Ethical Ice Fishermen

[CPR1]

I see there are a lot of hard water fishermen on this board. My hope is that all the ethical ice fishermen out there this year keep tabs on those who don't always follow the rules. The ice fishing period is a time where big spawners can be vulnerable - especially Walleyes and Muskies. Not all fishermen realize the importance of these fish to a fishery. Some ice fishermen who don't own boats are limited to the shore during soft water periods. Some of these folks are the ones that carry buckets around...enough said. During hard water, these folks can position in key areas and can be much more effective getting to target species they typically can't reach from the shore. There are many good people on this board. I ask that you keep an eye out for those who are not following regulations and to encourage C&R of trophy fish. I don't know the regulations on how many baits you can have out there but this is also something to keep an eye on. Just politely mentioning the regulations to people is enough to make them think twice. If you want to go after them with your auger, that is another option... ;o) I am just being conservation-minded and thinking of our great fisheries. Everyone have a safe ice season.

[Chrisper4694]

5 per person total (if you're jigging, 4 tip ups; 5 tip ups if that's all you're doing)

good luck, they usually don't speak english and a f&w rep has never come in time to catch them the 4-5 times we've called a report in...

[Andrushkin33]

Last time I checked it was 5 tip ups as mentioned or 3 jig rods per person.

As far as c&r goes. Unfortunetly I know my share of the bucket brigades and always try to do my best when I am out fishing around them. Being from a different country their mentality is completely different and it takes awhile for them to see things your way. Most are aware of the rules just choose to ignore them completely when it comes to limits and size.

Andre

[lennysky]

Because most those who don't follow rules come w their friends, I would be careful approaching them with criticism as I've seen them get argumentative

[Andrushkin33]

Originally Posted by lennysky

Because most those who don't follow rules come w their friends, I would be careful approaching them with criticism as I've seen them get argumentative

Agreed but being from the same country and speaking same language goes a long way at least in my case.

Andre

[lennysky]

Are you russian or polish?

[Eskimo]

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Originally Posted by Andrushkin33

Being from a different country their mentality is completely different and it takes awhile for them to see things your way. Most are aware of the rules just choose to ignore them completely when it comes to limits and size.

I agree. I don't want to get too specific, because people on this board say I'm offensive, but I've noticed that anglers who have immigrated from a kleptocracy approach fishing like they just won a free shopping spree.

They are going to bring every damn fish they caught home, even if they have to shove that fish up their ass to sneak it past the park police.

I've seen it too many times: a limit of fish goes on the stringer - everything over that goes into the backpack. Right?

They can't believe the abundance of gamefish in America and don't understand why we're not all just looting the waters for all they're worth. They don't see the generations of work and voluntary conservation that went into building the quality of fishing we have here today.



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[lennysky]

Back in Ukraine, fish of all sizes were kept to feed families as a necessity as fish was rarely available at the market and the ones that were sold smelled like diesel. Even my family questions my catch and release reasoning time and time again. It takes decades to change people's outlook and only if they are open to it. I have some foreign fisherman that practice strict catch and release but it's not the norm. I see the same in our estuary and salt fisheries when it comes to stripers and fluke

[zhitoman]

Originally Posted by lennysky

Back in Ukraine, fish of all sizes were kept to feed families as a necessity as fish was rarely available at the market and the ones that were sold smelled like diesel. Even my family questions my catch and release reasoning time and time again. It takes decades to change people's outlook and only if they are open to it. I have some foreign fisherman that practice strict catch and release but it's not the norm. I see the same in our estuary and salt fisheries when it comes to stripers and fluke

Western Ukraine has poor fishery, but Central and Eastern Ukraine has so many species its crazy. Even sunfish, bullheads, and channels live there.