Why Couldn't We Keep It A Crappie Lake?

[Guest]

It doesnt make a difference what magazine is saying what and how big the URL crappies are, they arent going to stay the focus of attention to the tribe because of $$$. The money people spend ice fishing up there during the *good years* isnt going to compete with the tribal rights to net and sell the walleyes consistantly for years to come.. at least until its depleated enough for ur license dollars to stock it again.

More money would be made if they made the reservation accessable to fish by the general public.. or altered it to where band members could guide individuals out there on the currently restricted waters.. but that isnt going to happen.

So whats more profitable? A bunch of guys out on the lake drinking beer and catching crappies, or boats pulling nets.

Theres lots of lakes out there that are excellent slab crappie lakes.. they just dont get the hype. If they did, red wouldnt be as busy!

[james_walleye]

I believe URL got the hype because it was understood that it was a lake big enough too withstand one heck of a lot of pressure without destroying the lake. Not many lakes could take the thousands of people every weekend that this lake can. Your not going too see media publications talk about Lake "X" in west central MN thats 5,000 acres or 1,000 acres thats putting out 1 lb plus crappies limit after limit. I know in the past alot of people wanted lower limits on URL but i think the DNR recognized the lake for what it is and that is one heck of a walleye lake that had very unique circumstances that allowed for a couple year classes of crappies too go nuts, but also knew that it was not something that wouldnt be duplicated as mother nature did her thing in bringing back the walleyes. I got one more 4 day trip in me later in february and I just hope the crappies will be thick enough yet that with alot of hole drilling i can still enjoy seeing a few monster slabs come through my ice hole.

[Poppin' Cats]

I completly agree with you concerning the Tribal waters. if they opened there own access and charged $30 just for access to Lower Red Lake I would pay it and wouldn't even need to keep a fish. Can you even imagine what the Crappies fishing would be like on Lower, let alone what the eyes will be like in a few years. one thing about Lower that many people don't know is that the is actually structure to fish. I know someone who has been on Lower fishing, yes he is native, and he told me about what he caught and I asked him why they don't guide if they really had as many trophy fish as he said they have. its a no brainer in my book. Talk about making easy money for doing nothing. its all about setting the hook on a fish that has the possibility of being a trophy for me. Catching 50 fish and keeping nothing is more fun than catching 4 and keeping a couple.

[Random guy]

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I had a game warden up there tell me once that more crappies will die in URL from those 2 huge year classes from "old age" than have ever been caught by anglers. So what is the problem with people keeping a limit of these 13-14" crappies right now if they are on their last leg??

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I believe URL got the hype because it was understood that it was a lake big enough too withstand one heck of a lot of pressure without destroying the lake. Not many lakes could take the thousands of people every weekend that this lake can.

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Did we travel back to 1980 something? The same things were said about the walleyes before Red wiped out.

Hanson, whom I often like to debate said it best "need or greed". You have to look at all aspects with fish harvesting. The legal, the illegal and the mishandled. The good the bad and the ugly. Now you have 1,000 anglers that feel it is ok to limit out every single time because they can, some of those thousand that like to limit out and then some because they think they are to smart to get caught. Now top that off with the fish flingers. These are the fellows that let fish flop around the boat, shake them off the hook and are just rough when handling fish. Now you take this 1,000 guys every weekend and you killed a bunch of fish. Upper Red creates the illusion it is a unstoppable giant. You pull up to the shore and look out over the vastness where the horizon disappears it is easy to think it would be hard to put a dent of damage into that much water. Just remember Red is a shallow warm water lake with limited bio-mass. Diversity is not that of a deep colder water lake, each branch of the bio-mass is unique and can be knocked out of balance very easily.

The Red lake hype was started by a handful of guys catching some crappies by accident in what was to be a dead lake. Now plug in a few big crappies and it was the start. What fueled the hype and bigness of Red lake was what I call "Drama On Ice". How else can you talk about trophy fish, three day parties, tribal treaties and the craziest events you have seen in one conversation. It is a water cooler must for Monday morning. I think the statement that the ones currently on Red are the ones that just like to fish plain and simple is correct. These are the men and women that don't really care if they catch a fish or not, they just want to be on the ice enjoying the outdoors.

[cookie129]

The first fish I ever caught was here in waskish. First cast into the tamarac river and I had a pike. Over the years it has always been my favorit lake. But I'am biess as

my family lived here. With the crappie boom came some of the best fishing anyone has ever experianced.Where else could you catch crappie's consistantly over 12 inche's with a ocassional 14 or 15.I believe we will always be able to catch a few but the days of 100 a night may be over.As westwinds shirt said the walleyes are back and are they pissed.I can not count the fishermen I have met that have had the best fishing of there life?Walleye,pike or crappie.

[BLACKJACK]

Opening up Lower Red will never happen, the people that control it don't want the garbage floating up on their shorelines like you get on Upper Red - and do you blame them??!

[smartguy]

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I completly agree with you concerning the Tribal waters. if they opened there own access and charged $30 just for access to Lower Red Lake I would pay it and wouldn't even need to keep a fish. Can you even imagine what the Crappies fishing would be like on Lower, let alone what the eyes will be like in a few years. one thing about Lower that many people don't know is that the is actually structure to fish. I know someone who has been on Lower fishing, yes he is native, and he told me about what he caught and I asked him why they don't guide if they really had as many trophy fish as he said they have. its a no brainer in my book. Talk about making easy money for doing nothing. its all about setting the hook on a fish that has the possibility of being a trophy for me. Catching 50 fish and keeping nothing is more fun than catching 4 and keeping a couple.

