I like Fenwick

We have all been there

https://www.si.com/onsi/fishing/bass-fishing/mlf-is-forward-facing-the-battle-between-instinct-and-innovation?fbclid=IwY2xjawJHDEhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHVIxF1IpPYtk3g9v8XKFQ-9mViwigcKWfic9oIq-jb84AQY6rc87ACH63A_aem_rWYtd13d-fz6HSeUZi1Ztw

The only push back is having tournaments during the spawn, otherwise the majority seems to be in favor.

FinnyDinDin wrote:

I always enjoy the pics of your boys.

I don’t like how the fish taste out of Michigan so I don’t head over there anymore. I’ll be out on superior in mn/wi a ton in the spring as usual. I think there will be some toads caught this spring based on what we’ve been pulling through the ice this winter. I’d like to try isle royale in may and see if I can find some coasters casting. We will be heading to the sixth Great Lake in June as well. Pretty pumped to get back there.

We were one all in staying the month of July out of Gills Rock. Agree with you, the only times we liked Lake Mich salmon grilled soon after caught or smoked. Lake trout on Superior tough to beat. We have many fond memories fishing on Lake Mich, it is exhausting but fun. The girls shopped we fished.

Salmon and lake trout

Funds generated from the sale of a walleye stamp must go to purchasing walleyes from the private sector.

There are too many reasons to oppose these bills. The main one it will tie the hands of our game wardens, to do their job effectively. Warden presence is in short supply in our area in the lst Place. If you follow the law their will no problems.

Mike W wrote:

Personally I think the main goal of AIS inspections where I’m at is to make those that have property on the lakes happy. Without the inspections I’m sure some of the local associations would be trying to limit access to the landings. Not a lot of intelligence in some of those associations.

Mike after attending those early meetings you are correct. AIS prevention was used to try and stop a highly successful Minnesota DNR muskie program. Limit public access to lakes by closing or limiting public access’s and putting restraints on tournaments.

Timmy wrote:

They are desperately trying to lock the barn now…..but the horses have been out tunning free for years.

It’s here, its spreading, and the best we can do is slow the spread theough education. Their stupid stations and weed cops are doing little to nothing.
[/quote

Very true Timmy… recalling a salmon fishing trip to Lake Mich 1975. A couple USFW Service employees were doing waterfowl surveys. Both of these biologists told us that if AIS like zebra mussels weren’t contained on Lake Mich, they would spread west. The time was then to do something. The shipping industry, and state government reluctant to do anything, nothing happened to keep-em on Lake Mich. Well, it was too late, and the zebra mussels hitched rides on watercraft headed west. The barn door was open. Many organizations trying to keep em out of their lakes or rivers used a level of scare tactics, property values would tank etc. Access inspectors, stations were set up to raise awareness and another goal was to slow the spread, buy time with the hope a cure would be discovered. That has gone its course, the better way is to educate, the reasonable cost alternative.

Iowaboy1 wrote:

Gary, thanks for your reply, I am curious about AIS as a lake I have frequented since ’84 has been gin clear down to 14 feet until the last five or so years, it has no inlet waters feeding it.
I would wager that its due to lawn fertilizers that are over used and used on non native grasses so lake side owners can have golf greens for lawns.
Now the lake with very little wind can become very dirty with algae, that may be good for some species as it is part of a food chain, however, it takes away sunlight that promotes plant growth at deeper depths that supply beneficial oxygen for all living things in the lake.

So, do we pray that zeebs come in, ( they are already there now ) and clean the lake up so its gin clear again?
Everyone thought the sky was falling when the zeebs invaded Michigan and now its a walleye factory, plant growth at depths is at record levels and oxygen levels are high and winter survival rates are better as I understand it.

I guess my question is, if we let nature take its course, ( zeebs die off and dont reproduce as much as food levels for them are low ) will things balance out as they always seem to do if left alone??
If I am wrong please correct me.

[
There is research that shows zebra mussel populations peak and level off. Some maintain that zebra mussels takes away food for other fish. Reduced food sources the fish adjust accordingly, with a drop in numbers. For certain the habit changes with clearer water, weed lines become deeper, fishing tactics change. We have seen fish populations drop once almost thought to be so low no possibility for recovery. Now we are seeing those populations rebounding. The best word that describes the outcomes of AIS is “change”. Lake property owners once were concerned their property values would drop as the result of AIS. That has not been the case. Personally take precautions necessary so I am not spreading the stuff best I can. Education is the best answer. I feel it is important to look at where we are spending the funds, the results obtained and adjust accordingly. Hope this helps and thank you for yours and others clomments

Iowaboy1 wrote:

Gary, have you ever heard how much AIS is carried in by birds, turtles, and such??
How much of it in an affected lake is carried by streams to others??
Or is that never considered?? Genuinely curious.

