Slot-Limits

Would like to see some kind of a slot limit for pike on some of WI known pike trophy waters. Always shake my head when I see people keeping pike in the mid thirties. Then I catch a 25" and have to throw it back? What do you think?

24"-36" and 26" - 40" protected slots would definitely help the majority of Wisconsin's fisheries. It doesn't take much to grow 36" pike. Most are simply harvested before they ever have the chance to get their. Because let's face it, pike are aggressive and will be caught at some point before they hit memorable size. The only way they can make it is if they are released (whether voluntary or forced by regulation). Nothing wrong with eating a 22" pike, there's enough meat on them.

" i propose a 18-30 inch slot " What is the purpose of a slot that starts at 18"? Are you suggesting guys keep pike that are only 17 inches?

As was stated before, a slot regulation is for lakes that have too many small fish. In order for a slot to work, small fish are supposed to be kept. A size limit (not a slot) is usually the tool used to allow more fish to grow to bigger.

Pike take a long time to grow. The only way pike fishing will improve for both size and numbers is to put a heavy restriction on them for several years until the size improves. If all the pike were put back, we could see a lot more numbers of 10 pounders again. Now those are fun to catch. Stocking pike isn't done very often because they are so hard to raise. They cannibalize each other when kept together in the holding ponds.Near total catch & release is really the only way to help. The problem is there are too many meat fishermen and the DNR is reluctant to do anything that might hurt license sales even if it does protect the fishery.

Kates its been proven in multiple studies that walleyes make up a very small portion of a large pike's diet. Less then 2% in most cases. The old timers that "bonk the big ones" to protect "their fish" are what kills good fisheries. With that said I have no problem keeping smaller pike, especially when fishing a body of water with an overabundance of little ones. I love the taste of pickled pike! In addition, if you use the right filleting method a 20 inch pike gives up about as much boneless meat as a 16-17 inch walleye. There are some great videos on youtube for cleaning pike.

Also Large Pike are cannibals they predate on good sized pike and walleye Your Damned if you do and Your Damned if you dont...

I generally only keep pike over 30" where legal and clean water is present 33" is an Ideal eating size unless you like bones.. - Kate

Ontario has had a provincial wide slot on pike for a long time now, and it isn't because they have been trying to rebuild populations and size structure, its about maintaining them. This has proven to have been overwhelmingly successful in maintaining quality pike fisheries in the face of increased pressure every year for decades. Its about protecting the important breeder fish, limiting trophy numbers that are harvested, and allowing harvest of the most abundant, best tasting, healthiest eating fish in the pike population. Smaller fish are the ones that are also more important to harvest as it is their numbers that can explode at times and often are in need of at least some control. Someone call me when trophy numbers (40+) explode over the course of just a few years and we'll get out there early and often! While slots may be used for other species for rebuilding a population, its size structure or protecting a population in peril, its not so for esox lucious. For pike they are just plain logical. It shouldn't be used as a reactionary measure (like it often appears to be in WI), but rather a long term solution to maintain and improve future quality fishing opportunities and healthy pike populations. It works where used. I've said it before, but a 26" size limit, in my opinion, sends the wrong message to fishermen. It says, protect the small ones that are super abundant, but once they get to an important and quality size (if they are lucky enough to make it that far in life, that is), now you can take 2 per day. Slots are simply an intelligent selective harvest plan for pike.

lake onalaska needs a slot. ice fishing you wouldn't believe the number of 40 plus inch fish kept. i don't want to sound all high and mighty but keeping big fish is like littering. many people feel like it isn't a big deal because to them it is just one fish, but when everybody does it it is a big deal. lake onalaska is becoming a great pike fishery but won't stay very long if everybody and their grandma keeps all these large pike. since onalaska is boundary waters, their is no minimum length and you can keep 5 a day. i propose a 18-30 inch slot with one trophy pike and a limit of 3 not five. i have noticed in these tough economic times fishing pressure is alot higher and people are keeping more fish for dinner but i tell them go after the panfish. there are plenty of them in the lake.

i think slot limits can improve both numbers and age structure of a lake. the only time is if a lake has too many fish and they start to be stunted. if for general inland lakes it was 2 fish from 24 to 28 in you can keep and from 28 to 35 you can't keep any. then only one can be over 35. instead of 2 over 26 in. wouldn't this improve numbers by allowing the prime spawning females to stay in the lake longer instead of being harvested in a lake with a lower population..

I believe you can keep 2 pike above 26" on the river in PUCK, but then 32" out on the main lake. Never understood that. Unless they changed that been a while since I fished there. I still don't see how having a slot of say 1 fish 24 to 28 or 1 fish over 40 or even 42 hurts the age structure or size. I would think it is going to help the size structure. I would think a 35" fish is going to eat more carp than a 25" fish.

Fellas, slots are best used on lakes with high populations of fish in which the size structure can be improved. The problem with slot limits is that the bottom limit has to be set so low so as to protect enough smaller fish through the slot. A 32 inch limit is set usually to aid in balance and control of panfish or in the case of the fox and a lake like Puckaway,control of carp. Unfortunately it isn't the best for getting eaters, but it does allow numbers of fish to grow. I think an example of where a slot limit might work would be the bay of Green Bay and with smallmouth. There are numbers indicated by a bag limit of 5 daily, but probably enough anglers that prefer to catch and release and let them grow bigger. That could justify limiting those who want to eat smallies to fish under 16 inches witha slot of 16-20 or 21"... So typically any lake that does not currently have a fairly generous bag limit probably is not a candidate for a slot. Good Fishing.

would love a slot on all lakes. I spend alot of time on fox for the pike and as most know its 1 over 32. So whats a guy to do in that case but keep a big fish to eat. I would love to keep those 26-30 inch pike instead. I would love for someone to show me where a slot actually hurt the lake. All I have seen or heard of has been all great news as for the slot. This 3 at 18 inch for walleyes can just go away allready.