Netting on Red

[Dave]

Question......will the Indians be allowed to net again on Red after the walleye population is built back up? Or, are they forced to give up their "right", now and future, to net since there's no walleye in there?

[Surface Tension]

Yes netting will resume. I think they could start now if they wanted to. Thats the way it is and there is nothing that can be done or said that will change it.

[kelly-p]

As I understand it they can not net walleyes as long as we do take walleyes sportfishing. They just elected a new Chairman and several new representatives so no one has any idea which direction they will go. The past leadership appeared to leaning toward an end to commercial fishing.

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Waskish Minnow Station
218-647-8652

[Katoman]

I've hear a rumor that someone is putting up a motel. Where will this be, if true? Why don't the natives build a resort or motel and provide some services to cash in on the sportfishing boom?

[ibwhnt]

Not opening a can of worms but I just don't get it. Why do we have to pay to restock the lake that was over netted. Seems to me if we restock the lake we should be able to fish that lake, the whole thing. I say if it happens again don't restock. PERIOD

[Dave]

I also didn't mean to open a can of worms on this subject but I heard the Indians can not net Red any more. They can take their limit, any size walleye by line and tackle but no more nets since it was netted out.

[This message has been edited by Dave (edited 08-22-2002).]

[Surface Tension]

I thought it was the tribes decission to stop till walleye numbers came back. I guess Kelly would know since he's from the area.
I dont think its going to be netted out again anyway. But if it did wouldnt another crappie boom be nice.

[swamptiger]

Right on, ST!

Red Lake crappie fishing is about the most fun a person can have with their clothes on! (I'm sure it has even been done by some with their clothes off, but that's a whole nuther issue.)

It will be nice when the walleyes recover, but this crappie fishing has really been a blast for a lot of people.

[DT]

sounds to me like there is a lack of communication between the reservation and the others who live around Red Lake. It would sure be a shame if the walleye population ,which is definitely on the comeback,was suddenly depleted again due to netting. This should be a team effort between the reservation and the rest of us who love the lake. Get together and work it out.

[BLACKJACK]

Katoman, you hit it right on the head! Just think of the jobs and the income that could be created by a couple of resorts on the reservation! They have to be braindead not to realize that. Or maybe they just don't want to work.

And nets will appear again on Red. They're going to want to get some income off the walleyes, and if they don't cater to the sportfisherman, then selling walleye fillets is the only other way.

I've said all along that the DNR should have dared to be innovative and tried to maintain
a world-class crappie fishery. Just think if they would have stocked a couple million crappie fry instead of walleyes! The good thing about crappies is that there is no market for crappies fillets, hence no profit in netting. Yet you can see walleye fillets for $6 a pound in the local Cub.

Red is destined to be a boom and bust fishery. The walleyes will come back, the fishing will be great, then the nets will come back out. Sad when you think what could have been.

[halad]

The Indians would never open the reservation to the white man for hunting and fishing and they will always net and spear the Walleye as it is a part of their culture. They believe in the old ways.

[woodman]

I teach on the Reservation in Ponemah which is on the point between upper and Lower Red Lake. They are not netting yet, that I can see, I have talked to some of the locals that I know really good, and they tel me that they can not net it until the ban is lifted for both lakes. I have mentioned the charter thing to them also and they have not responded to it. I will be interesting what will happen with the new leaders to see how things change.

I just thought I would add my thoughts to the topic since I am teaching there everyday and see what is going on in the community.

I know for a fact that in the winter we have a fishing day for the students and we ( White Man) can not even drop a line in the lake, we can bait their hook and take the fish off, but can not "Fish". Thought I would add that!!!

Happy Fishing

Woodman

[Fish-on]

Couple points. First of all, I understand that the tribe is sharing some of the cost of restocking in an agreement with the DNR. Not sure if this is true or not. Supposedly the agreement includes no netting by the tribe untli sportfishing is open. I have good information that I trust that some walleye netting is already going on now despite the agreement.

I got a chuckle out of your statement about the old ways Halad. I guess the old ways means that they can only buy used outboard motors? Or does that mean that they only use nets made of string instead of monofilament? Two-year-old or older boats? Used GPS? Used depthfinders? If finding their nets with GPS is believing in the old ways, then I'll stop laughing at your comment. Don't get me started about this discrimination.

[Surface Tension]

Maybe they want to keep the little unspoiled land they have left free from capitalizm and hold on to a tiny tread of culture and pride they once had. When its deveolped and paved over there is nothing left. Its there land and lake to do with the way they see fit. I dont know what new or used boats and nets have to do with it any of this.

[halad]

Good job Surface Tension.

[Guest]

Unspoiled?