Thank you excellent point. No I have not………seems to me a question not brought up in AIS circles these days most likely for good reasons (wink) I am on the Township Board and at last Thursday’s meeting a representative from one of lake associations within the township attended, she was concerned about funding already approved. The Board told her the funding that was already approved would stay. No comment about the future. Personally have a long history pertaining to AIS going back to the date to when it first appeared on Lake Mich. Will share that towards the end of this tread. I want to hear from each of you, to your thought’s. DTW has a real experience, a good example and statement. Can you sense where I am at.

LabDaddy1 wrote:

If we’re doing a fish fry I don’t mind keeping the 8-9” crappies. You can get a nice little filet that fries up nicely. You really need to throw back those 11-12”ers on these highly pressured lakes. Unfortunately, that’s not what usually happens.

I agree. There is one smaller metro lake we’ll go out on open water and still somehow kicks out 11-15” crappies year after year. We go out and could fill the livewell with big girls and bull gills from the reeds and newly emergent cabbage but usually end up releasing 85-95% of them because it seems too easy and feels like raping/pillaging. I don’t know how these lakes don’t get fished out, honestly.
[/quote]

Good observation…seems to be a residual population left doesn’t it.

Ripjiggen wrote:

You’re right, banning live bait from tournaments will have no impact on the minnow shortage but I doubt that Gary was inferring that it directly would.

Excuse my ignorance then what was he inferring exactly? If it was just a discussion on should tournament anglers only use artificial baits why bring up the minnow shortage?

Because certain areas tournaments are held blamed for lack of minnows available to be purchased by non-tournament anglers.

Tournaments have gotten so much better each and every season. Credit should go to the contestants and event coordinators that have pushed for better….

Ripjiggen wrote:

So, if read you correctly, you’re ok to continue fishing after getting a limit example: deep water or if conditions increase delayed mortality or barotrauma and crappies through the ice caught out of deep water.

Where did I state this please reference.
Where in your original post was this ever stated please reference.

So no you are not reading me correctly.
Please do not put words in my mouth and/or assume you know my fishing habbits.

It is a question, so I read you correctly….

Jimmy Jones wrote:

Isn’t a large portion of the control to keep minnows from other states from entering Minnesota the fear of that hemoragic[?] virus?

Jimmy Jones wrote:

Isn’t a large portion of the control to keep minnows from other states from entering Minnesota the fear of that hemoragic[?] virus?

Part of the problem the article posted here, share a lot about it

nord wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Gary Korsgaden wrote:</div>
#2316058
Thanks to each of you for your exchange of ideas. We all enjoy fishing for different reasons and results No easy solutions or is there a perfect world…one size doesn’t fit all…

Gary, thanks for your insight. I agree with all that you have said 100%.

Thank you for reading….appreciate your support…Gary

BigWerm wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Gary Korsgaden wrote:</div>
There is a certain percentage of fish that don’t survive due to hooking mortality and how the fish is handled before released and the length it is out of the water before released. Hard to determine as it depends on the situation again how its handled. This is called hooking mortality.

Hooking Mortality exists, obviously, but it does not have an impact on fish populations. There is a reason the DNR does not use it anywhere besides Mille Lacs and it’s boondoggle of “co”-management.

How about this Gary, my 7 year old and 4 year old catch sunnies off the dock all weekend long at the cabin, we keep some, sometimes even a limit, should they have to quit fishing? Or when they are only catching dinks, how many should they be able to CnR before having to quit? I think we probably agree on the answer to those questions. And the rules should not differ for anyone else imo.

How does hooking mortality doesn’t impact fish populations? If we reduce hooking mortality more fish survive, isn’t it like reducing limits? Help me understand.

gim wrote:

That’s a good article. Detailed and thorough.

Yes it is thanks

Thanks to each of you for your exchange of ideas. We all enjoy fishing for different reasons and results No easy solutions or is there a perfect world…one size doesn’t fit all…

i try not to cull especially when fish deep water for crappie

True, there are some that agree with you. A compliment to you for being aware and trying. Fizzing walleyes was a hot practice for tournament anglers, thought to improve fish released survival. Today some say it doesn’t work.

https://www.bing.com/search?q=walleye+delayed+mortality&gs_lcrp=EgRlZGdlKgcIARBFGMIDMgcIABBFGMIDMgcIARBFGMIDMgcIAhBFGMIDMgcIAxBFGMIDMgcIBBBFGMIDMgcIBRBFGMIDMgcIBhBFGMIDMgcIBxBFGMID0gEJOTMwNzhqMGo5qAIIsAIB&FORM=ANAB01&PC=ACTS

Ripjiggen wrote:

I think I’m more confused than before.
If you happen to catch fish. STOP you shouldn’t catch a bunch. If I told my 8 year old he we are catching a bunch of fish we need to move to another spot. He would never fish again.

