Walleye Stamp?

[Sandmannd]

Originally Posted By: gunflint

A volunteer program will turn into a mandatory program in a very short time. The legislature just can't help themselves. A new fee or tax is like crack to them. And the chance to impose further regulation to something is what they live for.

Well said.

Just raise the price of the licenses instead of playing games. If the DNR needs more money they should justify why they need it and I'll be happy to pay more to help the fishery. They wanted to raise deer lic. prices last year and the only reason they gave as to why was that they hadden't increased the price in years. Show me what you'll do with the $$ or why you need it first.

Come on now, that would make sense. How dare you bring up the fact you wanna know what your money is spent on. It's the same with everything gov't, we need more money cause we don't budget what we already have and we'll be back at the next session asking you for more.

[Nick Kuhn]

Originally Posted By: gunflint

As far as a state wide slot, I'm a little slow. Could someone explain the scientific advantage to the different walleye fisheries in the state created by having a one size fits all slot?

I'm also waiting to hear this.

Scientifically there is no advantage. Statistically there is. While a 17-26 slot may not be the ideal regulation for all lakes, it is probably better than the current regulations on a good number of them. It would simply cost too much to study each lake and determine what is best for them.

Besides I can tell you what the best regulation (with regards to the fish population at least) is for every lake across the state: "no fishing". I don't think many anglers would go for that regulation though.

[mrwalleye_13]

For anyone who is sad and crying about a possible 5 DOLLAR STAMP- This is 5 dollars to better walleye fishing in MN, if you can't afford 5 dollars without whining then you should be underwater basketweaving not fishing. Regardless if it goes into a gill net, gets eaten by an eagle, taken by a poacher... whatever who cares.. its going to be beneficial. Think of how much the normal person with the average boat spends to go out fishing for one day! This post is not to say everyone is rich and wipes with 5 dollar bills, but seriously, its 5 dollars with great intentions for the walleye fisherman..

[SDbowhunter]

There is no harm with a voluntary donation to help increase the quality of our local fisheries. It's a win win people who want to contribute more can and the rest can still fish with out paying 5 bucks more.

[ozzie]

it is a good thing if every penny that is intended to go to walleye stocking goes to walleye stocking and not something else like muskie stocking or just into the governments pockets....

[riverrat56]

I agree with mrwalleye_13, it's 5 bucks, you can't make it to the bait store to buy your license with 5 bucks in gas.

[ole matty]

u guys talkin like u have to pay 5 bucks for everytime u fish for walleyes.. its just 5 bucks for one year.. thats 365 days... about one cent a day........ cheaper than skoals, beers, strippers, whatever u guys spendin on for fun.

[borg0196]

If you don't agree with the $5 OPTIONAL stocking fee, then don't pay it. Let the rest of us pick up the tab. I will gladly pay the $5 to stock more walleyes in more lakes. Maybe I will buy two....

[croixflats]

Whygive that 5 bucks to the governent so they can take money away from the program thats already there and move that money someplace else just because their getting that extra 5 bucks a year from each fisherman. This ploy has been used so many times its rediculous.

[Neighbor_guy]

I HAVE NO INTENTION OF PAYING THIS!!!!!!

I already pay a $10 trout stamp. Next year I will be paying a $5 "2 line fee" that already ticks me off .

This state already has the most messed up confusing [PoorWordUsage] regulations in the country, now this. What is the saying about their rear end, both hands, and a flashlight?

Like I said, I am not for it, I wont pay it, the lake I fish walleyes in most is not stocked (LOW) so I see no reason to pay extra so someone else can catch a walleye where no walleye should swim. If they dont naturaly produce in the lake, then why force them to be there.

[toughguy]

"only 5 bucks" here and five bucks there adds up. If you sit down and add up all of the lic. fees you pay in a year you will be suprised. Each year it's a fishing lic. / small game combo, pheasant stamp, 2 duck stamps, a trout stamp, an darkhouse lic, boat lic., sled lic, deer lic., for me. It's getting out of hand. I got a $100 snowmobile last year and the lic fee almost cost more than the stupid sled. Take a look one time at what someone pays for the same lic. in other states and take a look at what the nonresidents pay in those states. MN is too easy on the out of staters and too hard on its residents. All of these fees keep new people from getting into fishing or hunting. The walleye stamp is optional next year and I won't be getting one. I will bet you real money that I'll be paying it without the option within 5 years.

[croixflats]

Yea, I'll fish Wisconsin and pay the extra out of state fee just for spite and that will be less revanue.

[mrwalleye_13]

I am in college, have roughly 55,000 dollars in loans, 1,500 on my cabelas card which beleive me its been much much higher, and work two jobs that pay me squat to what most of u are making... 8 an hour and 10 an hour, add rent, bills, and beer and It's hard to understand how i am even alive... yet if that stamp was 40 dollars, i would pay it. I guess it just comes down to what you enjoy. I enjoy walleyes, ducks, and geese.. and i'll pay whatever to know that I have done my part. You can sit here and explain every excuse you want to as to why you dont want to pay it but seriously you guys sound like a buncha cheap A$$es. You sure as [PoorWordUsage] shouldn't be affording internet and a computer if you cant hack 5 dollars for a year. My first thought after reading about this in my bathroom (outdoor news $36.00 a year) was this is not even a fee for me or something I even have to think about paying.. Ya everything adds up, buy one less gallon of milk a year.....

