'Tackle' Terry Tuma says ...

On eating fish:

"I eat some, not a lot. Very seldom do I freeze any fish. I tell people, just take enough fish home for a meal and let the rest go. We need to preserve the fishery."

On conservation:

"Now we have fishing pressure year-round. These lakes cannot sustain that. It's really like balancing a checkbook -- you can only take out so much if you don't put anything in."

On opening the walleye season earlier:

"I don't like it. It's just common mathematics:

The more time people are allowed to fish, the

fishery."

On fish limits:

"We need to consider reducing the limit on walleyes to maybe four. We should take a strong look at putting sunfish and crappie spawning areas off-limits for fishing. They're too easy to catch when they are spawning, and too many people go out and take their limit day after day."

On fishing's future:

"We hear fishing is better than ever. I disagree. It's good on many bodies of water, but my concern is with water quality changing and fishing pressure [increasing]. We need to reevaluate what we are doing out there."

"I really don't have a favorite lake. I usually move around. I do have a permanent ice fishing house on Mille Lacs."

• Most anglers get on the ice too late. The morning bite can be very good. Get out before sunrise.

• Don't be afraid to experiment with different lures, colors and jigging action.

• Try lighter line and lures. I usually tell people if you drop down a pound in test (line), you'll increase your success by 50 percent.

• If you have persistence, confidence and attitude, you'll always catch fish.