Sturgeon Lake Walleye Slot Size

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The 17-26 inch protected slot limit for walleye has changed to a 20-24 inch protected slot with only one over 24 inches allowed, on the following Itasca County lakes: Moose, Split Hand, Swan and Trout. The protected slot is from 20″ to 27″. All walleyes in this slot must be released. The slot is part of a 5 year study by the Iowa DNR that also includes closed to fishing tailwater areas in pools 12, 13 & 14 from Dec. 1st to March 15. The slot limit was put in place to protect the best breeding size walleyes. Walleye Central; Muskie Central; Ranger Boats; Cabelas; General Discussion; Boats; Electronics; Motors and Props.

Oklahoma Fishing

SPECIES

DAILY LIMIT

(for areas without special regulations)

SIZE LIMIT

(for areas without special regulations)

Largemouth and/or Smallmouth Bass (F)

6 (combined)

14 inch minimum

Spotted Bass (F)

None

None

Channel and/or Blue Catfish (D)

15 (combined)

Only 1 Blue Catfish over 30 inches

Flathead Catfish (D)

5

None

White and/or Black Crappie

37 (combined)

None

Striped Bass (A)

5 (except Lake Texoma)

None

Striped Bass Hybrids (A)

20

Only 5 fish over 20 inches

White Bass

None

None

Trout (A)

See Trout regulations on Trout Area Information

Walleye, Sauger and/or Saugeye

6 (combined)

14 inch minimum

Paddlefish (A)

See Paddlefish Regulations

None

Alligator Gar (B)

1

None

(All species not listed, except shad and species of special concern I and/or II (E), have no daily or minimum size limits) (C)

A. Release of paddlefish, trout, striped bass and/or striped bass hybrids caught and placed on a stringer, in a livewell, or otherwise held in possession is prohibited statewide (no culling).

B. Alligator gar may be caught by use of rod and reel, trotline, and throwline. Alligator gar taken by bow and arrow, gigs, spears, or spearguns cannot be released. Alligator gar caught and placed on a stringer cannot be released (a practice called culling). Harvest must be reported within 24 hours via E-Check at wildlifedepartment.com. The attempt to take or harvest alligator gar is prohibited statewide May 1-31.

C. It is unlawful to take or possess more than 25 nongame bait fish in rivers or streams, except for shad, of which 200 may be taken or possessed.

D. For noodling limits, see Method of Take.

E. Daily limit is 1 for any fish species of special concern in category I or II, which includes alligator gar, black buffalo, shovelnose sturgeon (see Title 800:25-19-6). Such harvest must be reported to the Wildlife Department.

F. In rivers and streams: black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted): six combined per day, only one of which may be a smallmouth bass. Largemouth and smallmouth bass must be 14 inches or longer. No size limit on spotted bass.

Some areas have different regulations. See “Public Fishing Waters” special regulations for daily and size limits on specific areas.

Black Bass (Largemouth, Smallmouth & Spotted Bass)

Statewide Daily Limit:

  • Largemouth & Smallmouth – 6 (combined)
  • Spotted – None

Statewide Minimum Size Limit:

  • Largemouth & Smallmouth – 14 inch minimum
  • Spotted – None
Check “Public Fishing Waters” special regulations for areas with additional daily and size limits.

Largemouth Bass

  • Mouth hinge well behind eye
  • State record: 14 lbs., 13.7 oz.

Smallmouth Bass

  • Mouth hinge in front of eye
  • State record: 8 lbs., 7 oz.

Spotted Bass

  • Mouth hinge even with back edge of eye
  • State record: 8 lbs., 2 oz.

Tooth Patch: Another way to distinguish black bass is the presence or absence of a tooth patch on the tongue. The majority of largemouth bass have no tooth patch on the tongue, while smallmouth and spotted bass do have a tooth patch on the tongue.

Most largemouth bass have no tooth patch on the tongue.

Smallmouth and spotted bass display a tooth patch on the tongue.

Statewide Daily Limit:

  • Channel and/or Blue Catfish combined – 15
  • Flathead Catfish – 5

Statewide Size Limit:

  • Channel Catfish – None
  • Blue Catfish – Only 1 over 30 inches
  • Flathead Catfish – None

Check “Public Fishing Waters” special regulations for areas with additional daily and size limits.
For noodling limits, see Method of Take.

Channel Catfish

  • Curved anal fin
  • State record: 35 lbs., 15 oz.

Blue Catfish

  • Straight anal fin
  • State record: 98 lbs.

