Good,Bad,or Ugly Article

[Lee Borgersen]

   What's Up Outdoors: Time to lower the limits

By Jamie Dietman on Mar 26, 2017 at 7:00 a.m.

What to do and where to go may be a question in your head these days?

Well the Rainy River is open and the big fish have been on fire this week. The new motor isn't on my boat yet so it looks like I've got some time to get ready. That gives me time to think about the busy upcoming summer.

         
 
Fishing will be busy but will the fishing be good?  And that leads me to wonder what we as anglers, sportsmen and sportswomen determine to be "good."

People, technology and techniques continue to make fishing easier. The fishing pressure is bound to catch up, and eventually our resources will go down. We are seeing some of the high pressure lakes on the downward spiral.

So what can we do to ensure there are fish to catch for future generations? Well right now there are some things in the works and some people like them and some don't. Minnesota is trying to look ahead and I really think that they are stepping in the right direction—if they weren't I would tell you.

The topic on the table right now is reducing the fishing limits. I know some people say we pay enough for a license we should be able to keep our limit. Believe me, no one loves a meal of fresh fish better than me. But the reductions still leave us with plenty of fillets for the frying pan. I really believe as a fisherman who loves to eat fish, this is something that will help us in the long run. And if you really need more fish, just go fishing more often. That way you will have more memories made in the boat.

Any opinions/feedback here on this topic

[Gunner55]

I was just talking to 1 of the neighbors out on the ice yesterday about this. We are both of the same line of thought, that we rarely keep a limit as neither of us are big on putting a bunch of  in the freezer. Our point of view is most likely not real common though as we both spend the majority of the year here at the lake & can go as often as we like. I don't really have a problem with those that only get to go once or twice a year keeping their limit as I know those fish won't get wasted. It's the ones that think they need to keep everything they catch & feed the neighborhood that get me. I don't think it would hurt anybody to try reducing the limits at least a little for a short time on the most popular species like walleyes & panfish. After a trial period see how the public & the lakes like it. Just my .02

[Lee Borgersen]

Years ago when I used to bring home some occasional fish for a meal (now all catch & release). My next door neighbor use to always harass me by asking "where's my fish" when I pulled in with the boat. I got tired of hearing it all the time! So the next time he asked I told him I'll bring you some fish next trip. He said great. Then I told him he'd have to clean them though. He then said no way. That was the last time he ever asked me to bring him some fish. tut_tut-3315.gif  I should have told him that years before.  

[Gunner55]

We have a neighbor here at the lake that doesn't fish but likes to eat them. They are here year around, so when we are not here they will keep a eye on the place for us. So at times when we have to keep a few more than we really need because they are going to be dead anyway, I know what to do with them. Generally, they are gone the very same day. Nothing like your guy though as they  never ask for any.

[Lee Borgersen]

We have a neighbor here at the lake that doesn't fish but likes to eat them. They are here year around, so when we are not here they will keep a eye on the place for us. So at times when we have to keep a few more than we really need because they are going to be dead anyway, I know what to do with them. Generally, they are gone the very same day. Nothing like your guy though as they  never ask for any.

  In your case it's a valuable method of "tit for tat" and mutual appreciation & friendship