Lots and lots and lots of fish gets thrown out every year due to freezer burn. I bet in some ND counties more gets tossed out or fed to cats than is eaten by humans.
I'll agree wholeheartedly that big pike will attack anything they can get their maw around, including 20" walleyes on the end of our lines. I also fully agree that pike will show preference for a shallow bodied prey species vs. a deep bodied prey species. They also prefer soft fins, smaller prey size, and a host of other characteristics if given the choice. It comes down to risk. With a big meal, you have increased handling time of prey item, risk of losing a big prey item that just took a good amount of energy to pursue and capture, etc. An interesting topic to be sure.
I guess my question is how often is this occurring? You say maybe not the most common forage, but there is the possibility. And that's where I'm at on this as well. Is it enough to have a statistically significant impact on the larger year classes of other "desirable" game fish species?
Or maybe I'm defending the lowly white bass because they make me giggle like a maniac when I hook one on a 6 weight fly rod
. This couldn't be more true in the Devils lake region.Lots and lots and lots of fish gets thrown out every year due to freezer burn. I bet in some ND counties more gets tossed out or fed to cats than is eaten by humans.
. This couldn't be more true in the Devils lake region.
I watched a fishing show (Hooked on the Ice?) on Facebook the other day and the dude was catching MONSTER gills. Like, 10+ inches. It looked like the typical northern MN lake: small, few cabins, surrounded by trees. Except he said it was near Devils Lake, North Dakota.
I wish I could post the link. Was he on crack??
SOrry, totally not on topic. I was just thinking about this because of the reg changes, which include bluegill possession...and I was thinking, man, are there even gills worth keeping in ND?
Yes, I live under a rock...
2 summers ago the fishing was fantastic, we caught limits of 16-20 inch walleyes in about an hour on every outing. I had fish coming out my ass. Still had some in the freezer just a few weeks ago from that summer. I thawed out my filletsickle and pan fried 6 fish worth, it was awesome, tasted as though I had caught it that week.
I freeze my fillets in water in a zip lock bag, make sure no air is on the meat, and I think it would keep this way for 20 years. Never seen anyone throw fish out for freezer burn. But then again I am a western hillbilly, and have eaten testicles
All freezer limits do is make fisherman who can't go out all the time violators. Many people can only fish during short periods of each year while others of us can go whenever. I think the freezer burn arguments are total bs. I doubt very much is lost to that's the all. Some people bitch about Devils about how this year was better than that or whatever. Fact is other than the perch fishing the eyes and pike fishing has been phenomenal for over two decades even though the know it all's on all the websites have been preaching its demise. If they need to lower the perch limits some and the BIOLOGISTS (the real ones not the armchair ones) say it'll help I have no problem with that. But to bitch about us residents who live and work here, and keep this state going not having freezer limits is totally bogus in my opinion. If you think your a better person because you mostly catch and release good for you. But IMO the good Lord put them here to catch and eat. So for all you guys that have a good stock of fish in your freezer to enjoy may your bellies be full and your taste buds totally satisfied![/QUOTE
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2 summers ago the fishing was fantastic, we caught limits of 16-20 inch walleyes in about an hour on every outing. I had fish coming out my ass. Still had some in the freezer just a few weeks ago from that summer. I thawed out my filletsickle and pan fried 6 fish worth, it was awesome, tasted as though I had caught it that week.
I freeze my fillets in water in a zip lock bag, make sure no air is on the meat, and I think it would keep this way for 20 years. Never seen anyone throw fish out for freezer burn. But then again I am a western hillbilly, and have eaten testicles
I drink a Manhattan that entails 2 shots whiskey, 1 shot vermouth, 2 dash bitters, 2 ice cubes, and a cherry. Otherwise my whiskeys get a splash of sprite, or 7up and a few ice cubes.
I am not as manly as I appear. If I was a chewer, I would spit too.