Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Recommended Posts

Welcome IXL,

Glad you finally joined. Too bad the terms weren't more on a positive note, but I with you on the subject. I do think the best option we have at this point is education (Selective Harvest & CPR (Catch Photograph & Release)) and leading by example.

I fish very often, and often times the fish I catch make their internet "photo" debut, but the fish live to brag about it to their buddies, and my freezer is full of pizza.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There is a great article in this years In Fisherman's ice fishing guide that is a must read. It's titled "OUR FRAGILE FISHERIES" with a sub title "WHAT'S LEGAL ISN"T NECESSARILY ETHICAL" Really makes one think.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree with everthing you guys are saying. In fact I just sent an E-mail to the DNR office. I will share any replies I receive

Good mourning,

I've got to ask this question for myself and on behalf of a lot of responsible fisherman in the Rochester area. Why are there no special regulations to preserve the quality of fishing in the small reservoirs around Rochester. Don't get me wrong I'm thrilled that we now have a lot of opportunities to fish in an area that had almost nothing 20 years ago.Correct me if I am wrong but aren't the limits a little high for small bodies of water. I will gaurentee that the responsible fisherman would be all for lower limits and possibly catch and release only. KR 7 used to be a great place to fish until the Post Bulletin published a photo of some guys with some real nice perch.The next thing you know the meat hunters swarmed in and now it seems you can only catch 6" Perch 4"Gills and Crappies out there. I've driven by Silver Creek Reservoir a few times this week and there are a ton of shacks out there, it won't be long and it will be like KR 7.

Thanks for your time. I will share your response with the great bunch of people that make up the responsible fishing community in the Rochester area

Sincerly,

Jim Mason

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That was very well put. I am completely 100% for some stricter regulations on our fisheries. Wouldn't it be great to be catching bigger fish than we have been? It is so funny, I have always wanted to fish out there at Silver Creek, but because of the disputes, I never did. Now that it is open I don't feel like I should. I have always heard such good news about that place, but always respected others and didn't do it. I will probably stay to my usuals Chester Woods, Foster Arends and the backwaters of the Miss. How would we get something started with the DNR to address this? There has got to be a way we can at least let the DNR know ho wso many fisherman really feel about this. Does anyone know if any of these reservoirs other than Foster, gets stocked anymore?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes - this is exciting and another fishing spot around Rochester......but keep in mind what the reserviors are for - water run off & retention. Maybe a report should be done to test the quality & toxin levels of the fish? I for one welcome the opportunity to have this opened up, but will practice catch & release!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Jim and Chris, I remember a year back when there was talk about the legality on one of the ponds near RedWing. There was so much talk that a person on the forum took the time to call the DNR and talk to a warden and point him to this forum so he could set the record straight. The warden then kindly explained the legality of everthing and there was no more questioning. Now I thinking, maybe someone could represent this board and all fishermen that are responsible and talk with a game warden from the area and tell him about how you feel and point him to this forum and let him see how other responsible fishermen feel on the subject. It would atleast get the ball rolling to help all of us that would like to keep this area full of good fishing opportunity's.

/keeping fingers crossed

Ryan

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That is a good idea Ryan. I see Res Dog did send something to the DNR, Have you heard back from them yet?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ok Ok i know most of you will not agree with this but i have fished the silver creek res. three times now this winter. I decided to keep fish one of those times. I kept only five crappies 10-11 1/2 in and two perch I would gess maybe in the 10 in range. When I got them on the cutting board and started to fillet them I immedietly noticed that the meat of all the fish seemed to look a little off. It seemed that instead of the nice pure white fillets im used to they had an almost greyish tint to it, also the viens in all the fish seemed to be much darker then normal. Now im not saying they are not edible but personally I will not keep another fish from there to eat. Has anyone else kept any from there and if so did you notice the same thing.

PS. im all for catch and release but u cant blame anyone for wanting some fresh fish to eat. So please dont blast me with the ethics of keepin a few fish from a small body of water.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Interested to hear about the quality of meat. I think most people are fine with keeping some fish, but to think that someone could walk off that body of water with 10 crappies, 20 bluegills, and 20 perch is just too much. If everyone practiced just keeping "a meal" (for one or two people) the resource would last much longer and would at least have a chance at maintaining the fish population.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

FYI I havn't had a reply from the DNR to the e-mail I sent yet. I just fired off another one this mourning and if I have time I might just stop by the Rochester office. I will post as soon as I hear something.

R Dawg.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is nice to hear. I love the term "responsible fisherman". Its nice to know that everybody in all of these shacks on the ice aren't out there to stock the freezer. I am all for keeping a few for a meal once and a while. I totally agree with "deerfishin". Especially in this town where its hard to find nice fish in the stores. And as we all know nothing beats a slab fresh from the cold water!

It will be interesting to hear from the DNR on this one. We run into this same problem at our lake up north. It is a small lake with no boat launch, therefore the DNR does not stock it or come through and check the numbers and size every few years. I wonder if the same applies for the reservoirs in this area

"What an incredible Cinderella story, this unknown comes outta no where to lead the pack, at Augusta. He's on his final hole, he's about 455 yards away - he's gonna hit about a two-iron I think."……. Carl Spackler laugh.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.