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Posts: 1289
Location: Walker, MN | Todays Star Tribune per MNDNR "The night fishing ban, enforced from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., will begin May 12, and will be extended through Monday, Dec. 1, rather than ending in mid-June."
The Pike spearing ban was also lifted.
http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/252257561.html
Edited by Masqui-ninja 3/25/2014 1:08 PM
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Posts: 315
| Thats a real bummer.........I can handle a night ban even though my favorite time to fish there is at night, but lifting the spearing ban really sux.....  |
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Location: Contrarian Island | what's the reasoning behind banning it for muskies?
Edited by BNelson 3/25/2014 1:51 PM
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Posts: 670
Location: Otsego, MN | That lake is an absolute mess due to numerous factors. But NO night fishing that really sucks for Muskie Fisherman. |
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Posts: 1901
Location: MN | BNelson - 3/25/2014 1:49 PM
what's the reasoning behind banning it for muskies?
This is one of those unintended consequences perhaps. It is not intended to keep you specifically from fishing muskies at night, but unless they change the wording, their previous regulations regarding the night fishing ban meant everyone had to be off the lake (and not start) by a certain time, regardless what species you fish for. Not sure if all "boaters" had to be off too, even if no fishing gear in their boat. |
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Posts: 676
Location: Wisconsin | They've had this ban before, I remember it back in the mid 90's. |
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Posts: 470
Location: Blaine, MN | I just told my wife last night that I can't wait for Mid July to fish a couple of all nighters while Grandma and Grandpa watch our little ones.... Guess I meant July of 2015, Maybe. The launches and resorts up there are going to take a beating, no?
Edited by short STRIKE 3/25/2014 2:51 PM
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Posts: 833
| The launches and resorts are already taking a beating, this will just make it worse. I know folks who basically only fish that lake that are starting to look for other options. It is BAD and it is going to get worse.
One bit of good news is that the MN DNR was able to turn Red Lake around, so one would think that given time and resources they'll get Mille Lacs right. Unfortunately there is no life line for the businesses that depend on that lake and it's tourism and that is the real tragedy in all of this. |
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Posts: 994
Location: Minnesota: where it's tough to be a sportsfan! | Gov. Dayton appointed this DNR commissioner. Look at the changes that have happened since he took over. Are they good for the Muskie Fisheries in this State? They have by the work of thousands of past M.Inc. Chap members raised MN to the quality to rank at the top with all of North America. It has taken decades to get to this point. How fast can it be destroyed? |
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Posts: 2082
| very silly! Who can't go catch a limit of walleyes from 7pm to 10 pm? Its not hard to regulate size and quantity...telling people when they can and can't fish will do nothing to protect walleyes (seams this is the goal)
Edited by IAJustin 3/25/2014 4:17 PM
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Location: MN | Brad P - 3/25/2014 3:38 PM
One bit of good news is that the MN DNR was able to turn Red Lake around, so one would think that given time and resources they'll get Mille Lacs right.
Comparing Red to Mille Lacs is apples to oranges. White man can only fish about 25% of Red. Red is also very shallow in comparison to Mille Lacs.
What will be the cost to the tax payers to rebuild the Mille Lacs walleye population? And is it worth it?
I feel bad for the resorts who have been depending more and more on the muskie and bass guys to survive. I'm sure this will only make things worse. |
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Posts: 187
Location: West Metro, MN | I agree that the night fishing ban is silly and definitely impacts muskie anglers, but I honestly feel worse for the people around there that survive on the anglers coming to Mille Lacs. Between the combination of the night ban, the 2 walleye limit between 18-20 inches and the fact that the walleye numbers are at historical lows it is going to be really rough on the resorts etc. Relaxing the limits on pike and smallmouth aren't going to appease anglers (which is all they are trying to do). For the most part the guys that have been going up there for years to catch walleyes don't care if they can keep a bunch of pike and smallies now and the draw of keeping 10 pike isn't enough to replace the lost walleye fishermen. What happens if they hit that 41,000 pound walleye quota in mid July and then they have to tell eveyone that walleyes are catch and release for the rest of the year after that or close it altogehter due to fear of increase delayed mortality due to catch and release? The muskie guys are going to have the lake to themselves in the fall (during daylight hours). I haven't worked out the numbers, but they may just be better off closing the lake to walleye fishing for the whole year (tribes included) and paying off the local resorts with the money they would save in not having to try and figure out how to keep people off of a 110,000 acre lake at night all sumer long, but that might make too much sense. |
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | The real bad news is they also lifted the spearing ban so now they can spear another musky lake that really sucks |
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Posts: 205
| How so it is still illegal to spear muskies? They dnr wants to the pike population reduced they still only allow one over 30" with a higher bag limit to harvest more small fish |
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Posts: 1901
Location: MN | bigdogg2278 - 3/25/2014 4:56 PM
How so it is still illegal to spear muskies? They dnr wants to the pike population reduced they still only allow one over 30" with a higher bag limit to harvest more small fish
Unfortunately, illegal as it may be to harpoon a muskie, allowing spears on Mille Lacs means some some muskies will get speared. Hard for that to happen when they're not (allowed).