[Shack]

If I do not have to pay it, I will not. If I have to pay it, I will. I guess that is the “cheap” Minnesotan in me!

This coming from a guy who has not purposely targeted walleyes in the last two years. Ice time crappies and perch all the way, summer time cats are the only thing I target as of late. I got chased off of ML twice last fall due to issues when going out for walleye’s.

Now, I will add in the last 2 years I have caught my far share of walleye not fishing for them. I personally saw the biggest walleye I have ever seen hauled in while catt’in last summer.

Is the state in dire needs of walleye production, I do not know. Now a $5.00 flathead preservation fee, I would pay

[croixflats]

Why stop at a gallon of milk lets get a musky stamp then cat stamp and so on. I can maybe forgo that insulin shot ounce in awhile. May sound like cheapa$$es to you. I prefer not letting the government run over me so I can use a natural resources that was here long before me or the government

[fishin4fun85]

".....Ya everything adds up, buy one less gallon of milk a year..... "

I agree with mrwalleye_13....if this statement doesn't put every post that isn't for the $5 in perspective then some of you really need to check your priorities...SORRY!!, but I'm up to my neck in debt (also, not to unlike mrwalleye) and if I'm pretty sure that somewhere in my budget of internet, cable, GAS, and fast food I can find room for $5!!! If I can't afford to pay an extra $5 to fish our state fish then there is something wrong....BTW, I make it out on a boat to fish about once a year which kind of limits my ability to catch walleye since I don't have a boat and I would be willing to pay this stamp fee in a second if it meant increasing the efforts to help increase other peoples chance to see an opportunity at catching these awesome fish, if you guys can't understand that then i don't know why I'm even wasting my time!!

****I don't mean to attack anyone whose opposed to the extra fee, I'm just explaining my stance and trying to add another perspective........********

[LMITOUT]

"It all adds up."

I hope people remember that phrase at the election booth this fall when they get to the question about the dedicated funding amendment on the ballot.

Vote NO.

It all adds up......

[Shack]

My question is, are walleyes that endangered they need a $5.00 stamp? If this stamp thing is true anyways.

Take a $5.00 bill and burn it or give it to a situation that does not guarantee walleyes for everyone. By what I have seen, walleyes are doing quit well. I would not throw them on the “endangered” species list by any means. The people who put their time in and learn the fish, get what they want. Others do not catch them and cry they are on the decline.

To me if became mandatory, it would be like making me have to buy a pheasant stamp, when I only want to hunt grouse.

Do not get me wrong, I am for helping our fishing environment and such (with extra fee’s), but I do not want to have to pay anything extra to ensure walleyes are jumping in the boat like carp for those who want it.

I know $5.00 does not buy you much now-a-days, but it still can get you 15-20 miles to your fishing destination. I seem to watch this more than I used to in the past.

[mrklean]

I think its a great idea. One way i look at it is some people really like to collect the different game stamps, my dad use to keep all of his even if he didnt hunt/fish for them he like to buy them and think his money is going to a great cause keeping our lakes stocked and what not. I think some people just like to complain about paying more money for a sport that isnt cheap in the first place. If you dont want to buy it dont, right now you arent being forced to, the way i look at it is the same way i look at my deer permit when i dont get a deer, its like donating money to a great cause.

[skee0025]

Whats optional this year will probably be Required a few years down the road.

[Sandmannd]

For anyone who is sad and crying about a possible 5 DOLLAR STAMP- This is 5 dollars to better walleye fishing in MN, if you can't afford 5 dollars without whining then you should be underwater basketweaving not fishing. Regardless if it goes into a gill net, gets eaten by an eagle, taken by a poacher... whatever who cares.. its going to be beneficial. Think of how much the normal person with the average boat spends to go out fishing for one day! This post is not to say everyone is rich and wipes with 5 dollar bills, but seriously, its 5 dollars with great intentions for the walleye fisherman..

I understand what you are saying and again, don't have a problem with the $5, but where does it end? This state is the #1 state for asking for more money without showing why they need it. Shouldn't our licenses and taxes already be paying for this? If something like this comes about I just want to know where my money is going. And I don't believe for a minute that the whole $5 would go to the walleye's.

[chub]

Five bucks to stock walleyes in another 8 foot deep duck slough?

BWWWWWAAAAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA

I'll pass thank you.

Like the others have said, the state can't even come close to managing what they have now.

It isn't the five bucks and my inherently cheap self, as a few seem to think it is. Rather it's a matter of principle.

Go ahead and feed big brother. Your walleye fishing won't change. I happen to think it's pretty good now, though you may end up with a newly paved Bike trail that about two people a year use.