Flathead Catfish

  • Tail not forked
  • State record: 78 lbs., 8 oz.

Statewide Daily Limit:

  • 37 (combined White and/or Black crappie)

Statewide Minimum Size Limit:

  • None

Check “Public Fishing Waters” special regulations for areas with additional daily and size limits.

Black Crappie

  • No true pattern to black spots
  • 7-8 bony spines in dorsal fin
  • State record: 4 lbs., 10 oz.

White Crappie

  • Distinct vertical bands of blue/gray spots
  • 5-6 bony spines in dorsal fin
  • State record: 4 lbs., 15 oz.

Measuring Fish

When mea­sur­ing fish, total length is mea­sured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail, with fish laid flat on a ruler, mouth closed and tail fin lobes pressed together.

Striped Bass, Hybrids & White Bass

Statewide Daily Limit:

  • Striped Bass – 5 (except Lake Texoma)
  • Striped Bass Hybrids – 20
  • White Bass – None

Statewide Size Limit:

  • Striped Bass – None
  • Striped Bass Hybrids – No more than 5 fish over 20 inches
  • White Bass – None
Check “Public Fishing Waters” special regulations for areas with additional daily and size limits.

Culling of striped bass and/or striped bass hybrids is prohibited.

Striped Bass

  • Back not arched
  • State record: 47 lbs., 8 oz.
  • Strong, unbroken dark lines

Striped Bass Hybrid

  • Back slightly arched
  • State record: 23 lbs., 4 oz.
  • Some broken lines

White Bass

Sturgeon Lake Walleye Slot Size Chart

Size
  • Arched back
  • State record: 4 lbs., 9.6 oz.
  • Faint lines, usually unbroken

Trout (Rainbow & Brown)

Statewide Daily Limit:

  • Rainbow Trout – 6
  • Brown Trout – 6

Statewide Minimum Size Limit:

  • None
Check Trout Area Information for areas with additional daily and size limits.

Culling of trout is prohibited.

Rainbow Trout

  • State record: 11 lbs., 4.32 oz.
  • Black spots on tail
  • Iridescence on sides
Sturgeon lake walleye slot sizes

Brown Trout

  • State record: 17 lbs., 4.6 oz.
  • Few or no black spots on tail
  • Orange and red spots on side
Size

Walleye, Sauger & Saugeye

Statewide Daily Limit:

  • 6 (combined)

Statewide Minimum Size Limit:

  • 14 inch minimum
Check “Public Fishing Waters” special regulations for areas with additional daily and size limits.

Walleye

  • State Record: 12 lbs., 13 oz.
  • No spots on spiny dorsal fin
  • Few or no cheek scales

Sauger

  • State Record: 5 lbs., 5 oz.
  • Distinct spots on spiny dorsal fin
  • Tan body with distinct brown blotches
  • Cheek covered with scales

Saugeye

  • State Record: 10 lbs.
  • Spiny dorsal fin with distinct spots and bars in webbing
  • Body gold with distinct brown blotches
  • Cheek covered with scales

Statewide Daily Limit:

  • 1

Statewide Minimum Size Limit:

  • None

Statewide Annual Limit:

  • 2
Harvest must be reported within 24 hours via E-Check at wildlifedepartment.com.
Check Paddlefish Regulations for additional paddlefish regulations.

Culling of paddlefish is prohibited.

  • Distinctive rounded,
    protruding blade in front.
  • State Record: 146 lbs., 11.2 oz.

Statewide Daily Limit:

  • 1

Statewide Minimum Size Limit:

