By Bob Jensen 

    As we put the finishing touches on another open water fishing season, I always like to reflect back on the fishing events of the past year. It seems like the things that are most memorable are the people involved in those fishing trips. Sometimes the people we share a boat with stand out in our memories more than the fishing itself. I have had many days when the fishing was slow, but the day is still a fond memory because of my fishing partners on that day.

Every now and then, the day or trip is memorable because of fast fishing action and great fishing partners. As I reflect on the trips that produced great fishing, one theme replays itself time after time. The waters that produce the best fishing also have the most progressive fishing regulations. It is becoming apparent throughout the Midwest and much of North America that if we want to continue to experience world-class fishing, progressive fishing regulations are necessary.

What are progressive fishing regulations?? Certainly not most minimum length
restrictions. Regulations that require release of fish under a certain length limit were a new concept maybe eight to ten years ago, but have, for the most part, proven to be ineffective unless the minimum length is substantial. Some musky waters have a minimum length limit in the forty eight to fifty inch range, while some smallmouth bass lakes have a twenty or twenty two inch minimum length limit. In those cases, the fisheries are flourishing.

The most effective fishing regulations are those that provide a protected slot for the various species of fish and are managed on a lake to lake basis. For instance, in one body of water any walleye between seventeen and twenty-five inches must be released, on another body of water all walleyes between fourteen and eighteen inches must be released. Different regulations on different bodies of water require anglers to pay more attention to the rulebook, but will create much better fishing in the future.

Some bodies of water have implemented "no-kill" areas for certain species of fish. This simply requires that no fish of that specie be kept. That’s simple, and even more importantly, effective.

Progressive fishing regulations are certainly more complex than simple slot limits, no-kill zones, and other methods of harvest regulation. However, they are essential for the future health of our fisheries. We as anglers need to encourage progressive fishing regulations and support them when implemented. Hunters also need to support progressive regulations. The tradition of harvesting small bucks when does are more plentiful is archaic, senseless, and extremely poor herd management.

Progressive regulations for our fish and game populations that are based on common sense and with modern outdoors-people in mind will insure that the outdoor future remains positive. 

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