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Fishing Guides - Walynut

by , Posted to on 03/31/2010 10:24 AM | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 01/04/2002
Location: ND

walynut Said:
Yes I am a guide, but you have that other part wrong, not to highjack the thread but  I DO favor a slot limit in a perfect world. I do, along with most guides, have a slot limit in our boats, mine is 14 to 21 unless it's over 10lbs then they get to keep one. Rest assured that guides are not the problem on these lakes.


I didn't want to hijack the other thread. So you will not allow customers to keep any fish over 22" unless it is over 10 lbs? Is this really common with most guides in ND? I would think alot of people would want to keep some fish in that range, especially if it was a whopper (that was not over 10 lbs).

You can't aim a duck to death.

Re: Fishing Guides - Walynut
by on 03/31/2010 10:47 AM | Reply #1 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 12/16/2001
Location: ND
I think the pics on most websites would indicate this not to be entirely true.  Besides that, I personally don't fall for the slot limit thing.  Especially, on lakes where there isn't a size distribution problem.   While I rarely (other than tourneys) keep a fish that's over 18-20 inches, I question the big fish thing this way.  If you keep an 18-20" fish, that fish is fairly young in age, has prime reproductive capabilities, and has years of life ahead of it.  Now, if you keep a 7 or 8 pound fish, that fish is past it's prime reproductive peak, and only has a couple more years left in it's life.  So, in the long run, which fish is going to give you more fish for your future?  The young one in it's prime?  Or, the old one getting close to it's death bed?
Re: Fishing Guides - Walynut
by on 03/31/2010 10:52 AM | Reply #2 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 01/08/2003
Location: ND

Steve;

Your not going to like my answer but here it is....Depends.

The guide that got me started out there has a hard set rule with no exceptions. His rule is 14-19, period the end have a nice day. If you dont like it get off the boat. He has never had anyone get off the boat because of it and his clients are informed of this before they set foot in the boat so he has no issues.

I belive as a whole, most guides do have some type of "limit", why would we want to destroy a year class or two of fish when we are doing this as our lively hood.

Some guides, dont know who they are, may allow you to keep everything, I dont know for fact but there may be some.

As for my boat when I am taking clients outs, the client is going to tell you what they are looking for out of you in a given day. Most, in the 90% range want eaters. I have had one trip last year that strictly wanted to catch big fish and had no intention on keeping them, they wanted C&R and pictures. Also you see alot of "pro's" higher guides before tournaments to get a lay of the lake and to help them finder bigger fish.

IF this ever presented a problem or I thought that it could become a problem, I would simply put them on eater size fish and stay away from the spots that are known to produce larger fish. Option two would be to limit out on smaller eaters then move into some bigger fish spots once their limit was filled.

I have never had any issue or argument with clients over my personell rules,  I usually get kudo's for having that in place for doing my part to protect the lake.

As for the whopper program, I am not up on it one bit, can a picture be taken with length and measurement and sent in to still recieve the recognition?

Hope this explains why we do what we do and i'm sure I will get slammed for something I said and thats fine.

 

Good Luck and Good Fishin'

Eric T


Re: Fishing Guides - Walynut
by on 03/31/2010 10:57 AM | Reply #3 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 03/03/2009
Location: nd
i mostly agree with what gonefish is saying with only one exception. Genetics is a huge part of why big fish are big. Not only do they have the forage and lifetime to get large, but also the genes to do so. That 20" fish is not alwyas (and in most cases) going to reach 10 lbs just because she lives long. That 20"er might pass on her genes that only allow the fish to grow to 5 lbs max.  So, i would say keeping trophy fish does eliminate some large fish genes out of the pool. But heck, shes already been passing her genes on for 10 years, her last couple may make no difference. Just a thought.......
Re: Fishing Guides - Walynut
by on 03/31/2010 10:57 AM | Reply #4 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 02/24/2008
Location: ND
You have it right gonefishn, the slot limit is only to make people happy.  It is the game and fish doing their best to make people happy (even though we don't have one) even though all studies have shown their is no need for one, and would have little to no impact.
I know alot of people will disagree with me but many other states have a slot limit and the research has been done.
Re: Fishing Guides - Walynut
by on 03/31/2010 11:04 AM | Reply #5 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 01/04/2002
Location: ND
I figured it would be a depends answer, which is fine. I know if I was a paying customer and my kid caught a 9 1/2 lb walleye, I would be pretty upset if you did not want me to keep it. If I was told up front about the rules, I would not hire that guide just in case. Your other post made it sound like it was an absolute rule so I wanted to clarify. Not blasting you, just wondering.

