Large DNR presence at Beacon Harbor...

[mtheis]

Did any of you notice how often the DNR visited your fish houses last week?  We were up at Beacon Harbor for three days and each day a DNR officer visited us.  One guy really interrigated us and after checking our licenses moved on.  The next day was just a check for licenses, and the third day someone new came by again.  Isn't that rediculas?  Why am I treated like a guy who is guilty until proven innocent?  And the laws regarding eating on the ice aren't so clear cut according to them either.  Heaven forbid if you clean your fish at the resort then bring them out to your shack to cook them.  Why does it have to be so complicated?

[Barbelboy]

Once i interacted with CO's 9 times in one year. and not all at one place. ice fishing winnie, a game stop north of Duluth, a grouse road by Orr, on Lake Superior lake trout fishing, on the Minnesota river cat fishing, at my truck in WI deer hunting, a small central MN lake ice fishing, sucker fishing on the st. croix and finally on upper red lake on opening of fishing (twice) in 2 days. 

That seems like a crazy list, but in my 20's before marriage/kids i bummed around quite a bit. And yes, it was all in one calendar year.

To be honest i was starting to think it was funny. Was never ticketed because breaking game/fish laws can get expensive quick.

I was just up on URL and have fished it for many years. You are correct, the regs are not really clear and it's especially frustrating when you ask a CO what the regs are and can't be really sure.  But like i typed in another post. While it can seem intrusive, lets just be glad the CO's are out there protecting our game/fish. Especially on a body of water with a history of issues like URL does. 

[delcecchi]

I would guess that ice fishing on Red is a special case.    Perhaps they have reason to believe that there could be an issue with violations if the fishing is good since the limit is 4 with only one over 17.    And don't the ones you eat on the ice still count somehow?    

 

Although, this is a Vermilion forum, still an interesting topic.  

[chaffmj]

It is my understanding that if you eat them and dispose of the remains you can catch fish again the next day.

[mtheis]

Is there a rule like this on Lake Vermilion?

 

[Bigfatbert]

8 hours ago, mtheis said:

Is there a rule like this on Lake Vermilion?

 

 
yes , it’s would be a statewide rule .

[Skibo]

First off, I'm not a DNR CO but am an active fisherman/conservationist who tries to always follow the rules.  And, the rules are pretty clear if you read the MN regulations.  There is a Daily Limit and Possession Limit.  I have attached the 2019 MN Fishing Rules.  Page 13 has "Daily and possession limits", and page 22 has "Inland Seasons and Limits".  What most people forget or ignore is the Possession Limit rule.  If you have a total of 6 walleyes in your possession in any location (Possession page 33), which is the statewide Possession Limit, (live well, fish house, on the ice, house freezer, camp refrigerator, cabin freezer, fish bag at the dock) you are not allowed to actively target walleye for catching, and you have no Daily Limit available.  If you catch your Daily Limit of ?? walleyes for the lake you're fishing (4 for Vermilion), you cannot actively target or keep any additional walleyes (culling is prohibited).  This means that you cannot catch four and eat four, and then go out and catch more in the same day (midnight to midnight).  You can eat all of your fish on the lake, but you can't catch more the same day and I would definitely dispose of the entrails of the fish you caught and ate.  Important note is that you cannot dispose of "fish parts" on the ice or into any public waters, page 37.  The important thing is to not take my word for this, but you should read the rules and regulations that you're governed by when fishing MN public waters.

MN Fishing Regs 2019.pdf

[delcecchi]

So, with the proliferation of wheelhouses that have cooking facilities, DNR is likely concerned about the catch, eat for a meal, throw carcass down hole or otherwise dispose of,  perhaps several times.  Oh and keep a limit to take home.    

 

This particularly would be an issue on places like Mille Lacs and Red that are very popular and have closely watched harvest limits.  

 

I think a lot of folks don't realize about the possession limit, which really makes the daily limit redundant for some species.   Possession used to be typically 2x daily but not anymore.   

[mtheis]

Your misunderstanding me.  Let me rephrase so your not preaching to me again.  What I should have asked was, on Lake Vermilion, am I allowed to eat my fish on the ice in my sleeper?  I thought only some lakes in MN had that rule?

[Skibo]

Not preaching - the rules are all in black and white in the MN Regs which are available anywhere they sell licenses, and on the Internet.  The advice you get anywhere else for free is worth exactly what you pay for it.  That's why I try to quote and use the actual rules, not what I think or may have heard.  Here is an article from fishingminnesota.com.  There are special regulations for some lakes about keeping/eating any fish.  All of those special rules and the rules about ice houses are in the fishing regs that I attached in my last post.  https://fishingminnesota.com/know-your-fish-cleaning-and-possession-rules-in-a-sleeper-fish-house/

[JerkinLips]

If you catch fish and eat them that day, they count toward your limit that day, but not the next day.  The difficulty would be to prove that you caught them the previous day if the carcasses were still in your house.

 

Regarding "targeting" fish when you already have your limit, I found nothing in the regulation book banning continuing to fish for sport if you already have your limit.  Culling is obviously banned as stated in the regulations.

