I think the time has come to have a different set of fishing regulation for lakes under 50 acres. When you combine the increasing number of fisherman and the idiot proffing of fishing in the last 10 years because of the internet/gps/fish-finders/ext, small lakes don't stand a chance much anymore. Being able to keep the same amount of northern/bass/eye/ext in a large lake like Basswood as the tiny lakes just is not working in my opinion in terms of management. Something simple like only 1 fish of any kind per day would make sense to me on lakes smaller then 50 acres. I would guess that many of these 'under50' lakes in the bwca are running at about 10-20 percent capacity. Just want see what others think on the issue or other ideas to combat the problem?

I agree that it doesn't take much pressure to affect small lakes. I don't like the idea of having a bunch of different regulations for different size lakes, plus there is no way to enforce it. Anglers need to police themselves on this issue. There really is no need to keep more than enough fish for a meal or two as we don't live off the land anymore. However, I think most of the anglers on this board practice catch and release. In my opinion fishing has been getting better in many of the BWCA lakes that I fish. I caught more trophy walleyes this year than the rest of my life combined.

Windschill I totally agree with you on regulations, but i would make it a case by case basis. I think most people in the Bwca, not all, but most dont keep more than they can use for a meal. But outside the bwca its a different story, and i think that most of the time knowing a lake has regs on it keeps the (meat hogs) away, so im all for more strict regulations on smaller lakes, but once again on a lake by lake basis.

My opinion is that the professionals in fisheries management should be making decisions about how to best manage our public resources and not armchair quarterbacks.
There are many things to consider when looking at the potential of a lake such as; carrying capacity, productivity, and fishing pressure. Some lakes simply can't maintain a lot of fish in them due to low productivity. Most lakes in the northeast region of MN have lower productivity and a lower carrying capacity than the lakes in all the other areas of MN. I seriously don't think that the amount of fish living in the lakes in the BWCA could be much higher even if fishing were outlawed entirely. There isn't enough pressure to amke that big of a difference on most lakes. I know there are some border lakes or lakes that are easy to get to that get hit pretty hard but not hard like Leech, Mille Lacs, etc.....

Based upon some of the regs that are in effect throughout the state I think some of those professionals you talk about should reevaluate some of their management plans.I went to school for fisheries biology so i have an idea of what im talking about, thats why i said management should be on a lake by lake basis. And what windschill says has merit because just a few fisherman that really know what theyre doing can destroy a small lake in one summer.

There was a lot of discussion a number of years ago in the Boundary Waters Journal about the idea of managing BWCA fisheries with a completely different set of regs than for the rest of the state.
The idea of six fish limits for walleyes and ANY restrictions on smallmouth harvest go against sound fisheries science. Most lakes in NE Minnesota are pretty infertile compared to most of the rest of the state, but due to less access many have a high potential to produce trophy fisheries.

Lakes like Basswood (which holds the record for the biggest pike caught in Minnesota and the 2nd biggest caught in North America, as well as a former state record walleye) are definately NOT managed to their potential.

Many lake trout lakes could be managed better by matching Quetico's rule of allowing only one fish over 22 inches. The state did make a great move a few years ago by reducing the daily limit from three to two fish.

Contrary to popular belief, many game laws are dictated by culture and politics and not by science.

Arctic - I guess your last point is why I wrote what I did. I get kind of sick of hearing people proposing new rules that they like or that fits their interest. You are right - the professionals that would be making decisions based on science are not allowed to make those decisions based on science because of politics and public outcry. So, since science is used very little in fisheries management and public demand is considered when the politicians are making laws I get a little scared of the possibilities.
Basspro - I too have a background in fisheries management. I gues what I should have said is this; "Good Luck!"

Brerud I hear you, and Artic makes a great point, management policys are (sometimes) dictated by things that have nothing to do with sound management practices. But when someone asks a question im just giving my opinion. Theres been recent regs that are fantastic, like reducing the lake trout qouta and making Smallmouth catch and release only in the fall, but there is alot more that can be done (IN my opinion) I will give you one of just many examples I could site. Northern Pike are usually the dominant predator species in most lakes, and they manage the populations very effectively by themselves if left alone to do so. In my opinion any regulations that dont protect the top predators are bad regulations. I realize everyone wants to keep a trophy but if it hurts the ecosystem in the process then in my opinion the regs on that particular lake should be altered. If a person catches a 10 to 20 pound Pike in mille lacs or basswood and keeps it, its not likely to alter the ecosystem that much because theres a large population of these quality fish to replace it. However if a person keeps a 20 pound Northern from a small lake, not only are you taking away the predator that manages the fishery but your taking away the superior genetics that this fish is capable of passing down. You show me (any) lake that has a population of small stunted panfish and I will show you a lake that has been mismanaged for Pike. By the way when I give an opinion its based upon what i believe to be common sense and whats best for the ecosysytem not on what I like !

I'll try to simplify my point: Does it make for sound management to have the same regulations on a 55,000 acre lake as for a 50 acre lake?

:-)

In 1867 something happened somewhere in this one town.

It may be a good idea, but in many cases impractical with too many sets of different regulations, except in a few isolated cases like a small lake trout lake.

"I'll try to simplify my point: Does it make for sound management to have the same regulations on a 55,000 acre lake as for a 50 acre lake?"

It certainly doesn't.

Although this is a problem outside of the BWCA more than inside of it, especially here in the Cities. I've had some beautiful little lakes that have rec'd some attention on the Internet & soon there are 25 people ice fishing these ponds every day & wham! Fish population collapses in a hurry. These lakes won't come back for years, if at all.

Most of these puddles in the BWCA have limited, if any, campsites, so they're mostly pass-through lakes & probably just get trolled, if anything. Honestly, I'm not at all concerned about these, although there might be notable exceptions.

Good luck with that windmill, though!

Its really nice to know that so many people are passionate about these subjects, I think that bodes well for the future !!

Good Post Windschill.

I completely agree. Overall I think our State's DNR does a pretty good job but it is obvious that some smaller lakes just get pounded. A few years back I was fishing on a metro lake in the winter and could not believe how many portable ice houses were on it chasing walleye and crappie. There is just no way the lake could withstain that kind of pressure and be a good fishery even with stocking programs.

Good Post Windschill.

I completely agree. Overall I think our State's DNR does a pretty good job but it is obvious that some smaller lakes just get pounded. A few years back I was fishing on a metro lake in the winter and could not believe how many portable ice houses were on it chasing walleye and crappie. There is just no way the lake could withstain that kind of pressure and be a good fishery even with stocking programs.

I do agree that a small amount of pressure can change the size structure or population in a small lake very fast. Studies in Canada have shown dramatic affects on small lake trout lakes that were closed for many years and just a few weeks of hard fishing had a great affect on that lake trout population that was closed for a long time. Lakes in BWCA or Quetico are usually pretty infertile and like lake trout are very slow going. I like what I see in peoples concern for the resource.