As for the whopper program, there is a catch and release program that goes off lengths/witness and also a catch and keep one that goes off weight. You should probably get more familiar with it as it takes a smaller fish to qualify for the catch and release and it may be easier to convince clients to release big fish knowing they will still get a certificate/decal/patch.

You can't aim a duck to death.

Re: Fishing Guides - Walynut
by on 03/31/2010 11:19 AM | Reply #6 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 01/08/2003
Location: ND

Steve,

I should not have said in the other post that 10 lbs is set in stone because it is not; now here is where I am going to get blasted...... If presented with the situation you suggested, if the individual was going to mount the fish, it would go in the livewell.

Now before I get too blasted; I trust people till I dont have a reason to anymore.

 

Good Luck and Good Fishin'

Eric T


Re: Fishing Guides - Walynut
by on 03/31/2010 11:33 AM | Reply #7 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 03/27/2002
Location: ND
   I hope all your folks who are throwing fish back that are over 20" arn't doing it with fish caught in water over 35'.   They are as good as dead if caught any deeper.   That situation is more evident in the winter but can happen any time. 
Re: Fishing Guides - Walynut
by on 03/31/2010 11:40 AM | Reply #8 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 01/08/2003
Location: ND
Bushwaker,

Your dead on the money!!!!
 

Good Luck and Good Fishin'

Eric T


Re: Fishing Guides - Walynut
by on 03/31/2010 11:45 AM | Reply #9 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 08/16/2004
Location: ND
Thats the beauty of Devils Lake.  You never have to fish that deep even though the fish are there.  Fished one whole open water season never fishing deeper than 14 FOW.

gonefishin,

I think most all agree with you.  I do, but still try to let everything larger than 20-21 go.  Are the 27s good spawners??  I believe studies have shown most of the eggs are not viable.  The best spawners are the 18-24 inch fish  (give or take an inch or 2).  I think most of us guys that spend alot of time on the water (you most definately included) like the look on someones face when they whack the big one.  There are far fewer 27s in the lake than there are 19s, so less likely to be found or taken by those occasional anglers. 

So, I dont think the self imposed slot many of us have is really about spawning for the future; it more about allowing that 27 to become a 28 to be caught again.  If you dont agree, then why do you also have a self imposed boat slot??

YES, I am that foolish!

Re: Fishing Guides - Walynut
by on 03/31/2010 12:04 PM | Reply #10 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 12/16/2001
Location: ND
Luveyes, for me my size limit is based strictly on taste.  Having fished Devils Lake for over 40 years I've found those in that size to be what I like the best.   To me the bigger ones have a muddier taste to them. 
Re: Fishing Guides - Walynut
by on 03/31/2010 12:14 PM | Reply #11 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 01/29/2003
Location: MN
I think its great more folks like walynut are imposing set slots in their boat,guide or no guide...I've had a 20" return policy in my boat since 1991,besides a 22-26" fish does'nt eat as well as 15-19"er in my book,sadly most lakes I fish have reduced limits and slots,it started with trible netting and spearing plus  during the spawn plus the impact of folks fishing these days dictate what needs to been done on behalf of the fishery.One day you folks will see the gfp's folks conducting creel surveys,I suspect starting with devils lake because of the ever increasing pressure on the lake year around,no closed season either,when this happens,slots will be on the horizon,like or not.

Tim


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Re: Fishing Guides - Walynut
by on 03/31/2010 12:49 PM | Reply #12 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 01/09/2002
Location: ND
Snow,

NDGF already does creel surveys on ND's bigger waters during the year.  They combine the creel surveys with test nettings to gauge the health of the fishery and then use that to determine if slots or size limits are needed.

Thankfully, they have reached the conclusion on most of our waters that extraordinarily restrictive limits are not necessary.  Some places have had minimum length requirements in the past and while I don't know for sure there may still be a few in place. 
“Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it.” ~ Mark Twain
Re: Fishing Guides - Walynut
by on 03/31/2010 1:13 PM | Reply #13 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 08/16/2004
Location: ND
gonfishn,

agreed

YES, I am that foolish!

