Lake Winnie needs your help

[gregg52]

TIP

I'd say you need to read more and hear more!!!!!

Then you wouldnt have to drive all the way to LOW to catch a fish

If you only got one limit one day in 6 weeks

Thats not really the lakes fault

[Corey20]

I knew that this was the year for the dnr to consider making a change to the slot on winnie. I basically grew up on the lake and the main thing I see that the slot did on winnie is reduce the number of big fish caught. I see alot of people are concerned about the limit going to 4 but I honestly dont think it would be a bad thing. People come up to the area because all it has to offer and doesnt still feel like you are in the cities(mille lacs). I think a 4 fish limit is more then enough and it will just take less time The main thing I want to see changes it raising the slot to 18". I wouldnt mind seeing a 4 fish limit with one over 18". There are too many fish in that 19-24" range. You would think with how many years the slot has been in place there would be alot more 26"+ fish caught but its not the case. Whatever the out come may be its still my favorite lake in the state!!

[gregg52]

So you got booted huh........lol

I think I've got the boot bout half dozen times on here..lol

I dont think Winnie well ever be a trophy lake for walleyes

I dont really get why but as I stated before Ive been going there bout 28yrs or so and have never seen alot of fish over that 6 lbs

I know there are some I dont need to hear from every one that has caught a 8-9lb walleye there

I do agree with keeping one over 17-18 whatever the slot ends being

I do remember when ML was one over 20 i think it was back then before the netting IT was great fishing...and there always a chance of getting an 8-9 lb fish there I just dont get why they dont get that big in winnie is beyound me..they say perch are 80% or so of walleyes diet so

theres plenty of food in there for them

[Corey20]

Yeah I cant believe I got kicked off, it was pretty lame. I didnt think I was out of line and was just siding with what other said lol. I know on the "other site" it would have never happened.

Now back to the post...I think in order to have a better fishery some of those bigger fish need to come out. I know winnie will never be a tropghy lake but there should be more big fish then there are now. Most guys arent going to keep a 24-25" fish anyways but if they are trying to have a fish fry for there family I wouldnt have a problem with it.

I emailed Chris about this and asked a few questions and their plan was never to try creating big fish in winnie, which it shows! They were going for strickly numbers and with high numbers you dont see a big population in big fish. He said they should have the regs ready in early dec for what its going to be in 2011. Have to wait and see!!

[8packs]

It has been awhile any news on the the slot limits this year ? staying the same ?

[Jarrid Houston]

In my opinion, 4 fish is plenty for a meal. Plus I just feel better letting fish go, knowing that there is a chance someone else will catch it. However, I am sure that they will keep it. The problem with walleye fisheries is that people travel to get to them. With that being said, they have no problem keeping fish because of the cost it took to get there.

C & R -

[fridron]

Regs on Winnie, and I believe related waters, are to remain as they were under the temporary slot rules. Release all 17-26, one over 26 and a 6 fish limit. I would not have minded an 18-26 slot as I do not believe it would harm the fishery, but I am glad it was left as is.

[dakor]

I don't know how you can say Winnie will never be a trophy lake? When it already is. All species in that lake grow big and I mean all. I am sorry but if you have been fishing the lake that long and have not seen or caught a walleye over 6lbs you are doing something wrong. I even caught a 6.5 lbs walleye on a 9inch suick fishing for Musky's. This year I seen 4 Walleyes floating dead that were in the 30inch + range you don't see that to many places.

[gregg52]

i guess i'm not saying there are not SOME trophys in there

but they are few and far between for walleyes i can think of many lakes other than winnie i would fish to get an over 8lb walleye

i guess i would play the per centages

as fair as seeing 4 30 inch fish are you sure thet werent blowwin up from floating..did you pick then and measure them..lol

sounds like a stretch to seein 4...30 inch fish floating

again if it was a good trophy lake with all the tourenments that are on that lake there would be some 9-10lb walleyes being weighed in and it just is not happening

one day last yr in the mtt tourenment there wasnt one over 26 weigh in

and i didnt hear of any hogs being caught in that other big tourney with all the pros taking pictures (kinda sissey tourment they called the last day for weather)...lol

[WalleyeBIZ]

I went back to fish winnie last year for the first time since 1997 and am addicted to the lake! Pounded walleyes all day for four days! The biggest was in the low 20 inch range but it was fun! Hopefully the fishing stays the same even if they change the slots!

[Jim Almquist]

I agree with you Greg that for what ever reason Winnie just never seems to kick out many over 27". The strange part is that they take the Winnie strain and put them in a lot of other lakes( Striping eggs in the spring )

and they will produce 30"+ walleyes. The one lake I love to fish is pretty much stocked with the Winnie strain and I have seen more 28" up to 32" walleyes and they claim there is little reproduction in the lake. Winnie has shiners,perch and tulibees plus other bait fish so that really should not matter. I have caught a lot of 26" fish as well as my fishing buds and have seen what other have caught and they never seem to get much past that mark. No matter what it is still one of my favorite lakes to fish and I will be there on opener.

[gregg52]

ya i dunno what the deal is either i asked a dnr guy up but didnt really get much of an answer its kinda like a little sister to

mille lacs why they go there and not in winnie is beyound me

theres plenty of perch tulibes etc etc to eat

but ya your right i love it up there and i'll be there for opener

probably couple weeks before to watch the milking and open up the RV

and thats another deal i've been at the milking before and there wasnt no 10lb fish in there

i think the said they had a Few big ones but not numbers ofthem