DNR folks are nuts

[Dahitman44]

Okay, what is the deal with the DNR?

All I have been hearing about lately is these great stocking ponds that froze out last year that had a ton of nice 'Eyes floating belly-up this spring.

Talk about a waste of Walleyes.

These DNR Folks are the same guys that check us, looking for the smallest infraction and they just let fish die? Wouldn't it be better to let guys fish these ponds instead of wasting them????

Can anyone shed some light on this? Does it sound like the X-files or like that guy on the grassy knoll in Dallas in 1963?

Okay that was silly, but I am serious. WHAT A WASTE.

[John Mickish]

I am not sure but I don't think the DNR wants you to know where there stocking ponds are. I do know that most are on private land with no chance of access.

[Fishin' Man]

Well I don't know why the MN DNR does all the things that they do but I can show some light on this topic. If you want to know why they let some lakes freeze out is because they want them to. I don't understand why they don't just net the whole lake and drop them in another but they let their stock ponds freeze out every so often. The reason for this is most of the lakes are usually small lakes and don't have a natural fish base in it so no preditors. They usually pick these stock ponds because they freeze out often. Well if you have a small pond and it hasn't froze out lately those walleyes may get a certain size but will sooner or later stop growing because a lack of food. What they are feeding on are the little walleyes that the DNR uses to stock other lakes. So if they have a bunch of bigger walleyes those walleyes are actually hurting them in the long run because they are feeding upon the fry/small walleyes in the lake. Some times I just don't know why they don't just net the whole lake out and get them but that is their choice. I have also heard some times that they will "poision" a lake to kill them too if we have been getting warmer/nicer winters and they haven't a "Fish Kill." I hope I got my point through with this one.

Some DNR officials that deal with fisheries that know where these ponds are sometimes tell people if asked where some of the stock ponds are where they are having problems with bigger walleyes. If your nice they are nice one of those deals.

You find things out about the DNR when you are trying to get hired by them I hope I have answered your question.

Fishin' Man

[newfoldener]

this summer I saw a DNR truck backed up to a small pond and had a boat out there. the access is just dirt and know one lives on the lake, is it legal to fish there if it is a stock pond.

[John Mickish]

If the DNR website has no restrictions on that particular lake and you can gain LEGAL access then there is nothing wrong. I'm not saying you wont get asked to leave but they can't throw you in jail for it.

[Fishin' Man]

Just make sure it is LEGAL access. If there is a house near stop and visit. Offer fileted fish if you get anything as a deal...Trust me it works pretty good If you have a plot book you can always see who does own the land. Just be curtious though...Leave it in a better condition then when you got there. Most land owners are cool with you just asking permission first. But if there is no homes and no signs up I would be fishing...hehehe.

[2dalake]

An old college buddy of mine lives on one of these ponds and fishes it daily. He has a dock on it with a pontoon and they go out and catch 15-20"ers like bluegills. He's an OLD buddy because he's never invited me along, just stops by to brag now and then.

[RK]

Hiya,

Fishin' Man is exactly right...

Rearing ponds are just that - places to raise fry and advanced fingerlings so they can be stocked in other bodies of water. They aren't managed as fisheries, and usually only contain forage suitable for YOY fish - grass shrimp, daphnia, and the other various creepy crawlies that fry thrive on. Some have fatheads, etc., to some degree too. Most of them don't have any sort of gamefish or panfish population at all. Having adult fish overwinter is a negative as far as the usability of these ponds as rearing ponds goes. Juvenile and adult walleyes can really hammer the fingerlings, especially when it's the only viable forage. As for netting them all out, it's hard enough trying to nab the last walleye in a 40 gallon livewell. Imagine how tough it'd be to get them out of a 100 acre pond The only places where they can truly get 'em all are drainable rearing ponds, which are pretty expensive to build and maintain compared to a cheap lease of a duck slough on some farmer's land.

That having been said, sometimes they don't freeze out, and the fishing on them can be spectacular for a while. I fish a few of these ponds (growing up knowing every farmer in the area has its benifits...duck sloughs, grouse hunting, field geese...blond daughters... ) and they can be something for a short period of time. Stocked walleyes are dumb anyhow, and when they get ZERO pressure, they're *really* stupid. I took my 11 year old nephew out on one a few summers ago. Tell you what, when you're after fish that have never seen a shad rap, it's something. We caught walleyes on figure-8s pretty frequently. Fun as all get out, but also makes a guy realize just how much of an influence even moderate fishing pressure has on fish behavior.

Usually, ponds like these are a short window of opportunity as far as actually fishing them goes. They freeze out, or summer kill due to high temps/algae bloom causing oxygen depletion. Have to say too though that these ponds can bring out the worst in some people. On one pond I used to fish, word got out on it, and within a week it was covered with fish houses. That's fine, but over the next two weeks or so, I saw people behave in ways they're never consider on another body of water - leaving the ice with 5 gallon buckets full of walleyes, stuff like that. It was really sickening, and I had a few fairly animated discussions with some people over their inability to count to 6. It was like every bit of ethics they might have posessed went out the window, just because the fishing was easy...

Anyhow..my $.02 on rearing ponds. Looking at what I just wrote, $.02 is probably a total rip-off

Cheers,

RK

[Paul Rohweller]

VERY well said RK,

I to have been witness to such events. Bum deal fer sure.

The fishing can be unreal but might only last a month or two, then it'll be all over for 5 years. If you really need consistency in your fishing world, stick to the bigger lakes.

Often times the fish out of these little puddles are MUDDY! I've put the knife to some perfect eaters only to have the fillets come out the color of your favorite yeild sign. ICK!

Shoulda put my time in someplace else..