Walleye regs, it's time to simplify them
By Gord Ellis
Seasons. Limits. Slot sizes. Closures. As the popularity of walleye fishing increased, so did the number of regulations. Exceptions and variations abound, and these days only a foolish angler assumes any given lake or stream has a standard season or bag limit in place. But are all these regulations really necessary? And more importantly, do they work?
A group of Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) biologists and scientists sought to answer these questions in the report Regulatory Control of Walleye Sport Fisheries in Ontario. Here's a peek at some of their recommendations and observations.
Season closures
Ontario's walleye angling regulations date back to the 1940s. There was simply a north/south split in the season, with the French River as the natural boundary. The MNR report points out that between 1967 and 2000, many walleye seasons were shortened in the hopes of further protecting spawning fish. The result has been a confusing mishmash of opening and closing dates. There are now 34 different seasons.
The report's authors suggest reduced walleye seasons might only concentrate angling pressure into a shorter time frame, restricting angling opportunities, while building angler resentment. The report states, "With the exception of a few high-profile waters (Lake Nipissing, Bay of Quinte), there appears to be little biological rationale for the current variety of closing dates. We conclude that the use of seasons to control harvest (as opposed to protecting fish during vulnerable life-history periods) is largely ineffective, and should be critically reviewed and simplified." The report also calls into question the increasing number of winter closures on prime walleye waters.
Catch and possession limits
Ontario's general six-walleye bag limit has been in place since the 1950s. Northwestern Ontario adopted a four-fish limit in early 1999, and the provincial Conservation Limit is two walleye per day. The drop in limits seems to be a trend. Since 1980, 121 lakes and others in 13 fishing divisions have had a lowered walleye limit. In discussing the impact of bag limits, the report's authors trot out the old nose stretcher that lowered limits make it easier for anglers to achieve "satisfaction." The truth is, anglers are just as able to achieve satisfaction with a six-fish bag limit. That's not the point. Most walleye anglers don't catch their limit, even if the bag is four fish. In order for a limit reduction to mean anything, it has to cut into what most anglers actually catch. Dozens of studies have discovered this to be true. Again, from the report: "In computer simulations of heavily exploited walleye fisheries, bag-limit reductions have no appreciable effect on harvest, except when they are very low (eg. one fish per day)."
Despite the lack of evidence supporting slightly reduced bag limits, the report's authors feel it can be supported for less scientific reasons. "If the product is pounds of fish flesh, than liberal bag limits, even though they are likely unsustainable in most instances, would tend to attract those anglers interested in the fishing experience only to fill the freezer... We suggest that this exploitation pattern is no longer compatible with modern values and that harvest and consumption should only be a part of the fishing experience." The report goes on to support a provincial four-walleye limit, with the possibility of an even lower limit where there are concerns.
I support a provincial four-fish limit simply because, in my opinion, keeping four walleye per person, per day, is enough fish to feed a family. Ontario's six-walleye limit is an old tradition. Times have changed.
Size and slot limits
Few regulations have created more controversy among walleye anglers than have size limits. The variety now used in Ontario includes minimum, protected (no harvest of fish in a slot), and open (release of fish in a slot) slot sizes, maximum, and one-over maximum size limits.
Between 1941 and 1954, a 15-inch (38-cm) minimum limit for walleye was in place all across Ontario. Due to public pressure (over an increase in stunted fish), the size limit was lifted in 1954. In the early 1960s, a minimum size limit of 14 inches (35.6 cm) was established in Division 10 (Leeds and Lanark Counties). This remains in effect, although there seems to be no biological basis for it. Minimum-limit use increased through the 1990s, but they're the least popular of the size regulations. Currently, only 31 waterbodies and other lakes in one division have some form of minimum size limit.
Maximum size limits require that all fish above a designated length must be released. This attempts to protect spawning-sized fish and increase recruitment and year-class strength. Protected slot sizes are also used to create trophy fisheries. Maximum size limits were not used in Ontario prior to the 1990s, but have increased in numbers in recent years. At present, 75 waterbodies and others in 10 divisions have some form of modified maximum size limit. As of 2001, only two true maximum size limits (where no fish over a certain size are allowed to be kept) are in place in Ontario. On the St. Mary's River, you can keep two fish, but none can be longer than 18 inches (46 cm). On two central-Ontario lakes there is a two-fish limit and none can be larger than 14 inches (35.6 cm). All of northwestern Ontario has a modified maximum size limit: four walleye may be kept, with only one fish allowed over 18 inches (46 cm).
Slot limits on walleye have been the regulatory flavour of the month in Ontario for some time. Most common is the protected slot, where fish within a designated length range must be released. Ontario's first slot-size regulation came into being in 1985, but they've quickly gained favour among biologists. There are now 114 lakes and others in Division 30 with a walleye slot size. Eight different true walleye slot-size limits are used and there are seven modified slot sizes. Although popular with biologists, they've been much less so with anglers, who often feel they're throwing back prime "eaters," while being forced to take large "brood hens" or undersized fish for food.
The million-dollar question is, do size limits really do the job? The report's authors have come to startling conclusions. In the case of maximum size limits, researchers say that since these have only been in place for 10 years, there's little research and they don't know if they're working or not. So, it's a definite maybe.
Minimum size limits have been around longer and some of the case histories aren't good. The report suggests "caution" when implementing a minimum limit on an area, as opposed to a specific lake, and recommends close monitoring of any lake with this regulation in place.
As for slot limits, the report states there's reason to be concerned about their increasing use. It points to the possibility of over-harvest of small fish and the potential for stunting, due to the protection of similar-sized fish: "slot-size limits should be used under controlled conditions until more is known about their effects on fish, fishing, and yield."
Other regulations
In recent years, many other forms of walleye fishing regulations have been floated by the MNR and anglers alike. These include bans on night fishing, live bait, barbed hooks, stringers, and livewells. According to the report, there have been no studies done that show night fishing to be detrimental to walleye populations. The same is true of barbless hooks, which have become law in many Canadian jurisdictions and are often offered up as a management tool. Not so surprising are findings regarding live bait and stringers. The report states that exchanging smaller fish on stringers for larger ones greatly reduces the possibility of their survival. It also states that banning live bait has a basis in science, as studies have shown that using artificial lures might cause a lower hooking mortality.
Finally, the report questions whether live-release walleye tournaments on Ontario waters really live up to their name. "Generally, the longer and more roughly walleye are handled reduces the possibility of successful survival upon release. The practice of tournaments that include a central weigh-in facility should be strongly discouraged."
So what should anglers make of this overview of our walleye regulations? Here's my take. It seems that we're living under a set of walleye regulations that are more complex and onerous than need be. They should be revised.
Unfortunately, that's unlikely to happen. MNR culture is such that there's precious little communication or co-ordination between regions or districts. This report was put together by MNR scientists and paid for with tax-payers money. It calls for a simplification of walleye harvest regulation and a standardization of open and closing dates. Here's hoping the decision makers in MNR read and act on it. Ontario's walleye anglers - and the fish - deserve that much.
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