DNR looking at cut in 60-year daily limit of six walleye

Minnesota's standard walleye limit of six fish per license holder could shrink for the first time in 60 years under a review that's in its infancy at the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR), a state fisheries manager told a large gathering of anglers Friday.

"There seems to be some momentum out there right now for reduced bag limits," said Brad Parsons, central region fisheries manager.

Parsons was one of several speakers at the annual DNR Roundtable conference to highlight changes in fishing culture, technology and regulation. The daylong event at a Bloomington hotel, also keyed to hunting and ecological issues, was attended by hundreds of invited stakeholders.

Other fishing discussions at the event centered on a major change in regulation coming for northern pike and nascent concern that bag limits are too high for Minnesota panfish. In addition, Fisheries Section Chief Don Pereira said there is trouble in the agency's game and fish budget, which topped $92 million in fiscal 2016.

"We are retrenching quite a bit," Pereira said.

Will the fix require higher license fees?

Pereira declined to comment but said Gov. Mark Dayton's upcoming budget plan will address a structural deficit in the Game and Fish Operating Account Fund that projects red ink by 2020.

Gary Korsgaden, an angler who sits on the DNR's walleye work group, told the audience it's time to think about a walleye bag limit lower than six. Scores of Minnesota lakes, like Mille Lacs, Osakis, Upper Red and Crane have special walleye harvest restrictions, including lower bag limits. But the standard six-walleye limit hasn't changed since 1956.

In a discussion led by Korsgaden, audience members also raised concerns that fishing pressure has been intensified by the use of advanced boats that keep anglers on lakes in bad weather and a growing army of mobile fish houses during the ice season.

The same equipment boom and social media usage was cited at the conference for increased pressure on panfish. Dave Thompson a member of the DNR work group on panfish, said Minnesota anglers harvest 14 million bluegills, 6 million crappies and 5 million yellow perch a year. He said biologists are trying to understand a statewide decline in perch populations.

"We believe it's time to make that ethical reduction" in bag limits for panfish, Thompson said.

Thompson acknowledged, however, that public acceptance won't come easy.