Which proposed Walleye Regs do you support?
-
Scum Frog
- Silver Participant
- Posts: 854
- Joined: Wed Dec 10, 2003 1:34 pm
- Location: Carleton Place
- Contact:
Which proposed Walleye Regs do you support?
MNR has laid out the following options.
A slot of 40 - 65 cm will provide the greatest range of age to further reproduction. The length of time for a walleye to reach sexual maturity and the related curve of reproductive strength is safely within this range.
A slot is not a bad thing, you can still catch fish but releasing those that will keep future generations healthy assures our grandchildren a future fishery.
For those who seek trophy sized fish then the upper range is wide open and for table fare nothing beats fillets from a 15"er.
Remember though - don't target fish in 40+ feet of water and expect them to live without very careful retrieval and handling.
A slot is not a bad thing, you can still catch fish but releasing those that will keep future generations healthy assures our grandchildren a future fishery.
For those who seek trophy sized fish then the upper range is wide open and for table fare nothing beats fillets from a 15"er.
Remember though - don't target fish in 40+ feet of water and expect them to live without very careful retrieval and handling.
-
steve-hamilton
- Gold Participant
- Posts: 1688
- Joined: Sat Apr 10, 2004 8:32 am
What the? Are you 5 serious? Supporting Protected Slot 40cm/15.7" to 65cm/25.6" means no eating of any pickeral. Pickeral is the only fish I eat. I tried a 25" pickeral once; too tough, not enjoyable. Under 15.7; you would be allowed 2 and they wouldn't be very fat.Minimum 19.7 I can sort of live with if I had to.
Scott
-
steve-hamilton
- Gold Participant
- Posts: 1688
- Joined: Sat Apr 10, 2004 8:32 am
I support a maximum size limit of 15.7 inches in lieu of a protected slot limit of 15.7 to 25.6 inches. I wouldn’t eat any walleye over 25.6 inches anyway and I personally don’t believe it is necessary to harvest so called “wall hangers†to prove you caught a trophy. Instead, measure your trophy walleye, take a picture and release her. A graphite mount will last a lot longer than a skin mount anyway.
Yes, I understand that large older walleyes don’t produce as many eggs as the primary spawners (typically those walleye 20 to 25 inches in length) and that their eggs as not as viable as eggs produced by the primary spawners. Nevertheless, I support protecting the gene pool in those big girls in lieu of harvesting such a specimen for the wall.
Yes, I understand that large older walleyes don’t produce as many eggs as the primary spawners (typically those walleye 20 to 25 inches in length) and that their eggs as not as viable as eggs produced by the primary spawners. Nevertheless, I support protecting the gene pool in those big girls in lieu of harvesting such a specimen for the wall.
Scott:
Limiting walleye harvest size to 15.7 inches or less has no impact on the size of walleye that I or anyone else may catch and release. While eating walleyes that are 15.7 inches or less in length (maximum weight is probably about a 1.5 lb) may be an issue for you, it isn't for me. I've been lucky enough to have experienced catching big walleyes in the western basin of Lake Erie and I've released lots of 10 lb plus walleye. I prefer eating smaller walleyes for 4 major reasons:
1. Smaller walleyes have such a sweet taste, it's akin to eating candy;
2. Smaller walleyes (less than 18 inches) haven't yet reached sexual maturity (consequently, I'm not eating primary breeding stock);
3. Smaller walleyes don't tend to have mercury contents exceeding Health Canada guidelines; and
4. Eating smaller walleyes affords long term protection for the walleye fishery for all to enjoy.
All fishermen are entitled to their opinions on such subjects. And regardless anyone's opinion, it should be respected as such, their opinion!
Limiting walleye harvest size to 15.7 inches or less has no impact on the size of walleye that I or anyone else may catch and release. While eating walleyes that are 15.7 inches or less in length (maximum weight is probably about a 1.5 lb) may be an issue for you, it isn't for me. I've been lucky enough to have experienced catching big walleyes in the western basin of Lake Erie and I've released lots of 10 lb plus walleye. I prefer eating smaller walleyes for 4 major reasons:
1. Smaller walleyes have such a sweet taste, it's akin to eating candy;
2. Smaller walleyes (less than 18 inches) haven't yet reached sexual maturity (consequently, I'm not eating primary breeding stock);
3. Smaller walleyes don't tend to have mercury contents exceeding Health Canada guidelines; and
4. Eating smaller walleyes affords long term protection for the walleye fishery for all to enjoy.
All fishermen are entitled to their opinions on such subjects. And regardless anyone's opinion, it should be respected as such, their opinion!
Last edited by Tomcat on Wed Feb 15, 2006 4:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I am with tomcat on this one, but I really think the size for the slot should be dependant on each fishery. Some fish grow faster on some lakes than others.
Keeping the small ones is the best solution for portecting the fishery. The slot size has been in effect on nipissing and it seams that the fishery is getting better. And like Tomcat said those small ones taste way better than the big and I don't think keeping a walleye under 15.7 inches is rediculous but I wouldn't keep a 10 inch walleye.
DH
Keeping the small ones is the best solution for portecting the fishery. The slot size has been in effect on nipissing and it seams that the fishery is getting better. And like Tomcat said those small ones taste way better than the big and I don't think keeping a walleye under 15.7 inches is rediculous but I wouldn't keep a 10 inch walleye.
DH
-
Wall-I-Guy
- Diamond Participant
- Posts: 4930
- Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 2:06 am
- Location: Kanata,Ontario