03-22-2005, 10:26 PM
I know many people have said that the slot limit is working and I agree. There seems to be more and more cutts at the Berry and the gill net surveys show that the 1-2 year old chub population is declining. This is all great news. But were are all the over the slot cutts hiding. Last year I ice fished Strawberry about 11 days and we caught a ton of fish, but 90% of them were between 17-19 inches with a few over 20''. All last ice season we landed 2 fish over the slot and they were only 22 1/2 inches. We landed one 23 incher this summer and so far this winter in 12 fishing trips to the Berry I have yet to see a fish over 22 inches landed by anyone I was fishing with. We are still catching 90% 17-19 inchers. It just doesn't seem like the fish are getting that much bigger....
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. I have had a blast catching several hundred fish up there this winter and when you can consistantly catch fish that are 18-21 inches long what is there to complain about. I was just wondering why we are not seeing more fish over the slot limit. I would be curious to hear why you all think this is the case?
I am also curious how many of you have landed fish this winter over 22 inches at the Strawberry. I don't want to hear about any of the eye ball measurement kind (Ya, Vern thet won looks ta be bout 24 inchers thar nexed ta my size 10 boot, don'tcha thunk...) if you know what I mean. If you say that you put a tape measure on it I'll believe you...... (maybe even you petty[])
Thanks for your replies!
Still searching for the Strawberry lunkers!
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Now don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. I have had a blast catching several hundred fish up there this winter and when you can consistantly catch fish that are 18-21 inches long what is there to complain about. I was just wondering why we are not seeing more fish over the slot limit. I would be curious to hear why you all think this is the case?
I am also curious how many of you have landed fish this winter over 22 inches at the Strawberry. I don't want to hear about any of the eye ball measurement kind (Ya, Vern thet won looks ta be bout 24 inchers thar nexed ta my size 10 boot, don'tcha thunk...) if you know what I mean. If you say that you put a tape measure on it I'll believe you...... (maybe even you petty[])
Thanks for your replies!
Still searching for the Strawberry lunkers!
[signature]