Page 16 - Vermilion Lake Association Spring 2021 Newsletter

Lake Vermilion Conservation Fishery Recommendations
ake Vermilion is experiencing a large increase conservation licenses. The recommendations shown in fishing pressure. With the Canadian bor- below include the limits on fish and size recommen- der closure, the resorts, fishing guides, launch dations as well. The sizes are recommendations from
inspectors and others are all reporting a substantial the team to help preserve the quality of the fishery.
increase in fishing pressure, probably unprecedent- ed. Resort owners, fishing guides, Bois Forte, and the VLA Board of Directors are
concerned this increase in fishing
pressure could, and likely will have
an adverse impact on the fishery.
It is expected this fishing pressure
will continue into 2021. Therefore,
a committee was formed to address
this issue, with the intent of provid-
ing recommended approaches to
the public for reduced fishing limits,
called “conservation limits”. Conservation limits have been successfully implemented in Ontario. These regulations in Canada involve a different license (at
a reduced cost). In our case, these would be recom- mendations, and will not be enforced by the DNR. To our knowledge, no one else in Minnesota has attempted to implement “recommended conserva- tion limits”. The MN DNR does offer a conservation license at a modest reduction in cost for residents only. The committee developed Lake Vermilion conservation limits as a recommendation for those people fishing the lake. Basically, these are the same conservation limits that the MN DNR uses for the
The following table (see below) compares the current DNR regulations and the conservation recommenda- tions.
We all need to consider the facts that it is not only fishing pressure but new electronics, social media on hot bites, and fishermen are just smarter and able to catch more fish of all kinds. We all need to con- sider the resource is limited and we cannot continue to catch small walleyes under 10 inches from deep water and throw back several dead walleyes before keeping one. Keep the fish as part of your limit if the stomach is sticking out of the gullet. Do not throw back deeply hooked fish after trying to extract the hook. These activities cannot be controlled under any regulations and require the fisher person to act responsibly on their own and practice more careful release of the fish so that more people can enjoy the fight and experience.
We plan to have a waterproof card with the conser- vation recommendations for distribution by guides, resorts, businesses, marinas, and at launch sites this summer. We thank you for your effort to follow these recommendations.
Recommended Conservation Limits are on a voluntary basis and do not reflect the regulation mandated by the DNR.
MDNR Regulations SPECIES Possession Limit
Recommended Conservation Possession Limit
2
(Min. 12”, Max. 18”)
0 (Catch & Release Only)
3 (Less than 18”)
5 (Less than 13”)
10 (Less than 9”)
20 (Less than 12”)
1
(Less than 30”)
0 (Catch & Release Only)
Walleye
WALLEYE SLOT 20-26”
Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass Crappie
Bluegill
Perch Northern
NORTHERN SLOT 30-40”
Musky
4
1 can be over 26”
6 (any combination)
10 20 40 2
1 can be over 40”
1 (54 inch or above)
Terry Grosshauser VLA Board Member
16 The Vermilion, Spring 2021