[eyeguy 54]

Catch a limit and it’s release time. Not that tough to understand. 

[Wanderer]

18 hours ago, mtheis said:

Your misunderstanding me.  Let me rephrase so your not preaching to me again.  What I should have asked was, on Lake Vermilion, am I allowed to eat my fish on the ice in my sleeper?  I thought only some lakes in MN had that rule?

All lakes in MN have the same rules regarding possession and consumption while on the ice, no matter what shelter you have or don’t have.

 

If you have fillets or carcasses from yesterday’s fish in your possession, you cannot keep any additional fish beyond your daily limit until those fillets are consumed and the carcasses disposed of.  
 

Sounds like where your disagreement lies is considering the fillets from yesterday’s catch as just groceries meant for today.  It just doesn’t work that way.

[JerkinLips]

The question mtheis had was if you clean your fish from the previous day at the resort (off the ice) then bring them to your fish house to eat the next day.  Those fish (fillets) would count toward your possession limit (same as the daily limit) until consumed.  In addition, if the lake you are fishing on has special length regulations (Red Lake and Vermilion included) "the angler must maintain the carcass of a fish with size limits in such a way that the carcass may be readily unpacked, unwrapped, and separated so that the carcass may be examined, measured, and counted to ensure compliance with size restrictions for that day, as defined under Minnesota Statutes, section 645.45."  Retaining the carcass may be the rule that gets people in trouble.

[mtheis]

Thank you for all your replies.  When I was on Red Lake the resort owner warned everyone to NOT bring their fish into shore, clean their fish (to avoid the mess and smell of the remains), and then bring their catch back to their sleeper to cook them up. These guys did not bring the remains back to their fishhouse.  Because the fish didn't have a "patch" on their fillets the DNR said they were improperly transported.  The DNR said that the fish had to be CLEANED and EATEN at the sleeper house so they could be checked by an officer later.  Then before midnight, they could bring the remains BACK to shore to dispose of them So they could legally fish the next day.  The DNR officer ticketed the individuals and took possession of their fish.  Whatever you may think, do you really think that most of us who are paying big bucks to stay on the lake are going to STOP fishing after we have eaten our limit?  Really?  And then at midnight, put our rattle reels back down again to start a new day?  I'm old.  Been fishing all my life.  But some rules that are written make most of us criminals who are not trying to be.  I have always hated it. 

[Wanderer]

I get it.  I have over 40 years on the ice myself.  Lots of things have changed in the ways we fish and the pressure we put on the resource.  The new laws are an effort reduce that pressure but I agree it’s an uphill battle.  
 

But in the end, spending big bucks on anything doesn’t give us special privileges over the law.  Most people are doing as you speak without realizing the infraction.  I didn’t know All the further details you mentioned either but I don’t usually fish in a way that I need to worry about it.

[leech~~]

49 minutes ago, mtheis said:

The DNR said that the fish had to be CLEANED and EATEN at the sleeper house so they could be checked by an officer later. 

 

So this only applies if your staying in a Resort sleeper?  What if like me you stay at a Resort or Motel but fish out of a porty and have no means to cook fish on the lake, but would like to eat them that night in your resort or motel room when it has a kitchenette in it? 

 

Just say it's only your first day fishing when you get checked? I can see that would make most of us criminals who are not trying to be, like you say.

Edited January 1, 2020 by leech~~

[JerkinLips]

The DNR is stating that if you eat fish IN your fish house, you must have the carcass there to prove the type and size of the fish.  You can remove whole fish from the lake (within the limits and size requirements) and clean them and eat them wherever you are staying on land.

[mtheis]

I think the "Leech" scenerio happens all the time because none of us want to clean the fish at our hotel room.  Why is it that I feel I am always looking over my shoulder when I take fish from a lake now.  Further, if we have a couple of walleyes sitting at home in the freezer, do you really think that most fisherman are NOT going to catch their limits up NORTH and bring those home too?  There has to be allowances made so that we are not all criminals when we fish.  Common sense regulations should be discussed by us and the DNR so that it is easier for all of us to enjoy our resources.  How many of us STOP fishing when we have caught our limit?  If I don't cull...I am not stopping until the day is done and I have enjoyed myself.  The end result will be I will have my day in court I guess!

[Wanderer]

2 hours ago, mtheis said:

How many of us STOP fishing when we have caught our limit? 

I did just that this afternoon.  Only took about an hour to catch our limits of crappies in the basin.  We packed up and moved shallower to find gills.  We caught what we wanted and headed home with daylight left and fish still biting.  
 

It can happen even though not commonplace.

[leech~~]

55 minutes ago, Wanderer said:

I did just that this afternoon.  Only took about an hour to catch our limits of crappies in the basin.  We packed up and moved shallower to find gills.  We caught what we wanted and headed home with daylight left and fish still biting.  
 

It can happen even though not commonplace.

Where?  Don't need tips just spot!  Thanks.

