Sturgeon - DNR changes

[Sandee]

Heard rumors that DNR may be considering limiting one sturgeon per angler per year. Any one else hear this?

My opinion: There are too many sturgeon in the river now. We are catching 5 each afternoon out fishing. I have boated 4 legal lengths (45-inches) in the last 10 days.

Feedback???

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Sandee & Rick Anderson
Clementson Resort
http://www.clementsonresort.com
218-634-2257

[Tom Stay]

yep, heard the same romor. 1 per year per
angler over 45". Hard to say if would have much of an effect cause I don't think that
to many are kept to eat anyway by most people
that fish for them, or even those that catch
a legal one accidentally. There are alot of juvenile or young sturgeon in the system right now.
Here's an interesting tidbit: Caught a tagged
38" sturgeon in mid August near Birchdale.
Returned the tag # and found out it was
originally tagged at the Airport area near Baudette the begining of July. It traveled
25 miles in about 6 weeks. DNR fisheries told
me that it was unusual for a sturgeon to travel that far as they normally stay close
(1-2mi.)to their summer home range.

[Sandee]

Talked with Mike at the Baudette DNR today. Yes there are some changes coming on sturgeon. Sounds like it will be a "slot" size, they want to reduce the harvest pounds. I am also assuming they want to get record size sturgeons back into the area. My opinion - there are too many sturgeon now. There are not commercially netting them either in Canada, so it is the sports fishing that is controlling the harvest. Meetings are planned for Oct and Nov, and I hope to be involved.

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Sandee & Rick Anderson
Clementson Resort
http://www.clementsonresort.com
218-634-2257

[Sandee]

DNR will be scheduling meetings in October and November for upcoming changes for sturgeon fishing. What will be proposed is:

Slot limit 45" - 55" can be kept
Only ONE - may request registration to DNR
Open season April 14 - May 14 (Approx.)
ONE MONTH ONLY - rest will be catch and release.

I will be putting information on our web site at www.clementsonresort.com
Be sure to stop by. Should be posted by tomorrow (10-4-00)

HELP!!

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Sandee & Rick Anderson
Clementson Resort
http://www.clementsonresort.com
218-634-2257

[Sandee]

Posted information
Go to www.clementsonresort.com/report.html
or www.clementsonresort.com/sturgeon.html

Thank you.

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Sandee & Rick Anderson
Clementson Resort
http://www.clementsonresort.com
218-634-2257

[Guest]

Sandy....Your comment about too many sturgeon in the river is rather disturbing. Ask any experienced fisheries biologist about the vulnerability of sturgeon, and they'll tell you that sturgeon cannot be treated the same way we treat other gamefish. I'm somewhat saddened to hear that some people, including you, feel it necessary to harvest a fish that can live to be 100 years old. Anyone else have opinions on this?

[Guest]

Sandy, I think you should re-think your comment of too many sturgeon.

[Jim W]

I think everyone needs to put things in perspective. Coming from those who rely on a fishery to provide a way of life, I can understand the desire to decrease a fish that can appear to be a nuisance. However, let's not forget what happened to the fishery in Red lake either! I believe a happy medium can be achieved. Keep the rods a bendin'!!! Jim W

[Sandee]

Panfish - I don't need to re-think my comment on sturgeon. The sturgeon population is growing as they are not being harvested enough to deem a change in the current regulation of 1 fish 45+ length. In 6 years, we have had 6 sturgeon taken, which equals one per year for all of our guests.

gofish: Would you rather have no harvest of sturgeon? The point is 99% of anglers are NOT harvesting sturgeon. I am not asking that they increase the harvest, just don't reduce it.

The DNR wants to make sturgeon season for ONE month only. This would be the middle of April to middle of May. This is during the CLOSED season for walleyes, when the fishery is not fished.
The season is now open except during their spawning season, and 99% of anglers do not keep the sturgeon that they catch here on the river. The population of sturgeon is in excellent condition, as many have been caught and released. Out of 50 caught this last 2 weeks, none were harvested. This is a common practice in our area, not just this season.

If sturgeon were being over harvested I could see the reason for the change, however they are not being "fished out". Sturgeon is a natural enemy for the walleyes eggs. As far as being a nuisance, yes, to me they are. This is my opinion as an angler, not a business owner. I have caught 4 over the legal length in 2 weeks time, and this is only fishing for a few hours in the afternoon.

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Sandee & Rick Anderson
Clementson Resort
http://www.clementsonresort.com
218-634-2257

[Guest]

Sandee I have to agree with you. In the 20 years I,ve been coming up to Lake Of The Woods and the hundreds of sturgen I,ve heard of, seen, or cought myself I,ve NEVER knowen ANY to be harvested. I,m sure people do harvest them but It,s a select few. I wonder, what do those select few do with them anyway?

[Sandee]

They smoke them. There are various ways of doing it, personally, I don't know how. It is very important to prepare the fish to keep the meat from being tainted.

We have been lucky the last 2 times fishing, no big sturgeon. Just one small one. One angler in camp caught and released a 45" tagged sturgeon tonight.

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Sandee & Rick Anderson
Clementson Resort
http://www.clementsonresort.com
218-634-2257