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Ice fishing Contests, for or against?


leech~~

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

I'm a bit of a "fish hugger" when it comes to ice fishing contests and making a "game" out of our Natural Resources! It takes years to grow a keeper fish and with the DNR and Fisherman complaining about not enough money to support stocking, setting slot sizes and lowering limits on some lakes. Does this really help when this many people pull every little Perch or Walleye out they can get, just to win a cheap fishing rod or ice scoop? frown

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I am an introvert, and thus search for solitude as much as anything else when it comes to my fishing and hunting. I do enjoy the comradery after a day on the water, ice or in the woods, but I strive to stay as far away from anyone else during the day. For this reason alone, contests are not something I have participated in, and would not ever consider doing. The picture of that particular event looks like hell on earth to me.

Secondly, contests go against my grain. Natural resources such as fish and game are far too sacred for me to participate in any event where they are relegated to a contest commodity.

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

dont care one way or the other.

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It's one day a year, all the fish are released - yes some will die, but not as many as a couple groups of non-contest people filling their freezer can do damage to in a weekend, likely. (For those who haven't done one, they provide big plastic bags and the fish must be brought to weigh-in in water, alive, and are released directly after weighing. Again, not all survive I am sure, but the vast majority do. I bet the DNR gets an interesting "survey" out of this as well.)

If people don't like the crowds, then go another of the areas hundreds of lake for an afternoon, pretty easy to avoid.

I have gone to the big event for about 5 years and like it, it is a well run event and I have a good time. Don't do any other contests usually, but have done a Lions contest here in cities. Again, all fish are released and the lake is "busy" for one day. Lots of people have fun doing these, and my bet is that it is the only time they ice fish, so it exposes some kids to having fun on the ice.

If the whole crowd is able to kill every fish, then I would not like it.

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

For!! I have been lucky enough to get some great fish and prizes. It is a fun way for some organizations to raise money.

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

For!! I have been lucky enough to get some great fish and prizes. It is a fun way for some organizations to raise money.

since they raise loot for good causes I change to for. smile

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In general I am against any contest, but I know there is nothing I would be able to do to stop them, so I focus on the poorly run contests, to either get them shut down, or have them change how it is ran. I am against contests for large fish species. When certain species of fish take 30-100 years to mature, a contest can knock out many older fish. For instance, a sturgeon fishing contest where it take 75 years to replace a 60 inch fish. Much different then a sunfish, that will take 3 years to replace a 11 inch fish.

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

In general I am against any contest, but I know there is nothing I would be able to do to stop them, so I focus on the poorly run contests, to either get them shut down, or have them change how it is ran. I am against contests for large fish species. When certain species of fish take 30-100 years to mature, a contest can knock out many older fish. For instance, a sturgeon fishing contest where it take 75 years to replace a 60 inch fish. Much different then a sunfish, that will take 3 years to replace a 11 inch fish.

Scott can you tell me where a sunfish grows to 11 inches in 3 years because I would love to find this lake. Most gills only get to 4-5 inches in 3 years. Big Bluegills take a lot longer than you think to get big over 10 years. I do think there are some lakes that cannot handle a contest, but the big bluegills need protecting just as much as the fish you mentioned.

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For as long as they are well run & raise money for a good cause.I haven't fished one since I was a kid as Dad liked to do 1 once in a while.I read, more than once,that a bull gill takes much longer than most people think to get to trophy size most of the time.Not much over 9-9.5 kept here,sure are a blast to catch though.

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PERSONALLY I don't do fishing contests. don't like the crowds and I ruined my outboard in one so a little gun shy.

on the other hand the organization I work for co-sponsors a summer and winter fishing contest. the summer contest raises funds for lets go fishing. an organization that takes senior citizens and individuals out on a lake with a pontoon that normally cant get out on a lake.

the winter contest , proceeds go towards the wounded warriors guide service. both contests are small.

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First of all I'm reluctant to call our resources natural when it comes to fisheries. All of our fishable lakes are managed for harvest making them somewhat unnatural.

I'd be very surprised if a fishing contest taking some 5,000 small fish from a small area of the lake has a significant impact. Especially if it is consistent from year to year.

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I don't really care in the big scheme of things but if I were forced to make a choice one way or the other I would say against. More so on the fact I hate drawing huge crowds to lakes to attack a particular lake but I don't have scientific facts if the lake is damaged at all by a contest. I do know that I am more against summer events then winter ones as more variables to cause damage to the fish.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • Brianf.
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