[LoonASea]

Unfortunately the DNR doesn't write/pass the laws,,, Our legislature does and I'm pretty sure most of them do not fish or hunt 

[Wanderer]

12 hours ago, leech~~ said:

Where?  Don't need tips just spot!  Thanks.

[delcecchi]

The law is pretty clear, it seems to me.   You may only keep a limit of fish per day.    That counts any that you consume that day.  In addition, you may only possess so many fish of a species.   That counts the ones in your freezer at home even if hundreds of miles away.    

The possession limit used to be two daily limits for many species, but that got changed sometime in the past.   

And sure,  a lot of people will break the law about counting the fish at home when they are on the water, either because they don't agree with it or because they don't know about it.  The fact that you spent money to go fishing doesn't constitute justification to ignore the law.   

I think probably the change in possession limit was to cut down on the double tripping on a hot bite, but that was speculation on my part.   Having kids and a wife can help with the problem.   

 

My dad used to sometimes keep a few extra to make up for the times he didn't catch many.    

Edited January 2, 2020 by delcecchi

[mtheis]

My children are grown, but I purchase a husband and wife license.  I think it's the smart move for a guy like me who likes the taste of a walleye or two during the weeks when I can't get out.  With a vacuum packer walleye caught in August taste good in November.  With a venison medallion on the side along with garlic toast and a cold beer...man that's living.

Edited January 3, 2020 by mtheis

[delcecchi]

I might also note that the no culling regulation creates a dilemma for those who continue to fish after having their limit, should they catch an otherwise legal fish that clearly isn't going to make it.    They can release it anyway and feed the gulls which is a waste, or they can release a healthy fish from the live well and keep the injured one which is unlawful culling....

[CJH]

44 minutes ago, delcecchi said:

I might also note that the no culling regulation creates a dilemma for those who continue to fish after having their limit, should they catch an otherwise legal fish that clearly isn't going to make it.    They can release it anyway and feed the gulls which is a waste, or they can release a healthy fish from the live well and keep the injured one which is unlawful culling....

 

Maybe I am wrong here, but by definition, every fish you catch after you keep your limit is a violation (you have limit + 1).   Could have sworn that was what a DNR Officer told me a few years back.

[ozzie]

CJH-  Once you are in possession of a limit you technically cannot continue to fish for that species, but you can certainly continue to fish for other species.  You are not breaking the law by catching a species you are not "trying" to catch, and immediately releasing it back to the water.  In your theory if I am fishing for walleyes and catch a sturgeon, that is out of season, I would be illegal for catching the fish, but I have no way to determine what type of fish bites on my line.

[CJH]

25 minutes ago, ozzie said:

CJH-  Once you are in possession of a limit you technically cannot continue to fish for that species, but you can certainly continue to fish for other species.  You are not breaking the law by catching a species you are not "trying" to catch, and immediately releasing it back to the water.  In your theory if I am fishing for walleyes and catch a sturgeon, that is out of season, I would be illegal for catching the fish, but I have no way to determine what type of fish bites on my line.

 

I agree, however I was referencing targeting the same species, IE catching a limit of Walleye and continuing to fish for Walleye.  Also you cannot for example claim to be fishing for bluegill using a walleye size lure and bait in the same spot you were fishing for walleye.  Again, this is just my understanding bases on previously speaking with DNR Officers in the past.  If that is incorrect, please correct me.  

 

Generally when I catch my limit I either stop fishing or switch to a different species completely and switch up my location and tactics.

Edited January 3, 2020 by CJH

[Xplorer]

2 hours ago, CJH said:

 

Maybe I am wrong here, but by definition, every fish you catch after you keep your limit is a violation (you have limit + 1).   Could have sworn that was what a DNR Officer told me a few years back.

 

You are wrong there. 

There is no regulation in the MN fishing regs that says you cannot catch a fish of the same species after you have already reduced your limit to possession.  You simply cannot reduce another one to possession. Page 13 spells out what is considered "immediately released" (basically you can land it, identify it, photograph it, and release it).   There is a regulation that says that you cannot fish for a species during its closed season, page 33 in the Reg's book, under "Methods".  

 

As for possession, there is a section right after "Methods" on pages 33-34 called (of all things) "Possession".  Read it, it is very clear.  There are 5 questions that are answered that tell you what you need to know.  Having fillets (whether there is a skin patch on them or not) while you are ON a lake with size restrictions different from statewide regulations, is a violation (unless they are packed by a licensed fish packer and you have proof) .  That is anything on the lake..... fish house, boat, cooler in your portable, anything.  

These rules have been in the fishing Regs for years and years now.    I've fished/camped on Namakan and Rainy in Voyageurs for 20+ years, and these regs have had to be followed there for campers since 1997 when they put the slots in.  If I keep fish I can take them back to my campsite and fillet them.  But I cannot leave the campsite and drive my boat back to the landing with fillets in the cooler, because I am then "On the water". When I am at my campsite, I am not "On" the water. I have to eat any fillets before I leave.  Any fish that I want to take home have to be "in the whole" (gutted only) or I will get pinched it checked (and I've seen plenty get pinched there).