Walleye over-harvesting a concern

[HD]

By TONY KENNEDY , STAR TRIBUNE
January 24, 2017 - 11:32 PM

With ice anglers out in force once again on Lake of the Woods, Minnesota game wardens have been writing numerous tickets for overharvesting, Conservation Officer Nicholas Prachar said Tuesday.

Prachar, who is based near Baudette, wrote in his weekly report that he cited anglers for being over the walleye limit, fishing with extra lines and for keeping walleyes of illegal length.

Conservation Officer Ben Huener, who patrols Lake of the Woods near Roseau, filed a similar report.

Prachar said he hasn't heard of anyone taking gross amounts of illegally harvested fish. In many cases, he said, offenders have been motivated to keep illegal limits of fish when they catch them because success has been spotty.

Crowds of ice anglers on Lake of the Woods have been significant this season, he said, with lots of traffic coming from out of state. In two years of patrolling the big lake, Prachar has met visitors from every state.

Under this season's special regulations for the U.S. side of Lake of the Woods, anglers must immediately return to the water any walleye that is 19.5 inches to 28 inches long. They can keep one walleye over 28 inches, and they can have an aggregate of eight walleyes and saugers in possession as long as the grouping doesn't have more than four walleyes.

Prachar said many small walleyes are being caught, a healthy sign for the fishery.

[glenn57]

i say get them rough fish outta the lakes!!!!! right G!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mike89]

tell us how you really feel Glenn!!

[Jerkbiat]

I am glad they are making their presence known. Hope they keep it up.

[snow1]

x2 jerkbait ,Over the years we've bumped in to many anglers from out state,for some reason the folks traveling here from southern states have a hard time with regulations,iowa folks seem to be head of the class,they keep everything including large and smallmout bass regardless of slots(if any apply) from my observation,tho legal they have every right but when they load up on panfish and walleyes,double,triple tripping etc.this pisses me off,having the tip line on speed dial is a great tool to help our dnr task of catching these porchers.

I read last winter on LOW folks were catching walleyes with they're cheeks cut out,what kind of asshole would do such a thing?

[LPS]

I heard this is the way it is in some places out west.  No proof just hearsay.  But I think the idea has merit.  If the limit is 6 walleyes you keep the first 6 you catch and you are done.  Regardless of size.  Then people aren't catching these unbelievable amounts of fish all day long and letting them go with a large percentage dieing...  No fish released.  That would be easy to enforce too.  Just watch and see if they let any go.