Two Years, Really

 I was happy to see this press release from the DNR until I got to the bottom. Two years to get this implemented, really. Democrtic Party graft on display. I wonder if the system will work this time. MN Sure and the DMV overhauls were boondoggles, if my memory is correct, probably intentionally so. 

Got My License, Got No Fish

I got up to Bear Traxx just before they closed at 5PM and got my 2014 Minnesocold Fishing License.  I didn't ask if they had minnows yet or not.  Then it was off to the Grumpy Old Man Hole.  The sun, it got up to 57°F today, and West wind really did a number on the GOMH and PRO area of Sullivan.

(Click to Enlarge Pics)

View of Platte

View of Sullivan

Bobber In

 I believe the whole Platte River Outlet of Sullivan was open to the river mouth.  I tried a few different lures, but didn't have any success.  I left about 6:10PM and got home a few minutes before my parents arrived back from their month long vacation to Florida.

I headed back up to the GOMH at 8PM.  A number of times early early season like this I haven't gotten a bite until right before dark.  It wasn't to be tonight.  I did have three loons swim up to check me out.

The loon in the distance joined the other two.  There were a couple of ducks swimming around too.  I don't know where all the waterfowl are this year, normally I'd be seeing at least 4 times as many birds as I have this year.  Tomorrow is supposed to be a little warmer with less wind.  I would say I have a 50% chance of getting my first fish of the year tomorrow.  Still no sign of dead fish.

2009 Minnesota Fishing License & Walleye Stamp- Check!!!

Even though I don't need it until May, I bought my 2009 Minnesota Fishing License yesterday. I was even generous and chipped in for the first ever Minnesota Walleye Stamp. Get this, I paid $5 for a stamp that isn't required to catch or keep walleye but for that $5 I don't actually get a walleye stamp; To get the actual stamp is another $2 which I did fork over. I don't collect stamps, but I may start a collection of these Walleye Stamps since I am in on the ground floor. In all it cost me $25 for the privilage of fishing in Minnesota this year through April 2010. I'll probably have to pay something close to that or maybe even more for 2 days of fishing in WI in May.

Weather Report: We are supposed to have good ice melting weather on through the middle of next week when it is supposed to cool down some. There is some talk about there possibly being a significant rain on Mon/Tues. A warm rain or lots of sun and warm temps are the best weather to have for melting lake ice.

Minnesota's New Fishing Regulations 2009

I was over at the FishWrench.com forums and there was a thread reminding us Minnesocoldians to pick up our new fishing licenses. I was under the impression that a MN fishing license is good through the end of April. I went and looked it up and I was right. It is a little bit confusing because on the 2008 fishing license it says: "Expires Feb. 28, 2009" but right under that it indicates that the license is good from 3/1/2008 to 4/30/2009 which is the correct info.

Anyway looking into this got me checking on the Minnesota Fishing 2009 Regulations booklet online. Always of interest is the new stuff.

This year MN state residents can buy what is called a Conservation License for $11 which restricts the holder to half the normal State daily/possession/bag limits. In the case of odd numbers you round down, so Muskie which have a limit of 1 cannot be kept by someone with a Conservation License; Northern Pike which have a normal limit of 3 means a Conservation License holder can only keep 1 and so on. To be honest I don't see the point in this one with the regular license being just $6 more plus in some lakes selective harvest where you keep the normal bag limit is the best conservation move. "Catch and Release" is not always the best conservation measure.

Another new thing this year is the Walleye Stamp for $5. Unlike the Trout & Salmon Stamp, which you must have to possess and sometimes even fish for Trout & Salmon, there is no legal requirement with which you have to have the stamp in order to fish. The Walleye Stamp is 100% voluntary and you may fish and keep walleye anywhere in the fish's open season without the stamp. I think I will put in a donation for this stamp because I do fish for Eye's on occasion.

I want to know when they will be coming out with the Smallmouth Bass Stamp. I think this state could use some smallie stocking. It sure would be nice if more lakes had smallmouth in them.

New Fish Gifting Regulation:

"Lawfully taken fish may be transferred as a gift if accompanied by a receipt containing: Name and address of the owner, name and address of the recipient, date of transfer, description of the gift, and license number under which the fish was taken. The recipient cannot Possess more than the statewide possession limit."

I think this regulation will be significantly ignored. Why does fishing need worthless paperwork? If someone were to get pinched for not doing the paperwork it would be a total injustice. What business does the state have in regulating a gesture of kindness? This is a regulation begging for civil disobedience.

I see that my home lakes West & East Sylvia have been newly put on the infested with Eurasian watermilfoil list. Who knows maybe the milfoil will turn those lakes into trophy bass lakes some day. Also they didn't put any slots on the bass, panfish, or wallere which had been rumored, but they did put a new protected slot of 24-36" on pike.

"You cannot practice catch-and-release for a species during it's closed season."
This one is a guideline and not a regulation, at least I don't think it is a regulation. If it is a regulation then what are we supposed to do with a fish on the line out of season? You can't keep it and you can't catch and release it??? Are we supposed to not land the fish and cut the line?