1. The Wisconsin Band web site told members to make sure to release pike to avoid the pike quota.
2. Our videos this year documented pike being thrown back.
3.The DNR said that there is no mortality % applied to fish returned when water temperature is under 50 degrees. Fish therefore must be able to survive gill netting?
4. The band has said that their nets are designed to catch mostly fish under 20".
So the DNR should set a protected slot for spawning walleye over 20". Since the Band members are already releasing pike, they should have no problem releasing walleyes that they have already said they are not targeting.
This would sure help to provide some equity with the season slot limits and go along way to protecting the spawn.
"Or do gill nets kill a large percent of the fish caught? So, therefore, releasing fish caught in gill nets would be wasteful and not be safe for any fish".
I have now sent this idea to the DNR, Messenger, Outdoornews and Musky Hunter. No one has responded. I have gotten positive feedback from other bloggers. Is this idea stupid or do we have a fear that it hits the nail on the head?
I know that not all of the fish released from the gill nets are surviving, so the mortality rate is not 0%. Depending on the damage to the fish, many probably do survive with the cooler water temperatures.
I know a native that spears walleyes in WI and they have a protected slot that they can only spear one fish over 20" per night or something very similar to that.
I'm not sure how the gill-netted walleyes are actually "weighed," but from what I remember a 20" pre-spawn female weighing 3 lbs. is going to produce more eggs than a 25" 6 lb. walleye. From a conservation stand point, it would be better to harvest the 6 lb. walleye than two 20" females that equal the same amount of weight.
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Humana Insurance Representative-Brainerd and Mille Lacs Area
I know that not all of the fish released from the gill nets are surviving, so the mortality rate is not 0%. Depending on the damage to the fish, many probably do survive with the cooler water temperatures.
I know a native that spears walleyes in WI and they have a protected slot that they can only spear one fish over 20" per night or something very similar to that.
I'm not sure how the gill-netted walleyes are actually "weighed," but from what I remember a 20" pre-spawn female weighing 3 lbs. is going to produce more eggs than a 25" 6 lb. walleye. From a conservation stand point, it would be better to harvest the 6 lb. walleye than two 20" females that equal the same amount of weight.
The guy who wrote that is a fishing genius (and a good guy).
