The Decline of Devils Lake

[Trip McNeely]

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

Unless they are laundering money also it’s very unlikely

 

[8andcounting]

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.

Yeh well they say shooting doe’s does nothing biologically to the deer population either …..

 

[Trip McNeely]

Yeh well they say shooting doe’s does nothing biologically to the deer population either …..

Thats a pretty fair and valid point

 

[701FishSlayer]

How much of that town relies on tourism to the lake? The city of devils lake be in the hurt bag without the lake no? G n fish better get their shit together and get stocking it sounds like. Stock it good.

 

[8andcounting]

How much of that town relies on tourism to the lake? The city of devils lake be in the hurt bag without the lake no? G n fish better get their shit together and get stocking it sounds like. Stock it good.

shut down spring fishing , and put a slot , and stock . Done , problem solved

 

[Fester]

shut down spring fishing , and put a slot , and stock . Done , problem solved

The girls start developing eggs in the late fall to winter so they should just ban ice fishing also...

 

[Prairie Doggin']

I'm in favor of a cormorant bounty. 50 cents a bird. Doubt you'd pay out $2.00/year, but it would make it more fun for me.

Still would shoot every one I saw without bounty if legalized, but trying to line up a 3-bagger when paying yourself in your head is an added bonus.

 

[bravo]

Yeh well they say shooting doe’s does nothing biologically to the deer population either …..

What? They’ve always preached does control the population.

How much of that town relies on tourism to the lake? The city of devils lake be in the hurt bag without the lake no? G n fish better get their shit together and get stocking it sounds like. Stock it good.

I can’t think of another reason to visit DL besides waterfowl hunting and that was over with 20 years ago unless you hire a guide. I don’t think slots or stocking are the answer. It’s dropping the limit. If you look at perch patrol and other guides’ Facebook pages it’s still full tables and buckets of jumbo’s every day.

 

[risingsun]

If you look at perch patrol and other guides’ Facebook pages it’s still full tables and buckets of jumbo’s every day.

I am not saying all, but many of those perch are NOT from DL.

 

[bravo]

I am not saying all, but many of those perch are NOT from DL.

Yeah, good point.

 

[Jiffy]

The town of Devils Lake itself is a shithole!

 

[lunkerslayer]

Maybe they should put a slot limit on perch nothing smaller then 7 inches

 

[johnr]

The girls start developing eggs in the late fall to winter so they should just ban ice fishing also...

Ban all fishing for 7 years, that's the only correct answer.

 

[Davey Crockett]

Any rough estimates how many cormorants are around DL ? Is it a real big problem or just a few there ?

I found an interesting article about the damage they do to perch lakes and some depredator programs. I didn't realize they ate fish this big .

https://wildlife.org/the-rise-of-do...n upper,to limiting invasive prey populations.

 

[Fester]

Ban all fishing for 7 years, that's the only correct answer.

Kind of my point. Where do you start and stop..i believe in supply and demand. Less fish will equal less pressure. The fish will bounce back it will just take time.

 

[Valleywatcher]

How many guides in DL basin, 100?
Average clients, 3
average walleye harvest 4
average days per year, 275
100x4(lot of guides keep a limit)x4x275 =440000
Getting towards a half a million dead eyes.
NDGF better add a few more fingerlings to the pond

 

[Jiffy]

Cormies will kill and just leave fish too. It’s not just to eat them. There isn’t one reason I can think of to NOT kill every single one. Other than they’re protected.

 

[WormWiggler]

Does Elon know about cormarants?

 

[LOV2HNT]

Cormies will kill and just leave fish too. It’s not just to eat them. There isn’t one reason I can think of to NOT kill every single one. Other than they’re protected.

Thought you were talking about wolves for a second there lol

 

[risingsun]

I know of a small group of guys back in the late 80's early 90's tried raising trout in a few stock ponds for fun. They grew great and did very well until the cormorants found them. Wiped them out in no time flat.