[gunflint]

Some of you guys are missing the point. It's not about the money. I'd pay several hundred dollars for a license if I had to. It's about mishandling the money that they already have. It's about another Mickey Mouse state program. It's about trusting the powers that be to do the right thing. Don't you remember the bass license plate fiasco?

[Black_Bay]

Let's get a few things straight here. The $5 walleye stamp was an idea of Senator Satveer Chaudhary who is the Chairman of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee and not the DNR. He also came up with the idea of the consevation license. From what I understand the DNR was concerned that the reduced price of the conservation license would hurt their budget. Instead of a license fee increase he came up with the walleye stamp to keep their budget the same.

The language from the bill reads:

Subd. 6. Walleye stamp. (a) Revenue from walleye stamps must be credited to the walleye stamp account. Money in the account must be used only for stocking walleye in waters of the state and related activities. Money in the account may not be used for costs unless they are directly related to specific body of water under paragraph (a), or for costs associated with supplies and equipment to implement walleye stocking activities under paragraph (a).

So the money can only be used for walleye stocking activities and NOT for bike paths or muskies. Plus there is a citizen oversite subcommittee that will make sure the money will be spend in accordance to the law.

So say the DNR has all this walleye stamp money. What are they going to do with it? The DNR has said many times that they can only grow about 120,000 lbs of walleye fingerlings per year on a good year with the ponds they have. Private aquaculturists can only grow so many lbs also, plus they have other customers to deal with. Then there is the conflict of using natural ponds to raise ducks or fish. The DNR would have to buy a lot of property to build enough drainable ponds on to raise a significant amount, say 40,000 lbs of fish. Any one have a clue how expensive that would be to buy just a few hundered acres and build ponds? Not to mention the actual work to intensively raise walleye to get maximun harvest.

Another thing is to realize is that walleye stocking isn't a cureall. Sometimes it works but many times it doesn't. For example the DNR stocks the heck out of the lakes in the Twin Cities area and when is the last time any of you had good or even fair walleye fishing there.

IMO, all 2 cents worth, there are plenty of walleye available to be stocked. The DNR just needs to reprioritize where they go.

[upnorth]

Some of you guys are missing the point. It's not about the money. I'd pay several hundred dollars for a license if I had to. It's about mishandling the money that they already have. It's about another Mickey Mouse state program. It's about trusting the powers that be to do the right thing. Don't you remember the bass license plate fiasco?

Exactly!!!! This state has a tendency to waste $$$ and of course we keep giving them more to waste. We need to say no more. We are 11th and steadily climbing up the ladder to the top, a few years back we were 14th. Not something to brag about in my book.

[surfs]

How about we charge the out of staters more since every state around us bleeds us for out of state license?? I'm pretty sure they can make up some additional dollars for whatever they want to stock, pave and waste that way!

[mrwalleye_13]

I like Black_bay he did his homework and shut some of you smarties down.. The moral of this entire story is yes, the state sometimes toys with money, but if you are a walleye fisherman, not just a half [PoorWordUsage] oops i caught a walleye, then you should support this stamp without questioning.. once again its 5 dollars and if they spend half of it on walleyes and half of it on toilet paper for the capital, i am happy i contributed to my favorite fish..

[chub]

but if you are a walleye fisherman, not just a half [PoorWordUsage] oops i caught a walleye, then you should support this stamp without questioning.. once again its 5 dollars and if they spend half of it on walleyes and half of it on toilet paper for the capital, i am happy i contributed to my favorite fish..

Keep drinking the Koolaid kid. Come back after you've been paying taxes and watching how the Peoples Republic Govt of MN works after 20 years... .

There's probably no less than a thousand different ways they could improve walleye fishing in this state working with what they've already got.

May I ask, where has the walleye fishing in this state deteriated so badly for the need for more money? Name me another state that is even remotely close to what we have here now.

There's nothing that even comes close.

[Shack]

All though Black’s post was very informative, I would say he raised good questions about how effective this program would be in an end result.

It is all cool by me to have the stamp as an option for anglers and stamp collectors to purchase, but like said before this could be trial run for the real thing. If everyone goes out and buys a walleye stamp, you can bet your bottom dollar you will have to purchase a walleye stamp in the next couple years to legally catch a walleye.

I just think it is an open avenue to a $50-$100 MN resident angler license. I know some would pay this much to fish (that is the scary part about it), but many would not or they would just fish with out a license. How would this help the situation?

$5.00 is only $5.00, but the following year, $10.00, the next $20.00 three years after this and another $40.00.

Hey, its just an extra $40.00 bucks .

"Bunny, do really want to fish this year?"

I know I am exaggerating a little bit.

[only ice]

Minnesota DNR has pushed the next generation away from hunting with all the stamps and laws. Look at deer hunting, for years you had to aply for doe tags so the youths could not take a doe. Now after they stoped hunting they cant give enought doe tags away. And why are they filling all the lakes with Muskies?? For WHAT!!! They eay the walleyes.