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Closed season next year???


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OK here's my nickels worth:

I have heard that the DNR would be looking at lowering the limit on LOW for ice-fishing, since they have reduced limits for summer. With the "over harvest" last winter on LOW and the good season this year, the DNR make finally make a regulation change.


As far as the river, our harvest has not met nor exceeded it's low projected harvest for spring fishing season since 1996 when we had an exceptional year. The river harvest is less than 5% - repeat LESS THAN 5% of the (normal)ANNUAL HARVEST ACCEPTABLE for LOW. This equates to, what? 9,000 pounds?

I really didn't want to get started on this again. This is what the DNR said last year:

QUOTE]"a winter harvest poised to exceed 300,000 pounds isn't causing alarm because the big lake's walleye population is in excellent shape."

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Thanks Sandee. Like I said, I'm not trying to goat you into a fight or encourage something that would hurt your business/livelihood. I still stick to what I said though.

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Scoot- I agree, something does have to GIVE - the river already GAVE - the limit has been reduced to 2 fish for March 1 to April 14th.

It's time for the lake to GIVE - I say make the limit 4 fish starting March 1 - April 14 with NO fish over 19 1/2" for LOW and the River. OR keep the river at the current and lower the lake. Remember, now it is 14 combo (6 walleyes) with one OVER 19 1/2", which you could sit right at the mouth (on the lake side) and catch those big spawning females that are heading for their spawning area. I have seen printed reports how many of these big spawners are being kept before they can spawn!! See my point?

And to think, I had a good day going today! LOL grin.gif

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www.clementsonresort.com
Fishing on the Rainy River

Rainy River Fishing Reports

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Sorry Sandee -

I had no intention to cause any problems with this. I just thought people should be made aware of the meeting. I hate it when things like this happen and we find out later that we could have had some input. I think those who can should attend the meeting to speak up incase the DNR is intending to close the spring season on the river.

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I came back to edit this message after reading Sandee's post on this topic on the LOW forum. She has made it clear that this meeting does not involve the river - just the lake. Thank you for clarifying that Sandee. It is a relief to know they are not intending to mess with the river!

[This message has been edited by Dr. Bob (edited 03-04-2004).]

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Further restrictions to the river really makes no sense when the numbers and pounds are coming from several months of lake fishing.

CPR doesn't bother me, this is a trip for cameras. But some people will stop coming. and that will hurt resorts up river.

Closing spring fishing alltogether would be an injustice to sportmen. DNR admitts to very low mortality rate(can they say that for fish coming from the 32' mud flats?). It would hurt resorts, businesses up river quite bad.

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Will fish for work
Brian Rogers

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Dr Bob - no problem - I just started a new blood pressure medication, good way to check if it's working!! LOL

We will attend the meeting. The DNR never invites me, wonder why?

grin.gif

p.s. The Fishing Regulation Book ALWAYS show close date March 1 200X. The March 1 - April 14 season on the river is in the following year's booklet. Just like this years book shows spring season March 1 April 2003!!

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www.clementsonresort.com
Fishing on the Rainy River

Rainy River Fishing Reports

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I guess I got a little excited. I just love fishing on the river in the spring grin.gif.

The crowds do not bother me either - for the most part everyone is there to have a good time and are in a really good mood. I can see how the rush of fishermen can peev the locals who remember when there were few boats on the river. You guys have my sympathy. But for a lot of us, and especially the kids, it is a marvelous opportunity to catch and see some fabulous fishing.

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I think the limit is fine and I don't think we need to worry about the season closing. I agree that it is a camera trip. The chance at those 30+ inchers is all I need.

Dr. Bob I am glad to here that the crowd doesn't bother you either. One my of my favorite things to do is B.S. with the other anglers. Everyone is there to do the same thing.....Catch Fish. Good luck and see you on the river in a couple of weeks.

WW

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Not trying to tick people off with this one, but I'd personally like to see C&R only in the spring. I realize this isn't the best scenerio for everyone (resort owners, etc.) and some of these people have been great ambassadors of the sport of fishing (Sandee for example). So, I'm not trying to offend her/them or make them mad. But, I agree with Fisky and Widetrack- somethings got to give at some point. If people are interested in the long-term health of the fishery, this seems to me to be the way of the future.

Let the arguments begin!

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Scoot

So I got dat goin’ for me… which is nice.

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It would not bother me either to let them go. I just do not want them to close the season on the River. I think the proposed rules sound like they would do nothing but improve the fishing!

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I think everyone is getting all stirred up over nothing. No one has any intention of changing the spring fishery on the Rainy. End of story.
TS

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TS - Dr Bob updated his post on Thursday with the information that no changes were on the table for the river, as I had posted on LOW forum.

Nothing stirred here, just shakin with excitement for some spring fishing!

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www.clementsonresort.com
Fishing on the Rainy River

Fish tomorrow where you didn't catch fish today!

Rainy River Fishing Reports

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Its been many years since the DNR managed natural resources. The resort influence on lake of the Woods has led fisheries "politics" rather than policies there for a long time. i.e. 2 fish on the river and 14 on the lake explain that to me using natural resource management strategies?
The DNR doesn't manage for common people anymore it manages for the "state". At one time DNR thought the people were the state, thats no longer the case with many of there managers. Isn't there some saying that goes by the people, for the people etc.

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