When it comes to controversial subjects I usually opt for the middle of the road, but the new fishing regulations proposed for the Seagull and Saganaga lakes are no longer sounding like a good idea. I am all about preservation, especially when it comes to the walleye populations on Saganaga Lake where I make my living, but after further review it no longer seems like a reasonable solution to the problem.
If you keep up on fishing news like I do you might already know that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has hired a new Chief of Fisheries, Don Pereira, to manage their commitment to maintain healthy fish populations throughout the state. I find it very interesting that Pereira admits that Mille Lacs Lake’s current conditions are largely due to mismanagement by the DNR by imposing such strict slot limits on the lake.
Mille Lacs Lake has seen a major decline in smaller male walleyes over the past 10 years which has proven to be detrimental to sustaining healthy populations. Mille Lacs resort owners have filed a class action law suit against the Minnesota DNR for mismanaging the lake by imposing such a limit. The tight catch limits have caused a lot of fish harvesting in a narrow size range causing an eventual “gauntlet of mortality.”
The only successful regulations, in my opinion, are regulating the bag limit rather than the size. Canada has always been more conservative when it comes to bag limits allowing four walleyes per angler rather than the six allowed in Minnesota. Canada also allows one fish to be over 18 inches (actually it is in centimeters but I am a stubborn American that refuses to accept the metric system) and Minnesota allows one fish to be over 20 inches. These seem like more reasonable limits to me and they promote selective harvest rather than eliminating a certain size.
The major argument on the Sag chain is that there are no longer any smaller walleyes and that is absolutely not true. In the past five years of guiding on Sag I have only kept (or even caught for that matter) a handful of fish within the proposed slot limit and the majority of walleyes being kept by me and other guides are between 14-16 inches. These smaller fish are typically caught in depths of 40-60 feet throughout the summer months and are difficult to release which could also be a detriment to our fishery.
If anglers are forced to release smaller walleyes from the deep, they are almost certain to die from the depth change. I do not see a problem with the populations of smaller fish, it is the big ones that are no longer around.
I feel that the proposed slot limits for the Seagull/ Sag chain are too strict and may prove to be detrimental to our beloved fishery and businesses. A slot limit is not the answer but a stricter bag limit might help. I agree that something needs to change, but do some research before assuming that a slot limit is the answer and if you don’t believe there is as big population of small walleyes on Sag simply hire a guide in September.
Cory Christianson has worked as a fishing guide on the Gunflint Trail since 2000. If you have any fishing or wildlife reports or stories to share, send an email to: christiansoncory@hotmail.com or call 218- 388-0315. You can also visit Cory’s website at Gunflintfishingguide.com.
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