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There is way more to life than making a quick buck. Say what you will about the troubles of the Red Lake reservation . . .at least they aren't willing to sell themselves out of what little they have.

I can't speak for the reservation, but keep in mind that Red Lake was one of only two reservations that did not get bribed by the Dawes (Allotment) Act. You can see that the band's refusal to adapt to today's pressures is nothing new.

The American Indian outlook on life is still dramatically different than ours - we should lern to accept that fact.

[dock]

[quoteURL seems to be "just another lake" with perch, pike, little-medium sized walleyes, and a few crappies here and there but nothing special.

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Consistent walleye action on an average day of fishing is pretty special in my book. Very rarely can you catch 20+ walleyes in a day without even trying. Where are you fishing that makes URL seem like "just another lake"?! Must be one hell of a spot.

As for size, the last time I was up there the smallest walleye caught in our group was probably 14", the largest was 24". Granted there were no wall hangers, but that's not "little-medium" to me and it's only going to get better.

[Random guy]

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The American Indian outlook on life is still dramatically different than ours - we should lern to accept that fact.

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How true. I think a walk in each others shoes would shed some light on it. I would not be surprised if the Reservation never opens its land or waters. I'm not taking sides but would you want that many anglers on your pond?

If you ever get a chance to talk to a elder or one who has lived on the reservation their whole life sit and listen to what they have to say, it will make much more sense why decisions are made the way they are.

[TR0PHYPHISHIN]

Catch and release! I hope my kids and my kids kids can enjoy good fishing for many years to come!

[eyepatrol]

Very interesting topic here. I'd have to agree with what JP, KP and other long-timers to the area are saying here. Heck, they've been there nearly all their lives so who better to know, right?

I know there's been a lot of discussion about limits, how many to take, how many do you really need, keep a few, release them all, etc. And I guess my opinion is, and this goes for any body of water, that the laws are set up to try and protect a lake for what it is managed for. We all have our personal policies of how many we'll keep, etc. But as for me, if people stay within the legal limits as set forth by law, then they have the right to keep zero or keep 10 (crappies that is). Obviously, those who do not adhere to the law should be turned in whenever possible. But I just wouldn't want to try and impose my beliefs or policies onto someone else or scrutenize (sp?) or condemn them for taking game fish within their legal right. If there are problems or concerns, then the DNR or whomever should be consulted.

From what I've read, some people's policy is to keep zero fish, some 2, and maybe for some it's 10. As long as it's within the legal limits, I say good for you. But if you take 10, then you better eat 10 before you go take another 10.

Again, interesting topic. Hopefully some day I can get up there and see what Red is all about. Only been there once, and I was too young to remember it.

[web]

well put basscatcher

For anyone who wants to go out and fish and have a good time and throw them all back that is fine by me. I respect that, but you can go out there to have a good time, and keep a few for the frying pan and i will respect that as well. As long as you stay in the legal limits.

[angler903]

Like the last two replies say, have personal goals and don't go over legal limit. A lot of people still think they can keep a limit for each day they fish or twice the daily limit. I have informed many people of that, I had to show them the regs and explain, and they obide (sp) now.

We have to also realize the fish aren't immortal. Trust me catching 100 fish a day and keeping none is still killing more than a limit (on average). We can think we are better at keeping mortality down but we aren't. A fish lives so long and dies of old age, some time we speed it up death by making a fish that sits and wait or move short distances to catch prey and then add stess of fighting for its life.

I release back big fish to, I hope they make it I never now. Point is have personal limits and don't judge someone who isn't breaking the law.

My long 2 cents.

[FISHINGURU]

i'd rather have a world class walleye lake then a world class crappie lake anyday...hopefully the walleyes get huge and thrive.....i think you guys got spoiled on the crappies..they are still there just not as many #'s as before.

[shadyzr]

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Many people i talk to, talk about catching and keeping their limit of crappies on Red lake, Why? Why do people feel they need to Keep their limit of fish? I think, keep enough for a meal.

In a couple days i will be making a trip up to red lake. Many people asked my why red lake where is can only keep 2 fish, instead of Lake of the Woods where i can keep 6.If i really wanted fish that bad i would drive to my local grocery store and buy fish, it would save me 5+ hours of driving, bait money, and an ice house rental. I am going to catch fish, maybe bring one home for dinner the next night, that's it.

If anyone agrees with my stance one keeping fish please let me know, Please let me know!

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Here's a great idea, Let the D.N.R. pass a law, "CATCH AND RELEASE ON ALL SPIECES OF FISH".

SAVE THE FISH!!!!

[Random guy]

That is a great idea although I think mankind has messed up the lakes enough harvest is required to help get the natural balance back or as close to it as we can. I do have to give credit to the DNR and other agencies of that nature...they do not have a easy job.

[shadyzr]

Jon,I was just kidding about the catch and release only.

[Random guy]

I caught that but I actually hear it often. Talk about a money maker although...sell a license and not keep a fish.