I don't understand why anyone would keep a smallie anyways...

they're not good to eat and if you catch a monster and want it on the wall--have a replica made!

I totally agree and support the regulations to not keep fish and improve the fishery . . . please don't get me wrong. What I am saying is that there should be a method to allow touneys to catch and release any size smallmouth for a short while in a good live well, weigh them in, and release them healthy and unharmed back to the river to continue to grow and provide great fun for another time.

My proposal is that the DNR requires all sponsored tounaments or club tournaments to register and only those few named tourney individuals are allowed to catch smallies for that day only to be weighed in and released alive. Fines could result for killing a fish.

Hawgseeker

There will be 47 miles of river that would be under the regs! NOT JUST 10 MILES. Anoka might as well be the dead sea, IT SUCKS RIGHT NOW FOR SMALLIE FISHING!! Catch and keep is a reality on that stretch and you know it, I have seen many stringers come out of that river (mind you hardly any bigguns cause there just not there in #'s anymore) I have also seen the fishing on a sharp decline in that area, and in the Elk River area (think migration) All you guys that oppose this for ONE single day of fishing a tourney are dead wrong, the fishery is worth more $$ to the City of Anoka and Weavers little cronies as a trophy fishery than having what is probably the worst managed Bass tournament for one stinking day. I guess some people won't believe that though, just like they don't believe 20 some years of hard data (the longest running study on River Smallmouth in the country by the way!)

Not so eloquently said, but still factual.

And you expect more?

Then why not a state wide 3 fish limit ??. That will do a [PoorWordUsage] of a lote more, And this is not about the tournament I don't care if they have it or not. But if they really want to protect the smallies make it a state wide 3 fish limit.

As we all know(or should know), doing blanket regulations statewide isnt always the best.
Just take a gander at all the special regs for specific waters.
Thats done for a reason. Certain waters need certain attention.

Whats good here, might not be good elsewhere, or for that matter it might not be required.

3 fish state limit. Right. The state doesn't need a 3 fish limit, the issue is the Mississippi River and future fishing pressure in the Anoka area. Tomorrow's pressure will do real damage to our fishery not on the northern lakes, Smallie's travel a long way as a matter of course, grow big upriver and only to come down here and get whacked by folk's that will take home 18/19 inchers for the brag factor. Very few folk's will go north to keep Smallies, they want Walleye's and panfish, a lot will come here every day to keep anything if you want to admit it or not, the fishing down here has been the pit's this year for what ever reason. Couple that with folks that aren't CPR and all the fish will go home with them, you know that. I'ld rather see the regs happen now than the DNR trying to pick up the pieces later when folk's start screaming "all our good fish are gone."
First thing that happens is the word gets out about good fishing, next thing to happen is the vultures swoop in and take those fish home, last thing to happen is any consistancy in getting good fish after that is gone.

Well said MSRD.

I support the reg extension to the CRD. I've even noticed a recent decline in the size/quantity of fish at the downstream end of the regulated area. Im not sure if that is due to people taking fish though,,,it could be a lot of reasons,,,including me having a bad year. I was wondering, without scanning ten pages of posts, if anyone has considered extending the regs AND allowing a single day permit for the city of Anoka to have their tournament. Seems like a third door that would satisfy almost everybody?

Simply if a one day permit was allowed for the Anoka T, it would open pandoras box for every other body of water with special regs.
With that said though, one thing the smallie hawgin has told the city councils is that there are other options out there. Such as a digital camera tourney. Some creative thinking could easily open some doors to catch, measure, and photo fish on boards.

The PMTT(muskie tourney trail), does a digital camera tourney.

I agree.....it doesnt seem so impossible not to have a win/win situation develop here. I will be at the meeting....and I hope to speak to this.

Just another reminder... Regardless of how you stand on the issue.... Please come on out and let the DNR what you think and fill out a response/suggestion form.

Public meetings:
Clearwater Meeting: September 13, 2008 (3 p.m. - 5 p.m.)
Clearwater City Hall, 605 County Road 75, Clearwater, MN.

Anoka Meeting: September 18, 2008 (7 p.m. - 9 p.m.)
City Council Room, 2015 1st Ave N, Anoka, MN.

Hey folks.... Last chance to get your comments in. Oct 1 is the deadline.
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/areas/fisheries/montrose/events.html


Email paul.diedrich@dnr.state.mn.us

Or eric.altena@dnr.state.mn.us