The Decline of Devils Lake

[Obi-Wan]

Game and Fish has been pretty steady on saying that there's no biological reason for slots at this time. I suppose that could change. I wouldn't argue if they said all walleyes over 20" have to be released in April.

They also said many anglers have a self imposed slot so implementing one would make very little difference.

 

[Jiffy]

You can't bank on "self imposed" slot limits to manage fisheries. IF indeed that was stated, they are flat out telling you they don't believe in slot limits. Or they don't think they're needed. They're a government agency, they also talk out of both sides of their mouths. Imagine that.

 

[gonefshn]

Bigger question is how long will we have 2 federal fish hatcheries? Elon sees them in the federal budget and they’re gone.

 

[wslayer]

Don't know what the answer is up there, Close the channels ? Always hear of the hogs people catch up there in the spring. And many people gotta have that limit of big fish for their social media picture. Have never Fished it but sounds like it is a zoo.
It would kinda be a bummer to close the season for the spawn, but that would keep alot of out of staters out of here also. I would venture to guess they don't spend all that much $ here anyhow, they bring their supplies.The reason they all come over here is because they're spring season is closed for that month.

 

[guywhofishes]

Bigger question is how long will we have 2 federal fish hatcheries? Elon sees them in the federal budget and they’re gone.

Not so sure they'd be gone - they actually produce something.

 

[huntemup]

I think while we worry about Devils Lake and rightly so, there should also be proactive in what is happening on Sak. Have fished that lake for 30 plus years and this past summer was one of the worst I have seen and in taking to the locals and avid fisherman and many agree. The amount of fishing pressure has skyrocketed the past few years and G&F don't really seem to be concerned when you talk with them. Why not some slot limits again like we had in the past. Lower the limit to 3 per day but that Im sure would cut into their revenue and the don't want to upset the out of staters. I know I will get hell for this but the advent of FFS will be the demise of fishing as we know it.

 

[Weekender]

If you want a closed fishing season, go fish in Minnesota. Please don't bring that crap here. Throw back the big females when you catch them.

 

[Jiffy]

Or eat them

 

[wslayer]

If you want a closed fishing season, go fish in Minnesota. Please don't bring that crap here. Throw back the big females when you catch them.

That's the bad, people "don't" throw them back. Wouldn't be a fan of the closed season either but if our fisheries are in that tough of shape, it would be somewhere to start.

 

[SDMF]

Brother has a site up there, said worst year ever for fishing. Can catch a handful of 13-16" fish but anything larger was almost non-existent. Numerous others in camp having same results.

I too have a camper up there. From my "Biologist Armchair", I believe the lake "Turned Over" in early July. I think all that rain cooled the surface and she flipped way early. May/June things are going along pretty much on schedule, maybe a week behind or so, July hits and there's no algae bloom, there's nasty, hairy, slimy, "bottom moss" floating all over the surface and almost as far down as you can see, even on the clear deep of the E end.

I can't prove it, and I'm not a biologist, just what my gut tells me.

Before we put wholesale changes on fishing regs, can I please get a license for unlimited Cormorant culling??? I'll pay..... I bet Jiffy would help too.

 

[huntemup]

Weekender please show me in my post where I said I wanted a closed season. If you can't read the post I could help by repeating it

 

[Weekender]

Weekender please show me in my post where I said I wanted a closed season. If you can't read the post I could help by repeating it

My comment wasn't directed at you, there were others in this thread that mentioned a closed season.

 

[SDMF]

Cormmies with a thermal, a good suppressor, and a LONG magazine. Maybe we could explode the Crawfish population if enough corrmie carcasses got to the bottom. Gamefish love to eat Crawfish.......

I wonder if you can run an M134 Gattling Gun off of a 24V trolling motor plug? Rig up some some sort of gimbal mount that works off of Traxtech gunwale tracks, or mounts to the bow-mount quick release plate.

Couple-few 5-10 sec bursts and you've cleared out some cormmies and probably have exclusive access to a bay for the rest of the day......

 

[Kurtr]

Cormmies with a thermal, a good suppressor, and a LONG magazine. Maybe we could explode the Crawfish population if enough corrmie carcasses got to the bottom. Gamefish love to eat Crawfish.......

I would buy a nr license to be able to do that.

 

[SDMF]

I would buy a nr license to be able to do that.

In my best Cartman:

"Screw you hippie!!"

You go find your own cormmies. Maybe start to the E in the glacial lakes. I see plenty of cormmie-trees off Hwy 12 when I've run it.

 

[Kurtr]

In my best Cartman:

"Screw you hippie!!"

You go find your own cormmies. Maybe start to the E in the glacial lakes. I see plenty of cormmie-trees off Hwy 12 when I've run it.

Haha there are plenty and I might have known some kids with 22's that shot a few back in the day.

 

[AR-15]

Riverview I agree with you on shutting down fishing season in the spring, when we were kids the season shut down in March and open the first weekend in May, we had a lot fun on that opening weekend

 

[johnr]

If you want a closed fishing season, go fish in Minnesota. Please don't bring that crap here. Throw back the big females when you catch them.

Agreed.

We here in ND don't need no blue plate bullshit.

 

[huntemup]

Weekender sorry if I jumped on you. I didn't see the other posts about closed season. Have a good day

 

[Jiffy]

Even if closing the season for however long would help, it doesn't sound like too many would even support that. I guess if it was needed and the G&F thought it would help I'd back them. I don't see the logic in not doing it if that was the case. Why wouldn't this be a viable option? Selfishness?