2003 Limits

[Guest]

Crappie down to 10
Sunnies down to 20

[Lowe]

Those are the proposed changes. If adopted they would go into effect in May of 2003.

[NINETOE]

They have been adopted and will take effect.

------------------
"sure are cocky for a starvin pilgrim"

[Rick]

See the main Ice Fishing Forum.

The DNR Press Release is in there.

[kelly-p]

I was just on the main Ice Fishing Forum concerning this. Now I think it could be best for me to go find a bunker to hide in for a while. INCOMING!!

------------------
Waskish Minnow Station
218-647-8652

[Guest]

I don't see any need to lower limits for crappie. I've read where the population will die off naturally before anglers can catch them all.

[Guest]

I should mention that my previous comment
refers to URL.

[jigglestick]

just as long as every body can keep filling their freezers. i mean it's almost not worth driving up there every other day all winter long just for a measly 10 url crappies.
LISTEN-- catch all you want. keep what you need. let the rest go. you or i are not the only ones benefitting from this great fishery. with that attitude, we might as well just net them out. they are just gonna die off any way -- right --???
walk softly and carry a big jigglestick!!!

[Lowe]

Oops.

The limit change still doesn't go into effect until May, right? I'm not trying to push a 15-fish limit, I just want to make sure.

[kslipsinker]

I get a news letter from the DNR with news releases. Got this one yesterday. Here ya go.

New statewide fish limits approved
New limits for crappie, sunfish, lake trout and catfish will
take effect on the 2003 fishing opener next May, the Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources announced today. The limit changes will
affect all inland waters and the Minnesota-Canada border waters.
Daily and possession limits will be reduced for three species,
with crappie limits going from 15 to 10, sunfish from 30 to 20, and lake
trout from three to two. The daily and possession limit for catfish will
remain at five, but only one over 24 inches and two flathead catfish
will be allowed in the total limit.
The limit changes are the result of extensive biological
analysis and public input that began about two years ago. Most Minnesota
game fish limits have remained unchanged for the last 40 to 70 years,
yet fishing pressure and technology have increased dramatically during
that time, according to Ron Payer, director of the DNR Fisheries
Division.
"Our limits have been in place for so long that whatever
rationale there may have been for them has been lost," Payer said. "We
wanted to do an extensive review to see if limit changes could help
improve fishing."
DNR data showed that lake trout harvests have been above
recommended levels on many waters in northeast Minnesota and the average
size of crappie and sunfish has been declining statewide. The new limit
on lake trout is expected to decrease the statewide harvest by as much
as 30 percent on average and will help maintain lake trout populations
at a higher level.
The crappie and sunfish limit changes are expected to reduce
harvest by only 3 to 4 percent, but the harvest reduction could be
greater on lakes with exceptional fisheries. The changes could help
stabilize the declining trend in average size for those species.
Limit changes were also considered for northern pike, walleye,
brown trout, and largemouth and smallmouth bass. The biological analysis
showed that statewide population trends for walleye, brown trout, and
largemouth and smallmouth bass were stable or increasing. As a result,
limit changes were not proposed for those species.
"We will continue to look for opportunities to improve fishing
for walleye, bass and brown trout with special regulations on specific
lakes and streams," Payer said.
The analysis did show a decline in the number of large northern
pike, but most anglers rejected a statewide slot limit during the public
input process. The DNR decided instead to propose special regulations
for northern pike on a number of lakes around the state, which received
support from anglers. This proposal is being finalized and details will
be announced soon.
"We had to balance the interests of anglers who wanted more
drastic changes with others who preferred no changes," said Payer. "We
learned a lot in this process and had a great dialogue with anglers. One
conclusion most of us reached is that we will need to review fish limits
more often in the future."

[fishmeister_86]

I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND SOME PEOPLES THINKING, IF YOU THINK 10 CRAPPIES IS TOO
LOW OF A LIMIT (WHICH IS 20 FILLETS) HOW
MANY DO YOU EAT IN A SITTING??? IF YOUR
FEEDING YOUR FAMILY AND DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
FILLETS, THEN BRING YOUR FAMILY FISHING.
TAKE WHAT YOU NEED, LEAVE THE REST FOR
SEED. DON'T BE A FISH HOG !!!
THE LIMIT GOES TO 10 IN MAY, WHICH MEANS AFTER THAT YOU MAY ONLY HAVE 10 PER LICENSE, IN YOUR POSSESION, WHICH MEANS IF YOU LIVE ALONE AND HAVE 4 CRAPPIES AT YOUR HOME, AND GO FISHING THE NEXT DAY, LEGALLY YOU CAN ONLY TAKE 6 CRAPPIES., THERE IS NO GREY AREA.
TO MAKE A COMMENT THAT WE SHOULD JUST FISH THEM OUT, WELL IF THE PREVIOUS GENERATION ALL THOUGHT THAT WAY, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN FISHING CRAPPIES PERIOD, BECAUSE THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY. IF YOU MANAGE THE FISH CORRECTLY, IT BENEFITS EVERYONE., I WOULD SAY
YOU CAN TELL THAT ABOUT THE WALLEYE COMEBACK
IN URL.
SINCERELY,
FISHMIESTER

[latz333]

WOW!!!!

....'nuff said.

[latz333]

I also forgot...

AMEN

[PUTZ]

That still wont stop my brotherinlaw (the
moron) from comming up from Florida ever other weekend to go fishing the slabs.
Just ask jigglestick, hes the one that
created that monster. Hey where else can
you have such A good PARTY and the lake is
full of them

PUTZ

------------------
just cross this line------

[scott-z]

I think the limit reduction is a step in the right direction. I also feel that there should be something done for the crappies in the spring, while they are spawning. They are very vulnerable this time of year, and a lot of lakes have been damaged because of over fishing in the spring.

[Guest]

Kelly
No need for a foxhole. Go back and check pg 4 of that thread in the Ice Fishing Main Forum for my best attempt at an APOLOGY and a clarification of what I was trying to say. I'll certainly admit that I didn't articulate it well in the first post.

[kelly-p]

No problem GEM EYE GUY. I haven't read the apology yet but I will check it out. After what happened with the walleyes I'm real sensitive about what happens to the lake. Keep up the good work with the kids!

------------------
Waskish Minnow Station
218-647-8652

[Swill]

Is the bit picking up yet? I am coming up this weekend so looking to see if Hudac's or Rogers would be the better fishing option...

[ChapstickCharlie]

New crappie limits are a must. Now if only those caps lock limits were in place!

Got nothin else to do......

[Crappie Kid]

The new limit is the right approach on the panfish. Slot sizing is not the right approach in my mind for any fish. Crappies in alot of deeper lakes die from being pulled out of the deep water. Plain and simple cut the limits. Different lakes can have different limits, that would not be difficult to do.