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.

How to deal with people keeping bass


rodbender27

Recommended Posts

Let me explain something to you guys that insist on keeping bass.  The reason that Mille Lacs is currently ranked as the top bass fishery in the ENTIRE country is because it had a regulation of keeping one bass over 21 inches as a bag limit for over a decade.  Combined with an improved water clarity and a longer growing season with warmer water and you now have what is considered by B.A.S.S. as the top smallmouth body of water maybe in all of North America, including the Great Lakes.  Just something to think about.

  • Thumbs Up 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Let me explain something to you guys that insist on keeping bass.  The reason that Mille Lacs is currently ranked as the top bass fishery in the ENTIRE country is because it had a regulation of keeping one bass over 21 inches as a bag limit for over a decade.  Combined with an improved water clarity and a longer growing season with warmer water and you now have what is considered by B.A.S.S. as the top smallmouth body of water maybe in all of North America, including the Great Lakes.  Just something to think about.

Mille Lacs is great for Bass now mainly because the Walleye population has been decimated. Reminds me of when Red Lake became one of the top crappie lakes in the country. When the walleye came back the crappie population crashed. A lake can only support so many fish. Personally, I would rather see Mille Lacs as a Walleye lake. 

  • Thumbs Up 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, roony said:

 Reminds me of when Red Lake became one of the top crappie lakes in the country. When the walleye came back the crappie population crashed. A lake can only support so many fish. Personally, I would rather see Mille Lacs as a Walleye lake. 

I agree there is only so much biomass a lake can support.  I do recall reading the predictions of the crappie crash on Red before it happened.  

It was stated the comeback of the walleyes would have some effect but overall the boom was caused by a perfect storm of favorable conditions for the crappies to thrive, including perfect spawning and early survival weather and lake levels.  The lack of predation and competition for forage for fry was also cited.

But the interesting thing that I recall reading is the boom would eventually bust with or without the full return of the walleyes due to those perfect storm year classes aging out and dying anyway.  It would take continuous perfect crappie conditions to maintain anything that could come close what was experienced in the boom.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pretty much comes down to using good judgement no matter what you decide to keep and eat. There are people who don't think any fish should ever be kept. There are also people who don't think fishing should be allowed. I am not one of those people.

I don't know a lot of people who keep bass for the frying pan. If someone wants to fry up a few juvenile bass it might do a lake less harm than keeping something else. It depends  on the lake I guess and it depends on your perspective. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

23 hours ago, roony said:

Mille Lacs is great for Bass now mainly because the Walleye population has been decimated. Reminds me of when Red Lake became one of the top crappie lakes in the country. When the walleye came back the crappie population crashed. A lake can only support so many fish. Personally, I would rather see Mille Lacs as a Walleye lake. 

But the difference in that scenario is that the walleyes were depleted because of over-fishing and commercial harvest.  Red Lake is still the same lake it was 15 years ago in terms of characteristics.  Mille Lacs is definitely not.  Unless we can find a way to reverse climate change and make the water murkier again, it can't be reversed.  I think there will be a day when we can harvest walleyes out of that lake again but the glory days are gone now.  And I would personally rather see Mille Lacs as a bass lake.  I'm just sayin, Roony.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think the zebes are what made the lake so clear, not climate change. I am not as quick to give up on the lakes future as you.

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's been a while since I read the report, but fairly certain the experts claimed one of the contributing factors to the walleye issue on Mille Lacs was a rising average water temp, which was killing off the tullibees. With a lack of tullibees to eat, the walleye and other fish were turning their teeth to walleye fry.  Whether people want to call that climate change or not, it seems to be one of the issues on Mille Lacs. This article seemed to think in the long run shallower lakes like Mille Lacs won't have any tullibee left:

http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-spending-millions-to-save-deep-water-cisco-lakes/382584711/

 

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

There are a lot of good points in this thread.

