Big Pine

[Bisman]

Been going to Big Pine the 1st weekend in June for close to 20 years. This is the 2nd year with the slot limit and I saw something alarming this year. I don't keep a walleye under 14 inches and did not for the entire week i was there. i also have no problem throwing the bigger ones back. However i did seen a large number of 9 - 12 inch walleyes kept and cleaned during the period i was there. What good does a limit like this do if all everybody does is keep the little itty bitty walleyes. Maybe they should think about a slot similar to Mille Lacs. On a happier note, the fishing was good, caught enough walleyes to have two frys while there. Also hammered the bass and big bull gills in the beds. Sister caught a 2 pound crappie as well. Great weekend, can't wait until next year.

[ISU Fisherman]

Bisman,

I just love fishing and talking about fishing Big and Little Pine. I am all in for the slot on these two lakes. I can remember a number of summers back 1985-1995???, where we would vaction on the lake for a week and our group would maybe only catch 6-8 walleyes total during the entire week. And we would have 8-10 people up there. This last summer in August we didn't do catch a lot of keeper Walleyes ( maybe 6or 8 between me, my bro, a buddy and Dad). But there were a number of days that we maybe only kept one or two, but through back 10 or 12 that were either too small or over the slot. In my opinion, I would much rather have the fun of catching six or 8 walleyes and throwing them back than to not catch any at all.

I am like you. Keeping those small 9-14Inch walleyes is dumb, unless they are going to die. I think some vacationer's think "we paid out 35.00 to get our lisc, we should be able to take home our limit of walleyes." Some people do it, just to say they got thier limit. Come On people, a 12inch perch tastes just the same, if not better than those little cigar Walleyes.

Sorry Guys, I just had to agree with Bisman's excellent points and rant a little myself.

[Guest]

A recent issue of the MN conservation volunteer magazine had an article about slot limits and their effect on fish populations, and one of the findings was that having a minimum slot (can't keep if under 14 inches) does more harm than good to a fishery. You end up with ONLY fish under the slot size. I see nothing wrong with keeping smaller fish. If you want a meal of fish, take what the lake gives you that day. If you're good enough with a knife to get the meat off, it's some dang fine chewin'. The first fillets off the plate are always the smaller ones.

[Smitty]

I think there has to be some middle ground there, as I can't see folks keeping those dinks either. I personally won't generally keep anything under 15" unless I'm lookin for a meal that day and it's a fat 14.5" (and I'm a tourist!!!!!).. We did struggle on Big Pine last year catching fish in "our 14-18" slot" to keep for a few meals.. I'd personally prefer a 14"-15" to 19"-20" "keep" slot where everything under 14/15" or over 19/20" goes back.

Just one tourist's opinion who's been fishing Big/Little Pine for years. For me it won't matter if they keep tearing down resorts to build condos on BP, I won't have anyplace left to stay. :-(

[fish-too-little]

I'm not sure throwing all those little ones back is a good idea or not. I say let the DNR try their experiment with the slot on BP and other lakes and see what happens. In the meantime, I'll keep doing what I did a few weeks ago on BP. Through back a couple 20+ inchers, keep the little ones and have a great fish fry at night!

[Pooh]

i have a few things to say! i agree that the little ones are great eaters. a big fish is sometimes too much for one person to eat and mostly sometimes taste kinda muddy. and yet I also see alot of people keeping way too many little ones. I have heard, through the grape vine, whether its true or not, but DNR is not going to stock those lakes anymore??? not sure, its a great fishery!! too many big ones is bad, and yet too little ones are bad.
but you will never be able to stop those form keeping babys, and those with all the fish over the slot, so whats the use?

This is just my 2 cents
Pooh

[This message has been edited by Pooh (edited 07-01-2004).]

[fishermatt]

Big Pine, Little Pine, and Rush have never had walleyes stocked in them by the DNR. Otter Tail just started being stocked in the last few years.