Cleaning fish on Lake

[mnmuskie]

I was wondering if it is legal to clean and eat fish on the ice?

Do they count against your limit once they are consumed?

Thanks J

[WillF]

This is all talked about it the regs. Fish must be left whole and not frozen UNLESS you are in the process of cleaning fish for a meal. You must keep the carcass and must keep it measurable and it counts on the days limit.

[TruthWalleyes]

+1.

Clean your fish, keep all remaims. Eat your fish. Can not keep any more if you just cleaned your daily limit. I'm also guessing that before you want to keep any tomorrow you must properly dispose of yesterdays catch.

One more thing to think about...The fish in your freezer also count against your daily limit. So having a limit in the freezer and eating a limit on the ice is not legal.

[Random guy]

Effective, December 2011 – February 2012

Walleye

* Four walleye daily limit; fish 17 to 26 inches must be immediately released.

* A statewide possession limit may only include four Red Lake walleye (only one larger than 26 inches).

Northern pike

* All northern pike 26 to 44 inches must be immediately released.

* Anglers may possess three pike, only one larger than 44 inches.

Possession and on-the-water consumption

* While on the ice, all harvested walleye and northern pike must be intact and measurable, unless a person is in the act of preparing the fish for a meal on the ice.

* If walleye or northern pike are prepared for a meal, anglers are required to retain measurable carcasses, which count toward the possession limit for the remainder of the fishing day

*Do not allow whole fish or carcasses to freeze together in buckets or bags since both need to be measurable. Pack them in snow or ice shavings in a bucket or cooler inside the fish house or vehicle to prevent freezing.

* Anglers are required to properly dispose of carcasses before harvesting additional fish the following day. It is illegal to dispose of fish carcasses on or under the ice.

Notice: The Red Lake Nation has stocked lake sturgeon into Lower Red Lake annually since 2007. Currently, these fish range up to 30 inches in length, and are protected on all waters of the Red Lakes. If you catch it must be immediately returned to the water.