Fish Populations Diminishing in the Metro

[Scott M]

The term "metro slab" and "potato chip sunfish" didn't become in vogue around the metro without their being some truth to the statement.

The truth is, statewide, not just in the metro, that fish average size has fallen. Any old timers here ever hear of the Fuller's Fishing Contest in Park Rapids? Google "Sport-Fisheries Trends Shown by an Annual Minnesota Fishing Contest over a 58-Year Period" to read a little about it. In some species, those statewide averages are returning. But they are returning to fish species that have high incidences of catch and release, or on lakes that have protected slots. Selective harvest does go a long way towards preserving larger fish.

People have often asked what size fish they should keep. A few of the big ones? The medium ones? Honestly, the best answer is to keep the smallest fish you can put up with. Unfortunately, even when people do this you sometimes can see problems manifest themselves. Its been said over and over that a lot of guys are catching 7-8 inch bluegill and 10 inch crappies as their largest fish in the metro. Well, you just ran into the self-imposed slot. There are a ton of fish stacked up at those sizes because once they outgrow that size, they are getting harvested. That's why the DNR won't ever put a minimum size on certain lakes or species like other states have...fish really stack up at those sizes. It's not to say there aren't bigger fish in the lake, there very well may be...but many times fish have a hard time getting beyond a certain size. It's like for the first 7-8 inches of a panfish's life, they have to worry about Mr. Pike or Mr. Bass chomping on them. Then the rest of their life they have to keep hooks out of their mouth.

Lastly, if you need another reason to keep smaller fish, remember the term 'bioaccumulation.' Those little fish will have the least amount of heavy metals, mercury, PCBs, or the 3M goop. As you get to largest fish and go up the food chain, those toxins tend to accumulate. Eat the dinks and you will live longer and maintain your reproductive organs

[iFishMN.YT]

There are many lakes around here where people are catching tons and tons of 7-8" crappies and hardly any bigger, and a lot of people think that in a few years that lake should be loaded with 9-10" crappies, but then come to find out a few years later, the lake is STILL loaded with the same size fish. This is a good sign of a lake that is stunted and/or overharvested. The fish just simply get removed before they get much bigger, or are pretty much stuck near that size because there are simply so many that they are stunted, a result of too many fish of similar size, not enough forage, and lack of enough predators. About the only thing we can do to help this kind of thing get better, is practice selective harvest on all species, especially the predators, they do a great job of eating up the smaller fish and balancing out the system.

[crappiefisher26]

Ok. I am not trying to tell people that they are keeping too many fish. All Im trying to do as others have stated is to Try and get anglers to keep the Eater Size Fish, 8-9" Crappies and Bluegills. Keeping panfish in that range, will lead to growth of bigger ones. Throwing back the big pike, bass, and walleyes. These predator fish depend on the panfish for food. These fish are the ones who keep the panfish populations under control, but there isnt as many predatory fish nowadays. have had a lot of great replies and viewpoints on the topic.

[Craig Plummer]

7-8'' crappies are tasty, My buddy and I went out had a meal and didn't even keep half of what we legally could have. I think the limit is very generous is what you can take. Just cause you can does it mean you have too? I COULD potentially run infront of a bus but does that mean that I have too?

[icefishing21#2]

i hear that brother

[Cody Lubeley]

haha well said

[Fishing Freak]

it's nothing new it is happening all over the state the st.cloud area gets hit hard every year and it is the same year in and year out but alot of the people i know keep the 9 to 11 inch crappies.

[iFishMN.YT]

Had a great night last night on a small metro lake, got my personal biggest crappie a little after 7pm in 7fow. Couldnt convince too many to bite but at least this one did. I wasnt on any big schools just a few passing by occationally. Its fish like this that I hope are around in the future, but here in the metro this is pretty rare already. The more we practice selective harvest, the more fish of this class will exist in our metro lakes.

Got a couple real bad pictures, I was alone with just a dull lanteren and a crappy camera phone, I did brighten the pics up and tried to sharpen one of them, but there isnt much for size perspective, but its a tall & fat 15.5" on the tape measure.

Missing a chunk out of his tail so I will know if I catch him again at 16+ inches!

[borg0196]

Fishcast and goose89 know what they are talking about, thats the approach everyone should be at least thinking about. It makes the most sense, and will keep the populations healthy.

[PikeTipper]

So do you guys think that if people kept limits of those 6-7" stunted crappies and released anything bigger it would help?

Sounds like an FM experiment.

[fisherman-andy]

 Originally Posted By: PikeTipper

So do you guys think that if people kept limits of those 6-7" stunted crappies and released anything bigger it would help?

Sounds like an FM experiment.

No. Because we have no control of the variables and elements that affect such a lake's population of fish. Doing so can have plus or negative effects. For instance a lake overpopulated with large Crappies can harm other game fish growth & populations. Crappies once old enough feed mainly on minnows, baby fish from other game species which can hinder successful year class for other fish. Crappies can quickly over run sunfish & bass and take over the whole pond/lake.

