possible more walleye cuts for nipissing

[Alex Bass Man]

With the new rule that it has to be 18in (46cm) in order to keep a fish will be funny. No one is going to have fish to keep. The only time you will get the big one is early spring. Most of the time you will only get the one that are 14in to 16in. So in fact just turning Nip into a catch and release lake for walleye.

The only thing this will do is move the pressure to other lakes in the area. So what have then solved, nothing!

[grog]

With the new rule that it has to be 18in (46cm) in order to keep a fish will be funny. No one is going to have fish to keep. The only time you will get the big one is early spring. Most of the time you will only get the one that are 14in to 16in. So in fact just turning Nip into a catch and release lake for walleye.

The only thing this will do is move the pressure to other lakes in the area. So what have then solved, nothing!

Well that is sort of the point, this is being done to allow the fish to grow enough to then be caught in the nets, as of now the only people keeping small ones are recreational fisherman because the nets allow small fish to pass through, the larger fish are disappearing, the commercial fishery is running our of fish to catch.. This has nothing to do with preserving the fishery for you and I. So now we will be in direct competition with the commercial fishery for the only fish we can keep, meaning fewer for us, and allowing the smaller fish to grow means more for them, people need to realize that we are the very last consideration, it's their lake now. Even the cormorants are considered more important than recreational fishery.

[Alex Bass Man]

Well that is sort of the point, this is being done to allow the fish to grow enough to then be caught in the nets, as of now the only people keeping small ones are recreational fisherman because the nets allow small fish to pass through, the larger fish are disappearing, the commercial fishery is running our of fish to catch.. This has nothing to do with preserving the fishery for you and I. So now we will be in direct competition with the commercial fishery for the only fish we can keep, meaning fewer for us, and allowing the smaller fish to grow means more for them, people need to realize that we are the very last consideration, it's their lake now. Even the cormorants are considered more important than recreational fishery.

I know that we the recreational fisherman are the ones that are going to get it in the short end. Lake Nipissing should have never had a commercial fishery period. This lake is not like Erie. The problems is that this is a bit too little to late to save the fish in this lake. If there is a commercial fishery to be done it should be done without nets as there are tons of pike and other fish they do not want that are killed.

[jimmer]

The resort owners are going to be collateral damage in all of this. Our group that has gone for more than 15 years, is now researching other locations, which I believe many others will also be doing. The resort owners might have to find ways to promote and have customers catch more perch and pike with different hut locations if they want to continue a winter business. Not sure catching a releasing a bunch of 15 inch walleye from 30' of water is a great thing either.

[Alex Bass Man]

The resort owners are going to be collateral damage in all of this. Our group that has gone for more than 15 years, is now researching other locations, which I believe many others will also be doing. The resort owners might have to find ways to promote and have customers catch more perch and pike with different hut locations if they want to continue a winter business. Not sure catching a releasing a bunch of 15 inch walleye from 30' of water is a great thing either.

I already heard the concern from my friends that runs one of the outfitters. There is going to be a total rethink as to how to promote fishing for other species of fish. Sadly, this is going to hurt a lot of business here in North Bay. I hate to see how things are going but steps to resolve this are a bit too late. This process should have been started a long time ago.

[JoePa]

I for one have written Nipissing off from my list of fishing spots - and yes - the lodges and campground owners will no doubt suffer - it is a sad situation - this whole netting thing is screwed up - there should be a law making it illegal to sell walleyes then fish will be only caught for private consumption by the natives -

[Big Jack]

The resort owners are already paying a dear price.

[FishFinder50]

Anyone know if Lake Nosbonsign is affected as well?

[Alex Bass Man]

There is no affect to Lake Nosbonsing. The change is going to be only for Lake Nipissing.

[jimmer]

Our group has talked about it and we will not be going back to Nipissing next winter. A sad day for our group, since we have been going there for 15 years or more.