Edited by Propster 3/25/2014 7:51 PM
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| I've contacted the DNR on banning all night fishing, they acknowledged that this is going to be extremely unpopular with Muskie anglers. Lifting the spearing ban could help remove allot of Pike, I haven't seen the latest population size estimates and I'm assuming that 20-30 inch fish are part of the issue. Protecting Muskies to 55 inches is much more important than the spearing ban, if those guys along with anglers remove enough fish and it helps then we can say the DNR were genius. After looking at a spearing forum it sounds like most of them don't take 10 fish a year. We'll see, Mille Lacs has problems and I sure as hell hope they know what they are doing. Like Jerry said I feel bad for the people that try to make a living up there. We have a meeting in a few weeks and we'll learn more and keep you posted.
Edited by Muskiefool 3/25/2014 8:12 PM
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Posts: 70
| If they want to control the walleye catch what does that have to do with night fishing muskies.I think they could figure out were not fishing walleyes with #10 cowgirls!DAAAAAAAA It might take some work like have to check a few boats but they won't have launches to check. This is like getting your car taken away because your neighbors kid got in an accident
I wish they would get it together because i don't do Mille in the daylight!! |
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Posts: 791
Location: WI | Wow. For years we here in WI have been saying that our DNR could learn a thing or to from MN. Not so much these days. |
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Posts: 1000
| I'll second muskiefool on the spearing ban not being big concern for us. If you prowl their forums you'll find that they're very adamant about "don't know, don't throw" and if you're an amateur to stay off muskie lakes. They're very concerned that if a couple guys blow it then the muskie community will reinstate the ban indefinitely.
Edited by tolle141 3/25/2014 10:30 PM
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Posts: 480
| In the late fall the sun is down by 5pm, the night ban starts at 10pm-6am. Now I'm no mathematician but I think that's close to 5 hours of darkness to fish muskies. Better than not any. |
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Posts: 70
| I just posted on the star tribune blog (thanks for the link and you should all do the same!) Night fishing should not be a one size screw all! Keep it to the night fishing issue and see if we can get some change!
They can't mistake muskie poles for walleye rods!
Squeeky wheels get greased! Also you should contact your legislators because more than 5 e-mails on one subject is a crisis to them! (I know a few) Our lt. Governor is a muskie fisherwoman. Drop some e-mails we preach to the choir here! |
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Posts: 70
| It's just getting dark at 10 in July not to mention the cluster it will be at the landings! |
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Posts: 1901
Location: MN | tolle141 - 3/25/2014 10:28 PM
I'll second muskiefool on the spearing ban not being big concern for us. If you prowl their forums you'll find that they're very adamant about "don't know, don't throw" and if you're an amateur to stay off muskie lakes. They're very concerned that if a couple guys blow it then the muskie community will reinstate the ban indefinitely.
Yea, we'd all like to believe that's the way they all feel. The MDAA admits they're trying to legalize muskie harpooning. John could be right though, might still play out pretty well. Other than the folks trying to make a living in the area. |
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Posts: 70
| They could have spearing regs on the lake nothing over 30inches!
Three problems solved! Close it at night to walleye anglers, no spearing northern over 30inches and walleye limit of two like Ontario 1 over 18 one under and get off the lake!
I new I should have been in charge of the DNR!
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | if it saves walleyes in Minnesota, they won't worry about who gets upset about it. same as what happened at Eagle Lake … fishermen adjust and the fishery recovers, not a bad outcome. |
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Posts: 619
| Why would it matter what time of day or night someone fishes for walleye? How would not being able to fish at night for walleye have any more impact on the population versus fishing during the day. IMO eliminating night fishing is no different than elimating fishing during the day - what is the difference?
Is is just because the DNR cant see boats out there at night as well. |
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Location: minocqua, wi. | ^ you ever walleye fish? |
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Posts: 205
| Sounds like last year the only time a lot of guys were catching eyes up there was night |
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Posts: 397
| Propster - 3/25/2014 11:04 PM
tolle141 - 3/25/2014 10:28 PM
I'll second muskiefool on the spearing ban not being big concern for us. If you prowl their forums you'll find that they're very adamant about "don't know, don't throw" and if you're an amateur to stay off muskie lakes. They're very concerned that if a couple guys blow it then the muskie community will reinstate the ban indefinitely.
Yea, we'd all like to believe that's the way they all feel. The MDAA admits they're trying to legalize muskie harpooning. John could be right though, might still play out pretty well. Other than the folks trying to make a living in the area.
Propster, Who in the MDAA admitted that they are trying to legalize muskie spearing?
I know some of the board members and have never heard any of them say that. |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | Slow Rollin - 3/26/2014 6:17 AM
Why would it matter what time of day or night someone fishes for walleye? How would not being able to fish at night for walleye have any more impact on the population versus fishing during the day. IMO eliminating night fishing is no different than elimating fishing during the day - what is the difference?
Is is just because the DNR cant see boats out there at night as well.
You're joking right? |
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