Red Lake Walleyes

[TonkaBass]

I have heard that the walleye in Red Lake are gonna be fair game on the 2006 opener. The abundance of walleye is clear, but i have also heard that anglers will only be able to keep two fish somewhere around the 17" range. I know that I'm not going to make the drive for two walleyes a day. Do you guys think that this slot is too rigid?

[Mille Lacs Guy]

I don't think the limits are too rigid at all. I'm not sure what the slot will be but it will probably be that you can keep 17 and under. After what this lake has been through it is amazing they are opening it up for walleye fishing this quick.

I think a lot of people would be happy to go there and be able to keep 2 fish. Just because you can only keep 2 doesn't mean you can't catch more than that if you follow the rules.

Waubay lake in South Dakota is a good example of a lake where you can only keep 2 fish that people will go to.

[Northlander]

No I dont think its too strict! That lake needs all the help it can to keep a healthy poulation of eyes. Myself I would like to see a 2 fish limit on a lot of lakes.

[hanson]

Really good thread in the Red Lake Forum from earlier this year.

Click Here- Walleye Opener 2006

My feeling is let them keep the regulations tight for now. There will definitely be an increase in pressure right away. As time goes on, the pressure will probably relax a little. The DNR will have a pretty good handle on walleye harvest numbers after a few years and they'll adjust the regs accordingly if they see a need to do it.

[kevfish]

Waubay in SD is a good example that people will drive a long ways to keep 2 walleyes. I have driven alot farther where the limit is 6 walleyes and dont catch a thing. Never had a problem getting a limit out of Waubay. I wish MN would limit some of our lakes so that they do not get fished out

[muskybuck]

I do not think it is too strict but I know I will not be driving up there for the walleyes, even if the limit were 4 or 5. With gas pushing three dollars a gallon pretty soon they will probably be rising that two fish limit up a little bit to encourage more fishing people to take a few walleyes out before too long.

[TonkaBass]

I am concerned that a lake that large can be managed by slot limits alone. The walleye population has soared in the past few years and will continue to grow. The problem would be if the popluation gets too high an massive die-offs occur. I witnessed this, as many anglers did, at Mille Lacs.

[riverrat56]

My question has always been, You have a world class crappie fishery at your disposal, why not manage it for crappies, don't stock any walleye, put a lower limit on the crappies and watch the money pour in, o well, it's to late now.....

[TonkaBass]

The crappie population was way way high, they had to allow people to fish them. If the crappies were slotted, it would do more harm than good.

[riverrat56]

Yes I know this much, but don't stock the walleyes, keep the crappies going with there only predators being themselves and northerns, the walleyes would have came back eventually.........

[TurnUpTheFishing]

The way I understood it was the crappies had a few really good year classes because of the low walleye population. Even if no walleyes were stocked, the world class crappie fishing would just sort of fade away with the year class. I havnt fished it but from what I hear thats whats happening, lots of 14"-16" fish with almost no younger fish.

Tonkabass, I dont think overpopulation is a big concern for a lake like Red. The die off that occured of Mille Lacs was due to several things. Low numbers of young perch, with low numbers of perch walleyes were hungry. The hungry walleyes were more willing to bite, and with the small slot that was in place (14-16") lots of fish were caught repeatedly causing to much stress during those summer months.

[PerchJerker]

Riverrat, there's a good article from a DNR biologist on the Red Lake webpage that explains why they can't manage for crappies. Basically it says crappies have always been there and will always be there, but the long-term prospects of supporting a crappie fishery like has been there for the last several years are ZERO, whether they stock walleyes or not.

[riverrat56]

Thanks for the info PJ, makes sence i guess, not really, but what do I know.

[Jarrod32]

I don't think the proposed regs are too rigid. That lake is going to get a lot of fishing pressure when they open it up for walleye...I think the tighter regs will help preserve the fishery.

As far as driving for "just" a couple of walleye, I think you need to look at the bigger picture here...the walleye (even though you can only keep a couple walleye), plus the crappie, plus the monster pike...the lake really offers a total fishing package. Nice variety, lots of fish...

[ozzie]

exactly Jarrod32..Red will hold some pretty decent size walleye come opener 2006... It will make it a great trophy lake for all three species!!!!

[FOOT]

I agree, in fact I'm thinking about opening on Winnie until Tuesday then moving up to Red, fish there till Friday, then back to Winnie for the weekend.

Two walleye per person is enough for a good dinner with fried potatoes and onion, baked beans and garlic toast washed down with your favorite adult beverage or just a large cold glass of milk.

[TonkaBass]

I eat all my fish with BEER:)