SPEARING MINOQUA CHAIN

It’s a way to get the non natives upset. Looks like it’s working. Doubt it will ever stop. It’s just a game. The more people it upsets the harder they will do it. Boycotting casinos will have little impact due to the addiction of gambling. This is nothing but a merry go round that will never stop, just a bunch of finger pointing.

So if the population isn't self-sustaining, and there will always be spearing and regular harvesting, why not go to a stamp proposal for walleye, charge for it, and use the funds to stock the lake every year?

There was 1.43 million fishing licenses sold in WI in 2021.  This doesn't include children under 16.  If each person took 1 limit per year could the populations sustain itself?  32,000 walleyes don't seem like much anymore.  Spearing doesn't help but it ain't the problem.  There is more fisherman than fish, doesn't matter who takes them, the population can't handle the pressure.  The Canadian Indians spear and net lakes too.  There is just more fish than fisherman there.

Fin you are assuming in 2014 the guide limited out for every trip. Do you know that happened or are you guessing?

I would bet there was very few guide trips on the Minocqua chain for walleyes in 2014. That was just before the closure of walleye harvest becauseit it was almost impossible to catch a walleye on the chain.

Fin, so you never keep fish ?

There ya go. Actually a good idea if people weren't addicted to giving their money away. That will never happen. I have 3 friends addicted to gambling machines. But it would probably work if we had cooperation across the state and Illinois. 

Is there anyone here that really needs to keep any?  Let the Indians take theirs and suck it.  The rest of us agree on catch and release for another year and see what happens.  Time to drop the mentality that you have keep a limit to be successful.  Guides really need to help instill this upon their clients as well.  We all need to do our share including boycott anything that is a revenue source for the tribe as well.    

Quote: "1 fish between 18-22", sounds like a fair trade off to spearing.."


Last time Minocqua was speared was 2014 and 211 walleye where speared. Let's just guess that same number where taken this year.
Let's say the average guide boat trip has 3 fisherman in it (the guide and 2 clients). In 2014 it only took about 23 guide trips to harvest 211 walleye. This year it will take 70 guide trips to harvest the same 211 fish. How many guide trips do you think will run on Minocqua this year? How many ran in 2014?

It should be a 3 fish limit just like everywhere else.
The tribes I'm sure didn't lower their spearing limit or measure any of them.

Tribal fisheries departments exist on many revenue sources. Federal and state grants, BIA, private, as well as self funding. Same as any other wildlife agency.

JC, Any state funds spent on Reservation hatcheries ?

1 fish between 18-22", sounds like a fair trade off to spearing....

9:30 AM emergency rule NRB meeting tomorrow to enact a walleye harvest for anglers.  Looks like one walleye may be able to be harvested over 18" with a 22"-28" slot.  AKA....Minocqua chain was ​speared.

https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/About/NRB/2024/MaySpecial

Unfortunately we will never know the huge sum of money that has been wasted on the Minoqua Chain !
The DNR spent tons of our tax dollars there instead of other lakes. and the Walleye Initiative was another huge waste. We need our State Legislators to step up and stop listening to all the lobbyists from the tribes and the Tavern league. Cut off funding for stocking the Ceded lakes.

Kurt’s report states that Minocqua was speared