Quinte Fishing

DWR does the same apply to the one you are allowed to keep over the slot? That is, if you already have one over the slot in the box and catch another which you cannot not revive, must you release it?

I would think that if you had one in the box over the slot still swimming then you could/would release that one and keep the one not likely to survive. If both are not likely to survive then you would still have to release one of them. A shame yes, but not likely to go totally to waste. I saw someone release a 24 1/2 that wasn't going to make it and the seagulls almost immediately began to feast on it. Not the best use of a good fish but that's life.

Ken

Baffish, yes you do....or as Ken says, people will exploit the situation. It's a double edge sword but it's the rule.

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WIG

Good discussion. I'd have to say that releasing the big ones is the way to go (in my opinion of course). The way I look at it is: If a 10 lb female lays 250,000 eggs in the spring... Let's say 5% survive to make it to 1 lb in a year. That makes 12,500 1lbers the following year. That's almost 4,200 anglers able to keep 3 - 1lbers in a year... All from one fish! And not only do the little guys taste better, but their odds of surviving to sexual maturity are still quite low. That 10 lb heifer is a sure thing. She's already made it. And the Ontario record would suggest that she can double her size over the next several years! Although we all have our criticisms of how the MNR manages our fisheries, I think that the rules they put in place are there for a reason. To best serve the resource. They understand that a normal age distribution in a given population of fish is skewed towards the little guys.
Although I'd have to agreee with Pollywogg in that it all starts with the environment, we have to keep in mind that some things are in our control and some aren't. Salting the ramp, keeping the sows, that's all up to us. And I for one won't do either (now that I know not to salt the ramp!).
Just my 2 cents.
Cheers,
Braden

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Let's maintain this amazing resource!

I used to get all worked up about people keeping big fish but the fact of the matter is that those big walleyes are NOT the lifeblood of the spawning cycle. The SLOT fish are. That is the reason for the slot. I release all my big fish. You can remove up to 40% of the mature fish from a system like Quinte every year and it will replenish itself. People have been keeping these fish for food for a long time. Much longer than most of us have been alive and look how good this fishery is still.

By the way...Wed 10...Thur 48...Fri 24...Sat 49. The place is loaded with fish. All each of us can do is do what we know is best and gently encourage others to do the same.

Forgot to mention in my previous post...
Those numbers I was using were just 'for argument's sake'. I didn't pick them up from any given source. Not sure if I made it clear enough but I just used an example to make the point of why I would rather keep a few little guys than one big one. So please, don't quote me on that stuff. Just wanna be straight on this.
Cheers,
Braden

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Let's maintain this amazing resource!

Great results on the weekend! Could you give any info. on the fish you caught? Although I had some decent luck (as posted in my report) I saw some guys catching way, way more than I was and am interested to hear more about what you were using, etc.

Targa2, you're part walleye aren't ya? Thats just crazy results! Congrats, but probably a normal days work for ya.

BTW, I seen guys charter called mel, anyone know them?

No actually, these results are actually abnormal for me. A typical day for me is 10 to 20 fish. 30 would be an extraordinary day. I don't share specific info over the net for the simple reason that it is now available to every meat hunter out there. Many people have asked me questions at the dock and if they seam like good guys I will help them. I don't always give a person too much info. If someone is sincerely interested in becoming a better angler giving them too much info is detrimental too their learning curve. I like to give info that makes guys think and experiment so they will have a revelation of their own when it works. For example I will often ask what methods a fellow has tried and make modification suggestions to their existing program that will give them better results. The point is that the more you learn on your own the more effective you will become on each successive outing. It's the " give a man a fish" , "teach a man to fish" philosophy LITERALLY.

Hey Targa,

out of curiousity is that pounds of fish or numbers of fish?

Ken

Numbers of fish!

Targa 2,

Well said. I posted a similar response last month, albeit in not as "gentle" a manner. The result was me getting lambasted by other site visitors. I am encouraged that you and I share a similar view.

Not to re-open the discussion, but I mentioned that giving detailed fishing locations on the internet ultimately has negative impact on the walleye population in the BOQ. Of course there are many factors to consider, over-fishing is just one.

Interestingly, fishing east of the ferry (the "location" in question) is now filled with boats. On Sunday 23, I counted 23 boats in an area five times the size of a football field. At least two guys that I know of have had planer boards run over by other boats. In addition, there have been numerous reports about large numbers of walleye being kept...at least the local businesses are content.

Regarding a healthy walleye population, I think that a well-balanced population of all sizes is important. The slot fish are the best spawners, that has been proven, but protecting large "non-slot" fish only helps the cause in these tumultuous times (clear water, perch explosion, gobies, over harvest, etc)



Captain Hank

i tried the spot you suggested and didn't do any better then i did the weekend before, i did about the same, but even that spot is getting crowded so it seems info gets around more then prev years. least with your boat noone can follow you. it seems such a waste to kill the ten plus pound fish but i guess i should try not to let the thought of it bother me , my brother said he saw a group cleaning a pile of fish over ten pounds i wonder if most people even know of the limits on catches as they seemed way over the limit of big fish, oh well, hope i dont work sun, shouldn't have taken last sat off.

All that traffic did not seem to bother Targa's numbers,give some credit to the guys that ventured out of the confines of the bay to deeper water and found fish on their own and exposed another pattern that produces fish,its a long way out to the lake and since all the hens are traveling the same highway,it isin't that hard to figure out. If people are breaking the slot limits,its not the guys fault who is trying to help guys get on to fish . and Targa's tips moved me in that direction by reading between the lines.