Outdoors report: Walleye numbers strong on Upper Red, Leech ...

After achieving record gill net catch rates this year on Upper Red Lake, Minnesota officials have announced looser walleye regulations for the ice fishing season.

The protected slot for walleye this winter will be 20 to 26 inches. For the past four years, that slot -- inside which all fish must be released -- has been 17 to 26 inches for walleye. The daily creel and possession limit will remain four fish with only one longer than 26 inches.

For the past four years -- since the lake reopened to walleye fishing -- the slot had been 17 to 26 inches from the opener through June 14. Then the slot loosened to 20 to 26 inches but reverted to 17 to 26 inches Dec. 1.

At its September meeting, the Upper Red Lake Citizen Advisory Committee unanimously agreed to not have the slot revert.

For the past two seasons, the total number of walleye taken from the lake has been below harvest estimates.

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has reported strong netting results on Leech Lake, as well, with netting catch rates above the long-term average for a sixth straight year.

"September gill nets showed good numbers of both juvenile and adult walleye," said Matt Ward, large lake specialist in Walker. "It is encouraging to have a balanced walleye population within and outside the protected slot limit of 18 and 26 inches."

Bear hunting success

Minnesota hunters have killed more bears this year than last year, despite fewer hunters, according

to the DNR.

As of Oct. 9, hunters had registered 2,464 bears. Last year, hunters killed fewer than 2,200, according to Dan Stark, the DNR's large carnivore specialist who oversees bear hunting.

There were more than 1,000 fewer hunters this year, reflecting an attempt by the DNR to either maintain or increase bear numbers throughout the animal's main range. Stark said it would be little more than speculation at this point to say why hunters have done better this year.

Generally, hunters do better when natural food is scarce and baiting is more effective. It's possible this year's drought could have played a role, but Stark said data from surveys of natural food won't be completed until the winter.

During the 1990s, the state's bear population increased, as did the number of complaints about the animals causing trouble for people. The DNR sold more hunting licenses, and the population generally has been declining since about 2002. Hunting is the main cause of death for wild bears.

"That effort was successful, and a lot of the nuisance issues have gone away," Stark said. This year, about 20,000 hunters applied for 6,000 licenses in the primary bear range.

Despite the increase in harvest this year, Stark said he doesn't think the bear population will take a hit because about 60 percent of bears taken by hunters were male.

The bear season ends Sunday, Oct. 14.

Metro muskies

The Minnesota DNR is proposing to end stocking of hybrid muskies in two Ramsey County lakes: Silver Lake in North St. Paul and Island Lake in Shoreview.

The stocking of muskellunge -- both hybrid and pure muskies -- in metro lakes is entirely for sport fishing. Hybrids are sterile, and few pure-strain fish are believed to reproduce in metro lakes.

According to the DNR: "The proposal stems from a 2006 evaluation of the tiger muskie program to determine if the 21 lakes being stocked with the hybrid species were meeting goals. Based on lake surveys, creel surveys and other information, fisheries staff recommended dropping tiger muskie stocking on seven lakes."

A public meeting will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at the DNR's Central Region Headquarters, 1200 Warner Road in St. Paul. Comments also may be sent to Gerald.J.Johnson@state.mn.us or by calling 651-259-5831.

Lately, muskie anglers have reported success at metro lakes. Many lakes reportedly have turned over, and fall is a prime time to fish with big baits for big fish. To see some pictures, go to blogs.TwinCities.com/outdoors.

Briefly

To battle the invasive emerald ash borer and other invasive wood-eaters, the Wisconsin DNR recommends that no firewood be bought farther than 10 miles into a Wisconsin state campground. The current radius is 25 miles. ... Minnesota waterfowl hunting resumed in the southern zone Saturday, Oct. 13. All three zones are open now. For the weekly migration report, go to blogs.TwinCities.com/outdoors.

Dave Orrick can be reached at 651-228-5512. Follow him at twitter.com/OutdoorsNow.

Source: http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_21761446/outdoors-report-walleye-numbers-strong-upper-red-leech

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