I'm sorry that is pretty tough to swallow. If I hear that poor old me any more I might throw up! besides, I would love to hear your thoughts on the casino operations. I suppose that is tradition too! Or is taking money from the poor and not paying tax on it in some way fair to you.
Sharpen up your spears and go to town, we all know the lake didn't get overharvested that way, so lets stop this nonsense. We all need to work to protect the resources which are so important to us, but let us learn from the past on this lake.

[halad]

I dont think there are many of us out there who are happy with the reservation system but lets not forget how they came about. Who are we to tell them how to manage their land and water. Anybody who was here in the late 80s knows what happened to the walleys and it wasnt just the netting. The only reason the crappie fishing has held up as well as it has is because the Indians dont fish them. If both lakes were fished as hard as the open portion Of Upper they would have been gone 2yrs. ago. Who supports the Casinos? Would it happen to be the same people who made a willing market for every illegal Walleye that came off the Reservation. Dont we all like to make a fast buck and get a good deal.

[This message has been edited by halad (edited 08-25-2002).]

[Fish-on]

Walleyehanger you can't say stuff like that on here. You have to pretend the emporer is wearing his new clothes and be as politically correct as possible. No truth allowed or you'll get jumped on by the politically correct thought police.

[halad]

It may be so but i dont know it sounds so very queer i do not doubt your word a bit but your bullsxxx dont go here.

[Guest]

Fish On, you are right I didn't mean to be so honest. I just dread the day when this fantastic sport fishery is ruined again.
I guess their is nothing anybody can do about it, but defending any actions in which cause it seem irresponsible. At least for the near future this is a hall of fame crappie phenom, I can't even imagine what the rest of the fishery must be like.

[Fish-on]

The crappie fishing is incredible, but in my opionion, it pales in comparison to the pike fishing. I do not know where else in north America a person can go and catch a dozen more more fish from 12 to 20 pounds on any given day. Wish I was there today. The walleye fishing can be just as good if it was managed properly. I just get sick of everyone acting like they have blinders on. I choose to just be real, I'm not a racist, just a realist.

Your mileage may vary.

[Guest]

Thanks fish on, I'm glad to here some sportsman will stand up and defend what is in the best interest of the vast majority. I too am not one ounce racist, I will voice my opinion against anyone and anything that that threatens the future of a natural resource. Too bad people always need to feel slighted or singled out. This is the real world folks, and it is filled with real issues. Lets not sit on our hands.

[swamptiger]

Just exactly, what is the problem here, anyway?

We have great crappie fishing, great northern fishing, walleyes are on the rebound. Everyone should be happy, right? People are coming for miles around to fish a lake that a lot of people didn't seem to know even EXISTED five years ago.

How about just being satisfied with what is, right now, and not focusing so much on the buts and ifs of what could happen in the future?

I have lived in the area for almost fifty years, and I for one have a lot of faith in the future of Red Lake - despite the lure of the dollar and all of the outside influences.

[Guest]

SWAMPTIGER,

Fair enough, but since you have lived in the area for fifty years, I must pose the question if the confidence you have stated is a new found one, or if you were on a long vacation in the past. Nobody would argue that the fishing is excellent, and surely excellent fishing draws crowds. Live for today for all means, but don't forget the past. Maybe thats enough stirring of the pot huh! Fish on Baby!

[swamptiger]

I've been around long enough to realize that there is more than simple answers to complicated questions.

Besides, if you guys down south had all the right answers, you wouldn't have to come all the way up north here to get in some decent fishing. You would have it right at home.

[Guest]

SWAMPTIGER,

It kind of sounds like you have a thorn in your foot when it comes to talking about the future of a fishery. Maybe we should forget about the past and the future and just live for today. Doesn't make much sense does it.
I sincerely hope the future fishing remains strong, or I think some individuals may have wished they were in the game instead of on the sidelines playing pretend.

[Katoman]

SWAMPTIGER
If the DNR threw the kind of money and resources into the lakes "down south" that they did in your back yard you might have a valid point!!!

[swamptiger]

Maybe..maybe...maybe you're right. But, then again - maybe not..

[Guest]

Swamptiger,
Where I live has nothing to do with this issue. You should be glad we're taking issue with this while you sit on your hands and look the other way. This is not about being ignorant of someones heritage, culture and traddition, on the contrary, it is about being aware of what is traddition and what is being pawned off under the negligent pretense of traddition. I appreciate keeping ones heritage alive, this is nothing of sort. As a sportsmans, doesn't it piss you off that someone took your walleyes from you and sold them, and you have to pay to replace them? It's going to happen again if we haven't learned anything from the past. I am looking to the future that's why I am upset

[Guest]

Amen! clean living, Amen!