Rules and laws help guide what people do legally. For some bodies of water slot limits work. Typically statewide slot limits won't work. Northern Minnesota has a lot of colder water than central and southern Minnesota. Those fish grow much slower than the potential there is in the southern part of the state. I can see why the tullibees are in danger on Mille Lacs As it was mentioned there is only so much biomass in any body of water. Decisions have to be made what should, could, and would be the dominant species. Especially on big bodies of with lots of resorts. In Minnesota, most people want good walleye fisheries. I've gone up to Mille Lac recently only for the good bass fishing.

On the other side, I don't mind if someone expresses an opinion at a boat launch. You can always say that you don't like to keep certain fish. Maybe a short statement why if a person asks. That is your choice. When I keep a fish it means it will be getting eaten. I like to eat just about any species that swim short of suckers, carp, or catfish. I get hungry for different foods like everyone else. For walleye, bass, pike, and panfish I keep midsized fish. I don't want to spend an hour cleaning fish to have a family fish fry. I do keep big fish in mind while out there. Catch, picture, and release. I want the chance to keep the genes going in that body of water.

These are just my opinions. Sorry, it is a long post.

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 6/29/2018 at 7:35 AM, gimruis said:

And I would personally rather see Mille Lacs as a bass lake.  I'm just sayin, Roony.

Then get the DNR to institute a special regulation to manage it that way rather than trying to whack and stack bass and northerns like they have in the past in an effort to bring back the walleye and placate the local businesses.   

But, don't be getting in my face over what legal choices I make.   

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Go keep pike.  The bag limit in most of the state is TEN fish and the bag limit on Mille Lacs if five fish.  That's the species that is over abundant and needs harvesting.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

All have their opinions about what shouldn be important.  There's plenty of bass guys walleye guys, muskie guys, you name it.  It's hard to make everyone happy.  

  • Thumbs Up 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Very true, Borch. I think most guys are just happy to catch nice sized fish... maybe that is just me being in the minority.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 6/29/2018 at 9:12 AM, roony said:

I think the zebes are what made the lake so clear, not climate change.

....add to that, the installation of a sanitary sewer system(s) and increased control of run-off.  According to my FIL, way back in the day, 60 years ago the lake was clear and only a night bite walleye lake.  Then an increase in field run off, direct dumping of sewerage, and leaking outhouses increased the cloudiness of the water and provided the day bite, 20 years ago.  It seems the pendulum has swung back...  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

it's not hard to make everyone happy... it's impossible!

  • Thumbs Up 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, Hoey said:

....add to that, the installation of a sanitary sewer system(s) and increased control of run-off.  According to my FIL, way back in the day, 60 years ago the lake was clear and only a night bite walleye lake.  Then an increase in field run off, direct dumping of sewerage, and leaking outhouses increased the cloudiness of the water and provided the day bite, 20 years ago.  It seems the pendulum has swung back...  

Yeah, 25-30 years ago I visited a friend’s cabin near Malmo and remember seeing some pretty green water.  Big algae blooms.

Too many hands in the jar on that lake IMHO.  45 minutes from home and I hardly ever fish it.  I’m sure I’d do just fine if I took the time to learn it but the only time I’ve really enjoyed fishing it is on weekdays; and I just don’t fish that many weekdays.

  • Thumbs Up 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wanderer ,,, wait till you retire,,, then week days will be the only time you will want to fish ,, I'm learning from experiencing retirement 

You gonna try to get that king salmon again this year on superior??

