Yes there are some lost due to hooking mortality.... but overall survival based on all of the work done out on the river has been in the range of 50-75% from year to year.... Through age 9 adults...

Besides..... if you release it it still has a chance.... if you cook it, it doesn't.

Harvest would still be considerably higher if the reg was not in place and certainly even hooking mortality accounts for far less than actual harvest would... Typical hooking mortality rates are in the neighborhood of .02-10% of overall mortality.

Very true. I have no problem with the regs, and I don't think I should be able to keep the fish because it's going to die. It just makes a guy feel horrible to see a 19''er float away belly up.

Add my vote to the A column!

If this was florida, I'd vote A, A, and A again.

A

Well folks, you will have your chance... to let the DNR know what you think. The regulation proposal is a 12-20" protected slot, 3 fish daily bag limit, with one fish over 20". The regulation is intended to go from St. Cloud Dam to Coon Rapids dam and include the mouth of all tributaries to the first public road or dam. (Rum River would be to the dam).

The public meetings have been set


September 13, 2008, Clearwater City Hall, 605 Co Rd. 75, Clearwater, MN 320/558-2428 3-5 pm.

Anoka City Hall, Sept. 18, Anoka City Council Work Session Room, Upstairs, 2015 1st Avenue N, Anoka, MN 7-9 pm.

You will also be able to email or write, up until Oct 1, 2008.

Please do your best to come to the meetings no matter what your opinion is. These will be open house style meetings where you can come and talk it over with the biologists. The DNR needs to hear all sides of the issue, in spite of the fact that apparently most folks on this forum support the extension.

Thanks.

smallie-hawgin--
If you're gonna be going to the meetings and are willing, you might want to print off this topic and take it with you. That way you'd have proof of what a lot of serious smallie fishermen are saying about this issue. Ideally we'd all be at the meeting but that isn't gonna happen.

Also, THANK YOU for your dedication to the improvement of the fishery!

Thanks SA.... I actually had that exact thought in mind..... Trust me... I want to make sure we have all the available information for sure....

If you are not able to attend in person, by all means contact Jeff Weaver on the Anoka City Council via their "contact us" page and let them know how you feel about this effort.

Here is the link to the Anoka website(just copy and paste the link in your address bar):
http://www.ci.anoka.mn.us/index.asp?Type=DYNAFORM&SEC={128F2653-178F-4261-9EBF-C6795F88E749}

PS-This should be a legal link on here, since its a government site. I hope.....

BTW: I will be giving an informational talk to the City of Anoka, Monday the 28th sometime after 5PM also @ City Hall in an effort to get the information out there to the concerned parties. Anyone is welcome to attend.

Smallie Hawgin,pardon me for asking this,but is the public going to vote at any of these meetings on these reg. changes, as to whether or not they will be implemented? Not puposely trying to look like a smart aleck,but I already know the correct answer to this.There is a good reason why I post the question here.This meeting is a public input/information meeting only,correct? Thanks.

Rockman:
The meeting tonight is simply an informational one. You are more than welcome to come by... I would love to talk with anyone there... I'll be glad to answer any questions.
The public input meetings in September are intended for you to fill out a form (Vote/voice concern/support) and have a chance to talk with the biologists. You can also email.

Hope this helps.

Thanks,SH. There is a similar issue/question of a public input-info. meeting, I am addressing in another forum here at FM.com.Your reply just proved my point,that's all.I probably won't be attending the meeting because I am having health issues right now.I did a reply in this thread already, supporting the changes, so you can take that with you for more input.Thanks,again.

Well the meeting happened and the public spoke. The bad news was that the public was all tourney participants that wanted the tourney to continue and with a change in the regulations the tourney would be over. I am not trying to sway your choices, since I have fished this tourney in the past and had a blast at it. This is a one day event and it is in itself a great tournement where all of the fisher persons do their very best to keep every fish alive. Remember this is just one day on our entire season of small mouth fishing on the Mississippi river. Email the Anoka mayor with you thought on the regulation. skogquist_bjorn@hotmail.com

Interesting meeting, some seemed to be well schooled in the "I don't believe that" train of thought, best remarks of them all was Mr. Weaver saying (paraphrasing) the tournament was an event that many people started fishing and spending money getting ready for the next year's tournament. Well, it does give the Cub Scout's something to do that day.
I'm a C and R person and that's not going to change, cept for Walleye's, and have seen a lake I grew up going to (Mantrap) turn into a trophy Musky lake because of C and R, when I was a kid a 20# fish was a big deal, now there's 30's in there with regularity. I believe the Miss is a pretty good fishery and can see it getting better with C and R. Knowing Eric as well as I do I believe everything he presented tonight. As a biologist he's top notch, cept for not believing in my 23 inch Miss River Smallie.
http://www.fishingminnesota.com/forum/ub...r_a#Post1343803