Just yesterday morning I was watching a t.v. show about northern outdoors (hunting, fishing, etc.). Can't remember the exact name. It covered a guy that fishes bluegill at an undisclosed location in northern Minnesota. Because of large populations of bluegill harvested they say, in Minnesota, the 12" and larger bluegill are no longer present.
Then, a biologist from the MN DNR Fisheries interview that said because so many 12"+ bluegill leave the lakes the smaller fish don't necessarily take on larger size. He said over time the 11" and 10" population remain as the larger sized fish. So, it appears to me, that the scientists are driving this force about retaining size for stable populations of those larger fish.
I'm indifferent to the theory, however, I personally have my limits of harvesting size. With walleye, specifically, I'll return to the lake those over 24" in length. Anything under that size I'll choose to harvest or return, period. It's an individual choice! Will I try to take something from a body of water that is protected by laws/regulations? I don't believe so.
Then, a biologist from the MN DNR Fisheries interview that said because so many 12"+ bluegill leave the lakes the smaller fish don't necessarily take on larger size. He said over time the 11" and 10" population remain as the larger sized fish. So, it appears to me, that the scientists are driving this force about retaining size for stable populations of those larger fish.
I'm indifferent to the theory, however, I personally have my limits of harvesting size. With walleye, specifically, I'll return to the lake those over 24" in length. Anything under that size I'll choose to harvest or return, period. It's an individual choice! Will I try to take something from a body of water that is protected by laws/regulations? I don't believe so.
