Didn’t know that, thanks for posting.

mahtofire14 wrote:

Because they go right back to the beds and it has little to no effect on them. This is about the only state in the country that doesn’t have a bass season during the spawn or prespawn. Clearly hasn’t hurt the bass numbers in other states where bass angling is WAY more popular

In most of the state, I don’t think bass spawn that early. They certainly don’t where I fish them in the central portion of the state. Seems like most of them spawn in the second half of May and into early June further north on some of the bigger lakes. So the season is open during their spawn period already.

Don’t think they’ll be opening it up to catch and release any time soon before the usual opener. I know Wisconsin just did last year but it seems like we’re a decade behind them.

gimruis wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mahtofire14 wrote:</div>
Because they go right back to the beds and it has little to no effect on them. This is about the only state in the country that doesn’t have a bass season during the spawn or prespawn. Clearly hasn’t hurt the bass numbers in other states where bass angling is WAY more popular

In most of the state, I don’t think bass spawn that early. They certainly don’t where I fish them in the central portion of the state. Seems like most of them spawn in the second half of May and into early June further north on some of the bigger lakes. So the season is open during their spawn period already.

Don’t think they’ll be opening it up to catch and release any time soon before the usual opener. I know Wisconsin just did last year but it seems like we’re a decade behind them.

^This

I don’t think it has a thing to do with bass. Rather, someone catch and release “bass fishing” with questionable intentions could very easily run into walleyes which is a big no no and difficult to enforce. I also think an official “opener” for most species really ramps up sales, interest, and excitement. A lot of businesses that make money off fishing benefit from this demand/excitement of an opener. Think of all the fishing opener flyers, mailings, bookings at resorts and hotels, governor’s opener, etc.

In a very distant comparison, we went to the Leinenkugels brewery years back and they told us they sell more Summer Shandy than any other beer and only keep it available for ~6 months a year. The “release” and “limited” availability drive demand through the roof and the economics say it’s better to not have it available year round.

buckybadger wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>gimruis wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mahtofire14 wrote:</div>
Because they go right back to the beds and it has little to no effect on them. This is about the only state in the country that doesn’t have a bass season during the spawn or prespawn. Clearly hasn’t hurt the bass numbers in other states where bass angling is WAY more popular

In most of the state, I don’t think bass spawn that early. They certainly don’t where I fish them in the central portion of the state. Seems like most of them spawn in the second half of May and into early June further north on some of the bigger lakes. So the season is open during their spawn period already.

Don’t think they’ll be opening it up to catch and release any time soon before the usual opener. I know Wisconsin just did last year but it seems like we’re a decade behind them.

^This

I don’t think it has a thing to do with bass. Rather, someone catch and release “bass fishing” with questionable intentions could very easily run into walleyes which is a big no no and difficult to enforce. I also think an official “opener” for most species really ramps up sales, interest, and excitement. A lot of businesses that make money off fishing benefit from this demand/excitement of an opener. Think of all the fishing opener flyers, mailings, bookings at resorts and hotels, governor’s opener, etc.

In a very distant comparison, we went to the Leinenkugels brewery years back and they told us they sell more Summer Shandy than any other beer and only keep it available for ~6 months a year. The “release” and “limited” availability drive demand through the roof and the economics say it’s better to not have it available year round.

You nailed it right on the head bucky. The more people that are discouraged to fish for “game fish” and forced to fish for panfish will not use lures that “may be able to target walleye”. It’s the only thing the DNR gives two rips about in this state and it’s why all the other species suffer

I was more than happy to take my bass fishing and money to WI for gas and food and drink, to and from fishing in WI for the month and a half I was able to fish over there before the MN season opened. They’ve earned it more than our state has in my opinion.

Use CRISPR gene editing technology to create super fish… 40″ walleyes, 30″ smallmouth, 20″ crappies, 15″ bluegills, etc. Stock these fish in designated “Super Fish” bodies of water. Of course, don’t edit the germ line to ensure these super-fish traits are not passed onto offspring as we wouldn’t want these fish to multiply and spread unchecked.

In all seriousness, someday it could be possible if it’s not already.

I’m probably way off base here. I grew up in South Dakota. I moved here. I love it. They talked about walleye opener. I said what’s that? We can fish year round for anything. Lakes are full of fish. I know I’m comparing apples to oranges with SoDak and Mn. Still kind of a head scratcher. To only fish for panfish until Mother’s Day is hard to understand.

Would love to see lower limits throughout the state on walleyes and panfish. Anyone who NEEDS 6 quality eating walleyes or 10 10″-12″ crappies is just greedy.

I also would love to see a larger CO force. I have been checked while hunting sporadically, but I can’t remember the last time I was checked while fishing. Maybe 4-5 years ago?

Many of the comments revolved around lower limits, mine included.
Arguments against revolve around a big fish fry.
My wife and I eat a lot of fish when we have a fish fry.
We have found 10 8″ sunfish is apretty good meal for the 2 of us.
1 18″ to 20″ walleye is a meal.
6 11″ crappies is a meal.

Question for all how much fish do you need for a meal?