03-25-2013, 05:03 PM
[cool][#0000FF]My "sources" confirm that with the increased attention from DWR the habitual harvesters are not showing up much. There are still a lot of anglers fishing for the walleyes but more of them are "normal" fishermen, just trying for a few legal catches...and releasing any fish that are snagged.
Before all of the publicity, there were several organized groups who hit the inlet virtually around the clock...but especially at night when they had less visibility. It was estimated that more than 100 walleyes a night were illegally harvested and left the lake in buckets before daybreak. And before the increased DWR presence there were countless more being taken during daylight hours. Some individuals were observed returning soon after taking home a limit. And calls made to the poaching hotline often got no timely response.
There have recently been a lot of citations issued...and some to the folks who most deserved them. That usually serves to force them to take their business elsewhere. Criminals do not like to draw attention to themselves...or to get caught and punished.
I was pretty open about my displeasure with having the inlet opened. But I never questioned the decision of DWR. I know their biologists and some of the officers and I trust that their intent was as they stated...to enhance angling potential. My big concern was and always will be the illegal activities and the poaching of over limits and oversize fish.
I am satisfied that DWR has done all within their abilities to turn the situation around. There will never be zero snagging or excess harvest. But attempting to enforce regulations goes a long way to reduce the problems.
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Before all of the publicity, there were several organized groups who hit the inlet virtually around the clock...but especially at night when they had less visibility. It was estimated that more than 100 walleyes a night were illegally harvested and left the lake in buckets before daybreak. And before the increased DWR presence there were countless more being taken during daylight hours. Some individuals were observed returning soon after taking home a limit. And calls made to the poaching hotline often got no timely response.
There have recently been a lot of citations issued...and some to the folks who most deserved them. That usually serves to force them to take their business elsewhere. Criminals do not like to draw attention to themselves...or to get caught and punished.
I was pretty open about my displeasure with having the inlet opened. But I never questioned the decision of DWR. I know their biologists and some of the officers and I trust that their intent was as they stated...to enhance angling potential. My big concern was and always will be the illegal activities and the poaching of over limits and oversize fish.
I am satisfied that DWR has done all within their abilities to turn the situation around. There will never be zero snagging or excess harvest. But attempting to enforce regulations goes a long way to reduce the problems.
[/#0000FF]
[signature]