Slot and limit

[Steve Foss]

Mmmmm, and they taste so goooood.

Bass of both species key so strongly on crayfish at times that I wonder if that might not be a boon to LM and SM. Neither species really needs weeds to flourish. Smallies and largemouth both key on weeds sometimes, but rock is also a big factor, and there are plenty of reservoirs in the U.S. that have very little submerged vegetation but plenty of bass of one species or another. With few weeds, they tend to concentrate on rock and other bottom structure.

So could bass numbers on V be expected to rise for awhile until the rustys reach an equilibrium? Anybody who targets bass on V using plastics in red crayfish patterns?

Thoughts?

"Class?"

"Class?"

"Anyone?"

"Buehler? Buehler?"

[jigging wader]

My thoughts on the slot, noticed a good population walleyes in vermillion, way too many on the small side.I really support the proposed new slot limits, this lake is big and should have a better population bigger fish. Good for the tourist economy, Im not sure about the 4 to 6 fish limit yet, I need to learn more about that subject.

[garytheguide]

i did see signs of those rustys on the west end last year...caught more on that end than ever before...did not like that!...somewhat of a decrease on the east end...although they just seemed to congregate in different spots....any weedy areas i fished ...they were pretty much there....where i did see a decrease was out in big bay...and i think cliff may agree with that....the ones in my boat at the very least go back in clawless...the bass do love them as well as the pike and perch...just to add...when fishing tight to an island even in big bay...they were there......

[dash]

getting back to the slot and limit... both will help Vermilion and I am for both because it had proven itself on several other lakes, but, another major problem that isn't discussed at all is the continuous netting of walleyes by Nett Lake on Vermilion and other lakes. This has just as much or more impact than what is harvested by sport anglers. In fact, many sport anglers would be in shock by what actually is netted and how many lakes are covered under the 1854 treaty regulations. The Millacs area is published because it is well known, but the arrowhead region is not published and is not well documented by the DNR. (total harvest) Several colleages with the DNR state there is an effert to keep this info under wraps. Trying to obtain this info is like dealing with a bad tooth ache. The state is not willing or able to deal with this issue at this time. This will come in the future.

[StillFishin']

I wasn't aware there was netting on Vermilion. Maybe that's got something to do with the fact that the lake doesn't seem to have a really large population of big fish. Maybe their nets have big mesh and the little fish swim right through and the bigger fish get caught.

So will netting be decreased by 1/3 and will they have to abide by the slot limit? Seems only fair doesn't it?

BTW, I'm in favor of the slot but don't like the reduction to 4(can live with it though). I would have been nice to have the bag at 4 and the possession still at 6 to give a little leway. I sure like a few meals in the winter from 'eyes I've "caught" from the freezer.

StillFishin'

[TwoDaLake]

The reason there is no info on the netting harvest is because there is NO accountablity number set by the DNR. Mille Lacs is the only lake that I know of that at least has a set (safe)netting havest number each year that can be managed and accounted for. Vermilion has no regualtions, nor does anyone have any accountability to what that number is, should be, or was each year? Not good,,,,If someone knows different let us know.

[garytheguide]

dnr did not have numbers either at the meetings we had with them....hey dave ...how ya doing

[Steve Foss]

There are some Bois Forte members who net Vermilion. It's subsistence netting, not the commercial netting that went on at Upper Red Lake.

And I've heard those tales about fish in nets left to rot on V. Talk's cheap. Until someone gives me proof, they're just tales. Such rumors are one of the downsides of online forums. Someone gets a wild hair up there and the next thing you know, others glom onto it and go nuts.

If you have proof, not tales, look down and find my e-mail address and let me know. There's only one newspaper motto that ever reflected what I believe, and it is this: Find the truth and print it.

[Silver Scale]

Tribe members only net a very small portion of the lake, usually in front of their cabins on the reservation. The total poundage harvested is miniscule compared to what other anglers take on the lake. If memory serves me right when I asked some numbers from the DNR a few years ago they estimated the walleye harvest from cabin owners docks was equal or very close to what all the boat anglers took. Something to think about....

[garytheguide]

dock fishing is a very popular thing...there is a lot of walleyes caught that way...i dont think we would ever be threatensd by what some people net....there is much more going on that we never hear or see...just the nature of things everywhrere...that because there are rules...doesnt mean they are followed...and then some folks have rights to do what they can to help get thru life...to me the fishing is fine and is suppose to get even a little better with the slot.

[TwoDaLake]

Hey Gary.......Give me a call or email me. Me and the wife will be up the weekend of Feb. 18th....I will have the wheeler and all the icefishing gear.

D.Led.

[TwoDaLake]

There sure was a lot of press and pictures printed of the net filled with 100's of rotted fish in the local papers and in the MN Outdoor news last year regarding the net that was caught by some fisherman last year on Vermilion. .....that was no hairy online gosip.........but I would guess and hope that it was a pretty rare situation.........

[delcecchi]

Netting whitefish/tulibees is legal in the fall, right? And if someone forgot to pick up a net or it got away from them and got lost it could be full of hundreds of rotting fish.

I always figured there were freezers with way over the possession limit in fair numbers if the truth be known.

[TwoDaLake]

Yes, fall netting is legal, and so is deer hunting. But forgetting to go pick up the deer you just shot is pretty irresponsible.....shooting a deer and spending days looking for it, and it still got away........can happen to anyone...