Slots are dumb?

[John Mickish]

Horn, where did I say you keep everything you catch? You said you should be able to keep what you want. If the next guy wants to keep everything he catches then with your ideas he should be able to, and you know it happens.

This is your quote "Some of you people are so ignorant its not even funny." You say that but yet add words to my post and don't understand what is written. Now here's my quote. "The people that keep what they want are the first ones to complain when the fishery is depleated, not knowing that it is themselves to blame."

[james_walleye]

Horn im guessing you dont know the first clue about anything when it comes too fisheries biology and im guessing you've never fished a lake thats benefited from a slot. The DNR doesnt put slots on lakes for sh!ts and giggles. Letting people keep whatever they want doesnt work in this day and age. If it did you wouldnt see any states put up regulations. MN isnt the only state that puts slots up. Heck even gulf coast states put slots up on redfish in the ocean. Remember when you put a 22" walleye back its not just the 22" that goes back, its all the eggs she will spawn in the future. And a future 25" fish or bigger.

[hanson]

Here's my plain & simple opinion, take it for what its worth.

Fishing now vs. Fishing 20 years ago is not the same, not even close.

My reasons for stating this...

1) Technology

2) Number of Fisherpeople

I think it is as simple as that.

Technology allows us fisherpeople to have all the advantages when it comes to locating and catching fish, and returning to those spots. Cell phones, GPS, Lake Maps, Flashers, Cameras, Tackle, Boats, Motors, Internet, Fishing Minnesota etc. Cripes, the list is endless... My dad & grandpa didn't have this kind of technology and mechanical reliablility available to them when they were fishing. Advantage - Us!

The number of people fishing now is extraordinary. There are more ice anglers now than ever!!! Ice Fishing today is nowhere near what it was even 5 years ago!! Fish in our lakes have never seen the kind of pressure during the winter than they ever have. All these fisherman aren't releasing everything they catch, many of the fish are going home in buckets. I have no problem with that but there are more fish going home in buckets now than there were 20 years ago.

Another example of the number of people fishing and hunting is the number of outdoors stores we have now. Cabela's, Gander Mt., and soon to be Bass Pro Shops in the cities is absolutely incredible. If these stores weren't prospering, why would they be here? Why would Bass Pro want to be moving in?

Another thing that might not be as obvious is habitat destruction. Everyone in this state wants to have a piece of lakefront property, and along with this lake front property comes a nice swimming beach with all the cattails, bulrushes, and aquatic weeds removed. Sooner or later, habitat will be lost.

We absolutely need some kind of protection of our fishing resources. Slots are fine with me. They are much better than the alternatives that I foresee. Get out and fish and be responsible!

[john.wells]

The solution is simple-kill all the people and the fish will prosper.

[SFBOY]

I would like to see the DNR put a State Wide protected slot on northerns, walleyes and pike for the entire state. No pike can be kept between 30" and 44", a 50" muskie size limit and no walleye between 22" and 28" can be kept under any circumstance. Larger and more predator fish might help thin out the panfish population and therefore fewer, but larger panfish. The bright side is that there are fewer and fewer "Kill it and Grill it" posts on the site all of the time. It starts with teaching your kids that you dont have to keep every fish that you catch.

[Abrams]

Decent topic with some good posts, if people really need to eat fish buy a bag of Tilapia at Sams club. You can buy a bag of 30 filets for around $7. Giving the circumstances: technology, fishing pressure, loss of habitat, and previous damage. I think the only alternative to reversing the downward trend is slots.

[john.wells]

better yet, if you buy fish, get it from your local grocer! Wal-Mart already has enough money. Something to consider-try keeping "rough" fish. I have heard (but have yet to try) that sheepshead is mighty tasty and easy to fillet. They can be found on most riverine systems, and also in some lakes such as Rush and an a few other east central lakes. Bullheads are quite tasty, and rock bass are supposed to be good as well. I have tried carp, but found them be a little unpleasant for my taste. Too Greasy. Smoked suckers are awesome. I also feel that selective harvest is fine with any specie. I would hate to have the option of being able to bring home some fish for a fry taken away. Be careful, the Anti's are chipping away at what we hold near and dear to our hearts. Some day it could end up where fishing is forbidden altogether. Be sensible- take only what you can use, handle caught fish with kid gloves, cut the line on deep hooked fish, don't kill ANY fish that you don't intend to keep (eelpout, as an example) unless it is sea lamprey or some other exotic. Fish caught from deep water may have their air bladders expanded. Help them out a little by keeping them upright and swishing them gently forward and back to force water past their gills until they are ready to go. Do this for even little crappies and such. I know that I had a post earlier that made it seem that I am against slots, but I am not. I am a big proponent of catch and release. My walleye of a lifetime is hopefully still swimming in North Center (29.5 inches and full of spawn). I don't keep limits unless they are smaller, as I don't like to have more than my wife and I can eat in one meal. I do feel that we are on the verge of over-management. The new regs have pages 24 to 42 dedicated to special and experimental management regulations and it is fast becoming confusing to say the least. There's a saying; "if you can't wow em' with knowledge, baffle them with bull$hit"

[Willy]

That was a good post Hanson. I agree with everything you said.

I'll add one other thing to the list. Wheeled fishhouse companies. How many of those do we have around now? Everybody and their brother now has a fishhouse. Didn't used to be that way. Like you said, even 5-10 years ago there wasn't near the pressure there is now.

[goose89]

Hanson,

I couldn't have said it better. Thanks. Slot aren't a hard pill to swallow if you understand what Hanson said, and if you're fishing to sustain your mind and soul, and not worried so much about your tongue and stomach.

Thanks again Hanson, and all that understand that changes are needed and unavoidable.

later,

goose