I have worked on youth fishing programs both in and out of the classroom for 50 plus years. Some of the first ones at Camp Fish. Which were a mix of classroom and on the water. When kids realized the opportunity to move to another spot and try for different species or learn a different spot even while still catching. Were eager to do so.

So, if read you correctly, you’re ok to continue fishing after getting a limit example: deep water or if conditions increase delayed mortality or barotrauma and crappies through the ice caught out of deep water.

Catch a bunch of fish. Just trying to bring some awareness that dependent on conditions not all fish survive, and delayed mortality is real. Do you agree?

Umy wrote:

I’m with ripjiggen here. Confused.
I don’t eat fish, I just catch and release. I see it as no different than all those people who play on grass and spend too much time on one spot and kill it. Primarily <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>bass fish and never deep for what it’s worth. The biggest takeaway for me is being out and about in nature.
Interesting reading all of this.

Confused sorry this is hard to understand. Delayed mortality is a issue and comes up with walleye for the sake of discussion lets refer to walleyes Research has been done that shows using a live bait and a hook delayed mortality percentages goes up. Add warm water conditions delated mortality percentages go up significantly as high as 20%. So for the sake of easy math 100 walleyes caught and released could result in 20 fish not making it due to delayed mortality. Not talking bass or northern pike. Crappies are susceptible to barotrauma, caught in deep water as high as 100%
https://www.bing.com/search?q=walleye+delayed+mortality&gs_lcrp=EgRlZGdlKgcIARBFGMIDMgcIABBFGMIDMgcIARBFGMIDMgcIAhBFGMIDMgcIAxBFGMIDMgcIBBBFGMIDMgcIBRBFGMIDMgcIBhBFGMIDMgcIBxBFGMID0gEJOTMwNzhqMGo5qAIIsAIB&FORM=ANAB01&PC=ACTS

Brittman wrote:

Bringing fish up slowly out of deep water improves the odds they will swim back down the hole faster than when they came up. That has solved our problem on LOTW on hot bite days.

Safe & Responsible Catch & Release Fishing

My wife and I live on the West side of a decent multi-species lake including walleyes. Within a hour a dozen or so walleye panfish lakes that have had many good trips. Grew up in family that never wasted game and fish. Walleyes and crappies are what I fish close to my home. Fish caught in deep water are kept. If I get on a hot bite catch and keep the fish (we) want. I like to move catch a few fish at one spot move to another to see what the bites is on another spot also. Fishing to me is like hunting, very enjoyable. Most of my walleyes are 15″-18″ with an occasional 20-22″ walleye a perfect size for a couple of recipes my wife and I like. Hooking mortality waste is kept to minimum so sitting on a spot catching and releasing 100 crappies after a limit is kept is a practice will not do. I believe as we are better educated fisherman comes respect for the resource. As we see new tech comes responsibility. Harvesting fish and game is important to management of the resource. Certainly, released fish have a better chance of surviving but let’s not diminish the importance of harvest as we see more anglers becoming catch and release only. Stock piling game and fish has shown time and time again that it does not work. We need to listen to our fishery biologists for their lead. This may not sit or fit for you.

ajw wrote:

Oh lord! We can’t have people having fun catching fish. Better contact your legislators soon, they could probably shoehorn in some more regulations into the book before session ends.

No one has said people can’t have fun catching fish. Nor are we look to enact new laws. It is a open exchange of thinking regarding the sport of fishing.

Ripjiggen wrote:

You’re right, banning live bait from tournaments will have no impact on the minnow shortage but I doubt that Gary was inferring that it directly would.

Excuse my ignorance then what was he inferring exactly? If it was just a discussion on should tournament anglers only use artificial baits why bring up the minnow shortage?

Well, I have seen first-hand chubs bought and dumped so other anglers can’t get them on the Missouri more than just a few times. Tournament anglers buy large amounts of minnows wiping out bait shops a long way. Anglers’ tournament and nontournament driving a lot miles to get prized chubs. Two main reasons I see to have artificial events only 1) Artificial bait companies would love the tournament pro’s promoting artificial baits. As some have said it is the way of the future. Hard to get bait, shops closing the business just not profitable anymore. 2) Would take the blame off the tournament anglers, who gets the finger pointed at them for transporting AIS via their bait buckets. As I read this post the majority would be ok with artificial tournament events only. But a caveat here is as I pointed out tournament anglers are good customers for the bait shops, they make the cash register ring. Sales bait shop owners they would not want to lose. Let me point out one of the first meetings when the Minnesota DNR and lake groups were discussing regs, to stop or slow the spread AIS. The MN DNR stood up for the bait dealers and the anglers using live bait. In a couple of instances brought my concerns the regulations posed to bait shop owner’s and anglers that use live bait. Shared my concerns on both sides of the AIS prevention issue. There sentiments surfacing stronger the past couple of years against harvest of fish and game. Thanks for the great feedback