Super User FryDog62 Posted August 31, 2015 Super User Posted August 31, 2015 Good answer - chase some bronze backs on Mille Lacs. A day for the ages ~ 13 Quote
Fun4Me Posted August 31, 2015 Posted August 31, 2015 Your pops looks extremely happy in those pics. Well done!! Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted August 31, 2015 Super User Posted August 31, 2015 Out-Standing Doesn't get much better than that. A-Jay Quote
Super User 00 mod Posted August 31, 2015 Super User Posted August 31, 2015 Looks like he got exactly what he wanted!! Congrats! Jeff Quote
Super User Dwight Hottle Posted August 31, 2015 Super User Posted August 31, 2015 Really cool post and I love those pictures! Quote
Super User FryDog62 Posted August 31, 2015 Author Super User Posted August 31, 2015 Looks like he got exactly what he wanted!! Congrats! Jeff He may have had as much as I did 1 Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted September 1, 2015 Global Moderator Posted September 1, 2015 Congrats! I don't get out fishing with my dad nearly often enough. I'm hoping our schedules will line up soon so I can get him back on the water before long. Quote
Super User Scott F Posted September 1, 2015 Super User Posted September 1, 2015 I wish I could still fish with my father, but he passed away many years ago. How did you get those beautiful, big bass? Quote
Super User FryDog62 Posted September 1, 2015 Author Super User Posted September 1, 2015 I wish I could still fish with my father, but he passed away many years ago. How did you get those beautiful, big bass? I went with the best smallmouth fisherman on Mille Lacs - a guy originally from your neck of the woods, Jim DaRosa. If you're ever up this way he's worth spending a day on the water ... Quote
Super User Scott F Posted September 2, 2015 Super User Posted September 2, 2015 I know Jim. As a matter of fact, I just had a conversation with him about Mille Lacs. Now that guys can't take home any walleyes, from there, they are harvesting the smallmouth and Jim is trying to find a way to protect the smallies. I'm sure he told you about the problem. What I was wanting to know is, what were you catching them on and how deep did you have to fish? I might understand if you didn't want to tell, but curious minds want to know. Quote
Hogsticker Posted September 2, 2015 Posted September 2, 2015 Out-Standing Doesn't get much better than that. A-Jay For sure! Awesome! Quote
Super User retiredbosn Posted September 2, 2015 Super User Posted September 2, 2015 Congrats on your day spending time with your the fish were awesome but just a bonus I'm sure. Quote
MidwestF1sh Posted September 11, 2015 Posted September 11, 2015 That sounds like a great day on the water! Congratulations! I was up there that weekend and did pretty good. Caught a lot of smaller smallies and a few good 18-20.5" fish. I found them on deeper rocks. Might be heading up this weekend again depending on weather. Some of the pictures of the big charter boats going out and taking 30+ smallies all around 4 and 5 pounds is just sad to see. 1 Quote
Super User FryDog62 Posted September 11, 2015 Author Super User Posted September 11, 2015 That sounds like a great day on the water! Congratulations! I was up there that weekend and did pretty good. Caught a lot of smaller smallies and a few good 18-20.5" fish. I found them on deeper rocks. Might be heading up this weekend again depending on weather. Some of the pictures of the big charter boats going out and taking 30+ smallies all around 4 and 5 pounds is just sad to see. Yes it is, that's why you're seeing more smaller fish. 4 years ago the average was 17-18 inches and usually a couple 20-22. Now lots of 13-15 inch and a couple bigger ones. The smallmouth are being harvested at record rates because in Minnesota the walleye is king. And when the walleye population went down they needed a scapegoat and opened up keeping up to 6 smallies. Of course as all of these smallmouth are being cleaned, they aren't finding any walleye fry in their bellies - its almost 100% crayfish. Also, an independent survey was done recently and found the biggest predator of walleye fry? Answer: adult walleyes... So they continue to harvest up to 6 smallmouth per angler and even some 22 and 23 inches are being kept on the charter boats. Plus many walleye fishermen that are mad about the walleye population going down either keep their 6 smallmouth (and throw them in the dumpster afterwards) or worse yet, slit their throats/gills and release them in the water to die. They are ruining one trophy fishery at the expense of another. They need to understand that walleye and smallmouth are not mutually exclusive. In a 128,000 acre lake you can have both a vibrant walleye and smallmouth (and muskie) population. Quote
Siebert Outdoors Posted September 11, 2015 Posted September 11, 2015 Awesome. Congrats to both of you. Quote
Super User Further North Posted September 11, 2015 Super User Posted September 11, 2015 It's not just sad...it's dumb...in so many ways... 1 Quote
Super User Dwight Hottle Posted September 11, 2015 Super User Posted September 11, 2015 All they have to do is look at Lake Erie. Both species are trophy class with nonnegative interaction. Successful spawns are influences by the lack of strong storms. Usually a bad year or two are almost always followed by great spawning classes. 1 Quote
Super User FryDog62 Posted September 11, 2015 Author Super User Posted September 11, 2015 Its a hot controversy here, even the Governor is involved... the biggest issue is the netting/spearing that goes on during the spawn. Many big female walleyes are taken out annually. May have to do more with that than fishermen over-harvesting slot-sized walleyes. But its not politically correct to discuss the netting so it will continue after a one year hiatus ... Quote
walleye13 Posted September 11, 2015 Posted September 11, 2015 I agree with Dwight. We see the same thing on Rainy Lake in Ontario, which I fish spring & fall. Walleye & Smallmouth co-exist well, although big fish seem to peak on different years. Big walleye years are typically average bass years and vice versa. Both feed readily on crayfish, perch, & rainbow smelt. Same as Mille Lacs, biggest threat is spring netting. Quote
MidwestF1sh Posted September 11, 2015 Posted September 11, 2015 And they opened it to spearing last winter.... I agree completely. Other anglers understand catch and release but it seems like the majority of walleye guys keep every fish they can. Then when that's gone they have to point the finger somewhere. Quote
Junebugman Posted September 18, 2015 Posted September 18, 2015 No wonder the "aliens" never stay long in the dnr theres no intelligent life!!!! Wheres the intelligent life? Not in st paul mn!!!! Quote
Junebugman Posted September 18, 2015 Posted September 18, 2015 Both our governors are idiots they both were slapped in the head instead of thier behinds when born Daytons were already millionaires Walkers crawled out from under a rock and hatched him. Quote
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