Re: Fishing Guides - Walynut
by on 03/31/2010 3:14 PM | Reply #14 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 01/29/2003
Location: MN
Allen~

Well then,sounds like the ball is rolling,it took our DNR about 5-6 years or so of surveys before they introduced slots,in the past few years they have reduced daily limits for most of our lakes and border waters.,I'm just saying this is how slots came to be here..."surveys"

The resort owners also knew slots were coming,they encourged everyone luanching off their sites "not to let the survey crew count there fish" ,I'd say it was about a 50-50 compliance after the second year here,and it did'nt work,the 1st year was the worst on our best walleye lake,they started with a 14-16" protected slot and 1 fish over 28"s for a trophy.Sadly,since the slots started combined with reduced daily limits a majority of the resort owners went belly up,folks just quit travel to mille laces,took about 10 years,but one-by-one mom&pops resorts started shutting down.

On a side note,maybe it won't be so drastic on DL? I mean,whats the summer traffic like there? Iknow in the winter she gets hit pretty hard,but what about the rest of the year.I can also see them close the season at first to let the fish spawn rather than impose slots for starters.



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Briley chokes
Re: Fishing Guides - Walynut
by on 03/31/2010 5:16 PM | Reply #15 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 02/13/2006
Location: ND

Go to Lake Tobin and put your boat in at the Nippewan boat ramp. You will see a big sign that shows the average number of eggs for large fish.  The bigger the fish the more eggs obviously.  Tobin is the number 1 trophy walleye fishery IMO in the world and they have very strict slot limits to protect that.  Saying that a 20 incher produces more than a 28 inch walleye would be very difficult to prove and very hard for me to believe. 

As far as the guide slot limit goes, that is something I have not seen before.  It is a good idea though.  I know for a fact that the perch patrol didn't have a slot limit for there clients on Lake Irvin a couple years ago.

Re: Fishing Guides - Walynut
by on 03/31/2010 5:18 PM | Reply #16 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 02/13/2006
Location: ND
Snow I agree that closing the season during the spawn is a good start.  No slot is a big reason why people come from all over the country to fish Devils Lake.  They can bring home 10 and eat all they want.
Re: Fishing Guides - Walynut
by on 03/31/2010 6:50 PM | Reply #17 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 08/16/2004
Location: ND
"Go to Lake Tobin and put your boat in at the Nippewan boat ramp. You will see a big sign that shows the average number of eggs for large fish.  The bigger the fish the more eggs obviously.  Tobin is the number 1 trophy walleye fishery IMO in the world and they have very strict slot limits to protect that.  Saying that a 20 incher produces more than a 28 inch walleye would be very difficult to prove and very hard for me to believe"


No arguing the sheer volume of eggs in a 30 inch fish is more than in a 20 incher..  What I have heard/read is the % of "viable" eggs in the 20 incher is greater; potentially to the point of actually having a larger # of viable eggs produced.

YES, I am that foolish!

Re: Fishing Guides - Walynut
by on 04/01/2010 08:24 AM | Reply #18 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 12/06/2008
Location: ND
anything over 22 is just too big to eat cuz littler fish taste better anyways

Re: Fishing Guides - Walynut
by on 04/01/2010 11:31 AM | Reply #19 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 06/14/2004
Location: ND
I've been a member of this site since it first started in the 1990's and the topic of having a slot limit and releasing large fish keeps coming up.  So many avid fishermen think they are the experts on fish management.  Its always the same argument from them that the Game and Fish will ruin the fisheries because too many large or small fish are allowed to be kept.  And that the Game and fish has no idea how to manage fisheries.

Remember how many people were complaining about no slot limits on Lake Oahe and Missouri when the fishing was bad and no fish were caught over 14 inches.  But when the forage fish poplulation came back a few years ago the number and size of walleye followed.  And we've had some great years of fishing since then.  The same holds true with Devils Lake.  The fishing has not been ruined from the current regulations.  As far as I'm concerned, it's gotten better.  Lake Sakakawea will rebound as well when the base forage returns. 

Don't compare other states fishing regulations to North Dakota.  We have a much different environment than most other states.  Our fisheries are mostly hypereutrophic and are managed as such.  You can't compare them to Minnesota and Canadian lakes.  The fisheries have to be managed different.  If you want to throw back fish because you feel the need to, fine.  For me, I'll keep what I catch whether its 13 or 23 inches. 
19 Replies | Page 1 of 11 | Top of Page | Bottom of Page
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Posted On: 03/31/2010 10:24 AM
1082 Views, 19 Comments

Tags: guides, walynut, fishing, limit, slot, thread, wrong, highjack, part, world
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Region: North Dakota

Categories: Fishing > Walleye Fishing
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