Proper consideration and research must be taken in view before making such assumption even if the outcome is likely good or successful.

But I think the point has already been made that we all agree on selective harvest, preservation, keeping only what we will eat instead of filling the freezers. As long as their are people like that around and with the help of the DNR there will always be fish to be caught and stories to tell even in the Metro.

[Queenswake]

One of the main reasons it's bad that it's getting hard to catch decent fish in the metro area is that it's another reason for the next generation not to take up fishing. It's hard enough to lure a kid these days out to catch lunkers, let alone go out and end up getting skunked or just catch little ones. After a certain age, kids get tired of catching potato chips and want the larger ones. And parents don't always have the money and/or time to take the kids away from the city for better fishing. People start weighing going through the effort of fighting the busy ramps and spending the money to go fishing against other forms of entertainment when the probability of catching decent fish is slim. And slowly, fishing starts losing out as an attractive option.

My mom has definitely noticed a decrease in the quality of fishing. She remembers a time when she'd go out with her dad in a rental rowboat just about anywhere, anchor beyond a weed line, and catch nice fish. No electronics or anything.

I think one of the problems with lakes in the metro area is that their shores are overbuilt and there are way too many pleasure boaters on them. Minnesota is so spoiled with all of our lakes that nothing was done to preserve some of them before all of the development started happening. Other areas around the country that have fewer bodies of water have smartly preserved some of them with restrictions on shore development and have limited motor size to 9.9 HP. These are true wildlife sanctuaries that allow the fisheries to thrive.

I am not sure what the answer is but it's a terribly important issue for the future of fishing in this state.

[Infishquinn]

I don't know of a study that has documented selective harvest working negatively for the average size of a fish, whatever the species. Nor have I heard of a study on a lake in MN that is over-run with large crappies which solely reduces bass populations. If that is true, then I'm wrong, but I would like to see some type of proof. Crappies are a cyclical fish, meaning that a lake will generally have a peak year class that will do well and grow large, but will then die off and be replaced with the future peak years at some point. It all depends on spawning conditions, predatory rates, and angling pressure as to how long that will take (Red Lake is a prime example, reduce the walleye population and the crappies boom). Sometimes there isn't a break and sometimes its 10 years, depends on those variables among others, and obviously the body of water.

Great point, so much of the shallow water habitat has turned into sugar sand beaches and rock landscaping. That has a huge effect on spawning habitat. Its more common to see a dock with a weed roller than without these days. There are so many factors that go into play when analyzing a fish population and its hard to control the factors with so many different people tugging the laws and regs in so many different ways. It does help by becoming informed on issues and what one can do to help to change things for the better. Writing into the DNR, or even more importantly local and state government, can have a positive effect when its heard in large numbers. Its really encouraging to read everyone's thoughts on the issues and see so many anglers with similar mind sets.

[jwhjr]

Nice fish FishinChad!

[crappiefisher26]

Good thing to Bring Up. Because this is true. And We need to get more youth involved in fishing and outdoors in general. There has been a steady decline in the number of youth that hunt and fish. This could take a negative effect on these sports. Youth nowadays are getting involved in Athletics that they dont want to hunt or fish. The DNR has been working to get more and more youth involved by creating more youth fishing and hunting programs. Thats another thing that we as Sportsmen need to help with is getting more youth involved in the Outdoors.

[fisherman-andy]

 Originally Posted By: Infishquinn

I don't know of a study that has documented selective harvest working negatively for the average size of a fish, whatever the species. Nor have I heard of a study on a lake in MN that is over-run with large crappies which solely reduces bass populations. If that is true, then I'm wrong, but I would like to see some type of proof.

There can be too many variables coming into play that can affect such practice as being positive or negative. Don't think just MN lakes & ponds. Likely even though the outcome is usually positive it really depends on type of lake, size, geographical area, fishing pressure, lake management etc. What may work for one may not for another. But your mention of Red Lake by reducing Walleye population isn't selective harvesting to allow Crappies to boom. That is simply just a variable in the process that affect a certain fish species chances. But it is a prime example in this case which allowed the Crappies to quickly populate the lake in huge numbers, something in which can hinder other gamefish's potential if left untouched. Without the Walleye as a predatory fish it aided in the boom of Crappies. It's possible here that select harvesting can lead to overharvesting which will eventually offset the lake's both gamefish species size & abundance. Which can explain your theory boom about RL. This is where slot limits can come into play.

It is possible not a fact that allowing other fish to become too large & abundant can reduce or affect other game fish's potential growth & population. This holds more truth in smaller lakes/ponds. So harvesting smaller fish can create less forage for larger fish. Walleyes eat small Crappies.

Anyhow that's all I am saying. So there are positive & negative effects to consider but one outcome will eventually outweigh the other. I think the strongest point to make here that will affect a gamefish's potential is overharvesting. Select harvesting is not going to stop diminishing fish populations in the Metro. But it plays a pretty good part in the game fish's potentional to make a strong comeback.