Up for debate at the spring hearing this year is a reduction to a three fish walleye limit on the system.
I like it as studies have shown there is a high catch rate of walleyes on the system, especially immature females. Look at battle on Bago, how many fish were brought in over the slot, not that many. The only thing that protected those 16 to 20 inch fish out there till last summer was the huge Shad hatch in 2016.
I agree with long barrels 2020 will be to late.With these low water levels and lack of forage they are taking a pounding and there will be a price to pay soon.Look at posts on facebook,lake link all you see are coolers full of fish,posts like { just hammering the walleye! Limits every day out this week! fishing this easy there wont be any walleyes to debate future management! }I ask my self if you feel that way stop taking limits....I guess its up to us as fisherman I have reduced my limit to 3 or less if any make it back to the lake..
Buckshot I agree, I do not fish bago mutch any more, but it makes no differance to me if the limit was 3 or 2 for that matter.I do not fish for food, ya I like a meal here and there I did not spend all of this cash on a boat with the thinking I would make out money wise.I did it because I love to fish.
I regularly take 100 mile trips just to fish a certain body of water and a 3 fish bag limit is not going to stop me from fishing a good body of water. People are getting hung up on the fish being taken during the spawn. I do agree I wish there was a reduced bag limit and slot limit for the spring. The walleye run is short compared to the rest of the season though and the numbers taken in the rivers are a drop in the bucket compared to the harvest in the summer and during ice season. While the walleye fishing can be great during the run its not as good as when the fish pile out of the river in june/july and are stacked up on a feeding frenzy. You have a lot more people targeting fish this time of year than during the run. Then lets take ice fishing. How often do you see groups 1000+ pounding a group of fish off merritt during ice season every weekend thousands of fisherman who are taking a lot of walleye out of the system. I think its a good thing and can only make the fishing better.
When the emphasis of a fishing trip is simply how many I can take home rather than the fishing experience itself that fisherman is the problem rather than the solution to a problem. To suggest bag limits, open or closed seasons and size limits based on their best interest rather than letting the fisheries managers/biologists determine them based on science is irresponsible at best.
I feel it is time to protect the spawning period and close the season March 1 to the season opener with a 15" minimum. Maybe a slot of some kind would help the adult population. This would definitely help take the slaughter fest out out the issue.
My concern is why would I travel 70 miles to and from for three walleyes? I can go to Festival and buy fish cheaper. Maybe for those who live on the lake, in which many are at fault for double dipping, or live reasonably close may be OK with a three fish.
Bottom line the Winnebago system is a walleye factory that has finally met it's match with the educated fisherman, technology of fishing equipment and fishing pressure and yes something needs to be done to protect the walleye but all I ask is look at it in a large prospective to be fair to all fish and fisherman and women.
Wow, the 3 questions on guides was an eye opener for me. Never realized they were that far under the radar, being it a business and what they charge.
I guess I would side with skeeter, as a professional you are to be held at a higher standard than the public. Although not illegal, him giving his fish away day after day would seem unethical from a professionals standpoint. Its only 5 a day, but that does feel like exploitation.
In my profession, I can't knowingly sell something "as is", because I am expected to know better. So...
Haven’t followed this thread, and I’m not sure when there will be a vote or a determination by the DNR to go to a three fish limit, but would I be correct to assume it won’t happen in 2018 since the official printed 2018 regulations are already heavily distributed amongst the population? I just don’t want to come in off the lake with five fish and have a warden ask me if I knew the limit had been changed to three yesterday.