  • Thumbs Up 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • Brianf.
      I'm not there, so I can't tell exactly what's going on but it looks like a large area of open water developed in the last day with all of the heavy snow on the east side of wake em up Narrows. These two photos are from my Ring Camera facing north towards Niles Point.  You can see what happened with all of snow that fell in the last three days, though the open water could have been wind driven. Hard to say. .  
    • SkunkedAgain
      Black Bay had great ice before but a few spots near rockpiles where there were spots of open water. It looks like the weight of the snow has created a little lake in the middle of the bay.  
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Thanks to some cold spring weather, ice fishing continues strong for those still ice fishing.  The bite remains very good.  Most resorts have pulled their fish houses off for the year, however, some still have fish houses out and others are allowing ATV and side by sides.  Check social media or call ahead to your favorite resort for specifics. Reports this week for walleyes and saugers remain excellent.   A nice mix of jumbo perch, pike, eelpout, and an occasional crappie, tullibee or sturgeon being reported by anglers. Jigging one line and using a live minnow on the second line is the way to go.  Green, glow red, pink and gold were good colors this week.     Monster pike are on a tear!  Good number of pike, some reaching over 45 inches long, being caught using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring in 8 - 14' of water.   As always, work through a resort or outfitter for ice road conditions.  Safety first always. Fish houses are allowed on the ice through March 31st, the walleye / sauger season goes through April 14th and the pike season never ends. On the Rainy River...  The river is opened up along the Nelson Park boat ramp in Birchdale, the Frontier boat ramp and Vidas boat ramp.  This past week, much of the open water skimmed over with the single digit overnight temps.   Areas of the river have popped open again and with temps getting warmer, things are shaping up for the last stretch through the rest of the spring season, which continues through April 14th.   Very good numbers of walleyes are in the river.  Reports this week, even with fewer anglers, have been good.  When temps warm up and the sun shines, things will fire up again.   Jigs with brightly colored plastics or jigs with a frozen emerald shiner have been the desired bait on the river.  Don't overlook slow trolling crankbaits upstream as well.   Good reports of sturgeon being caught on the river as well.  Sturgeon put the feed bag on in the spring.  The bite has been very good.  Most are using a sturgeon rig with a circle hook loaded with crawlers or crawlers / frozen emerald shiners. Up at the NW Angle...  Ice fishing is winding down up at the Angle.  Walleyes, saugers, and a number of various species in the mix again this week.  The bite is still very good with good numbers of fish.  The one two punch of jigging one line and deadsticking the second line is working well.   Check with Angle resorts on transport options from Young's Bay.  Call ahead for ice road guidelines.  
    • CigarGuy
      With the drifting, kind of hard to tell for sure, but I'm guessing about a foot and still lightly snowing. Cook end!
    • PSU
      How much snow did you get on Vermilion? 
    • Mike89
      lake here refroze too...  started opening again yesterday with the wet snow and wind...  very little ice left today...
    • Hookmaster
      A friend who has a cabin between Alex and Fergus said the lake he's on refroze. He texted me a pic from March 12th when it was open and one from 23rd when it wasn't. 🤯
    • SkunkedAgain
      I don't think that there has been any ice melt in the past few weeks on Vermilion. Things looked like a record and then Mother Nature swept in again.   I'll give my revised guess of April 21st
    • leech~~
      As I get older it's really not just about sending bullets down range.  Some of it's just the workmanship of the gun and the wow factor. The other two guns I have really wanted which I'll never have now because of their price, is a 8mm Jap Nambu and 9mm German Luger.   Just thought they always looked cool!  
    • jim curlee
      I had a guy hit me with a lightly used 1969 BAR, he wanted $1650 with an older Leupold scope. More than I think they are worth, I made an offer, he declined end of story.   You know if you look at the old brochures, a grade II BAR sold for $250 in the late 60s, $1650 would be a good return on your investment.    Why would anybody want a 50 year old gun, they are heavy, have wood stocks, and blued metal.  I guess mainly to keep their gun safes glued to the floor. lol   You can probably buy a stainless rifle that you never have to clean, with a synthetic stock you never have to refinish, is as light as a feather, and for half as much money, perfect.   I'm too old for a youth gun, although I've shrunk enough that it would probably fit. lol   No Ruger 10/44s.   Jim      
×
×
  • 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.