Just wondering if there's a walleye size range that's better to eat. Bigger's not always better on the plate, I'm way over there on the dumb end of the walleye knowledge graph, just curious.

14'' is my preferred size to eat. Easiest to fry up and in my opinion fish over 18'' just don't taste quite as good.

Ya! the 20 inchers are breeders, throw them back. ;-)

Dad Gumm bubba, I just looked at your photos, that's a massive smallmouth. gotta be 6 or 7 pounds

BTW, "Bubba" is a term of endearment where I live, I guess I gotta get a handle on that

I like to keep the 14-16 inch zone fish for eating.

14 to 18 my favorite, if I get one bigger, that I have to keep because its foul hooked, I fillet it then center cut the fillet lengthwise so its not so thick.

quote mr.barley: "I like to keep the 14-16 inch zone fish for eating."

I'll go as high as 18, but no higher.

18 or smaller, unless I am starving and don't have anything else to eat.

14" - 18" is preferred.

Depends on the type of fish .... Walleyes? what everyone else says .... somewhere between 16-18" for me. Sunfish? the bigger the better, lol. I hate filleting tiny fish but I LOVE the taste of sunnies. Same with crappies. Northerns? Depends on their girth for me. A thick 20" is more than enough most of the time, but a skinny 24" snake gets to live another day. Bass? I'd guess 12-14" is good. I don't measure every fish I keep, I just know'em when I see'em. Since I don't catch many monster fish, I don't have a problem with releasing them when I do (after pics, of course... and those have been very few and far between lately!)

quote mc2mens: "14" - 18" is preferred."

That's about right.

Yeah, 14-18 for Walleyes. If you want to be sure you can catch fish for Supper make sure you learn how to filet a small Northern.

Basically agree with everyone 14-16 is my favorite for walleyes. 12-14 for smallys. Northerns around 22-24". Lakers 18-20". These are estimates I don't measure every fish I eat.

In Minesota it is illegal to keep more than one walleye over 20" anyway---just a reminder.

T

quote timatkn: "...In Minesota it is illegal to keep more than one walleye over 20" anyway---just a reminder.


T"

quote edited

I thought that was only on certain lakes ... but I could be wrong. It's been so long since I've actually FISHED and caught multiple walleyes that large, I could certainly be out of the loop. Guess I'll be verifying that this year when I get my license! (can't find last year's rulebook, lol)

quote Amok: "

quote timatkn: "...In Minesota it is illegal to keep more than one walleye over 20" anyway---just a reminder.



T"

quote edited


I thought that was only on certain lakes ... but I could be wrong. It's been so long since I've actually FISHED and caught multiple walleyes that large, I could certainly be out of the loop. Guess I'll be verifying that this year when I get my license! (can't find last year's rulebook, lol)"

All inland lakes.

Fishing the border lakes and eat all the bass you can catch, all year. Make sure on northerns on bay of Basswood, 24"-36" must be released. Several lakes on border route have specific regulations on walleyes and northerns. But eat the bass.

quote snakecharmer: "

quote Amok: "

quote timatkn: "...In Minesota it is illegal to keep more than one walleye over 20" anyway---just a reminder.



T"

quote edited



I thought that was only on certain lakes ... but I could be wrong. It's been so long since I've actually FISHED and caught multiple walleyes that large, I could certainly be out of the loop. Guess I'll be verifying that this year when I get my license! (can't find last year's rulebook, lol)"

All inland lakes."

Yep all Inland lakes unless the lake has specific regs that are more restrictive like Mille Lacs or Kabetogama. Check regs for border lakes---right now those regs vary from each body of water but for the BWCAW I don't remember any specific size regs for walleyes on border waters.

T