  • None
Harvest must be reported within 24 hours via E-Check at wildlifedepartment.com.
Check “Public Fishing Waters” special regulations for areas with additional daily and
size limits. The attempt to take or harvest alligator is prohibited statewide May 1-31.
  • State Record: 254 lbs., 12 oz.
Sturgeon lake walleye slot sizes
I have lived in Fenelon Falls & Cameron area for over 50 years and I’ve watched the walleye population drop drastically over that time. In my youth I remember there being so many walleye in the area below the falls during spawning season that you couldn’t see the bottom of the river because it was so black with walleye. That is a true fact, not a fictional account of a younger man. That was back in the late 60s & early 70s.
I worked in the bait shop in Fenelon falls and was big into fishing the Fenelon river, along with Sturgeon and Cameron lakes. At that time, the economy in Fenelon Falls was strong and robust because many fisherman came here and brought their families and friends along with them.
When we went fishing in my youth, we usually had no problems going out and getting a couple or 3 decent fish for our dinner a couple times a week. Now, that is only a faded memory. I need to go out 2 or 3 times, just to hopefully catch one. As I grew older, the fish populations continued to drop drastically. It finally got to the point in the late 90s, when I gave up fishing for walleye, as there was a very good chance of fishing all day without getting a bite or any fish caught were within the slot size. Something I wasn’t use to in the Fenelon river and on Sturgeon lake.
So now here we all are wondering how we can save this one time great fishery? Has the Ontario Federation or Anglers & Hunters been contacted? (yes, the have!) They are a great source for help. They have many experts working for them, have a decent war-chest & have the backing of over 100,000 members. I have been a member for over 30 years. I think this group would help if they can & have fought this type of fight in other areas of the province. (In September of 2017, the OFAH held an all-levels meeting to try to get some forward motion. The OFAH is also seeing if they can help find us some money for spawning bed repairs)
If Laurie Scott is on board (she is), then she should hopefully be petitioning the Ontario Liberals and the MNR to look into working towards a solution that would help increase the fish stock to pre-80s levels. What about the fisherman themselves? Some of the professional walleye fisherman could help put some pressure on the MNR and the TSW by talking to media and government officials at their tournaments (they will in May at the Canada US Walleye Tournament!)
What about the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. Could they maybe help? (The Trent-Severn Waterway falls under the MOE. On June 4th, the TSW agreed to help us move forward with spawning bed repairs in Bobcaygeon… after three years of asking.)
The TSW is a Federal thing and if we are ever to get through this hurdle, we need our MP continually fighting hard on behave of the fishery. Slowing or closing the hydro electric dams and raising water levels during pre and post spawning times (March to June) is a must. If these levels are achieved & water flow is right, I think the river spawning areas in Fenelon, Bobcaygeon & Lindsay should slowly start to recover.
Sturgeon Lake Walleye Slot Size
I would assume that the river below the Bobcageon dam would also be okay if water levels were maintained at an acceptable level.
Now, what are we to do locally? Are there any fundraisers/auction/raffles planned to help raise money to support this cause? Is there gov money available if you applied for it? Local donations? This is something that needs to be addressed, but it’ll take time & money to go forward.
When there was a great walleye fishery, our region was always busy from the opening of walleye season, until the end of Oct. In fact from opening day (1st Sat in May, through to the end of the May 24 weekend) the river’s edges were packed shoulder to shoulder with friends and families spending time together to enjoy one of our best past time, fishing. Businesses did well during that period, as many fisherman descended on the area and the hotels and lodges were all full. Restaurants were very busy and local businesses benefited with the influx of fisherman & tourists.
Since the early 80s, I’ve noticed that you don’t see that many fisherman along the fenelon river shore line anymore. As the fish populations dropped, so did the tourists. Fisherman and their families found other locations with better fishing & have since taken their business to other locations. Why should we (the Kawartha Lakes) lose out on all this because of poor management of our fish stocks?
I would like to see the local governments and maybe even businesses support the cause with cash donations for the installation of signs at each boat launch telling fisherman what the slot sizes are and what the fish limits are. I would also like to see this sign with the info translated into Chinese & French. Maybe even have a life-sized fish, with a ruler under it, showing the length in inches and centimeters. This info should also be posted in all bait & tackle stores within the area. I would also like to see a yearly stocking program to help bring the fish to previous levels.
Another thing, we could see an increase in MNR staff numbers on the lake, at boat launches, and at other fishing locations during the spawning period & 1st month of the opening season to help monitor the fish being harvested illegally. These staff members could rotate throughout the more popular fishing locations throughout the day to check for illegal fishing. If MNR staff won’t do it, then maybe you could start your own walleye club (WWKL) Walleye Watchman of the Kawartha Lakes. Webpages and links on walleye management, rules & slot sizes, fundraising events & more. You could have local volunteer fisherman keeping an eye open watching other fisherman. If they see an infraction, then contact the MNR & report their licence plate number & discription of car, truck or boat.
This is a great opportunity for all parties to come together in order to save our fish stocks. Last thing we need is another Lake Scugog disaster to happen to Balsam, Cameron, Sturgeon &/or Pigeon lakes. If we are to ever see a recovery in fish stocks & the economies of the small villages that make up the City of the Kawartha Lakes, then the local people will have to step up to make it happen.
If we wait until the MNR brings it forward, it’ll be too late. The walleye fishing will look like Lake Scugog’s walleye fishery. Closed for business. If this is ever to succeed it’s time to start now or the walleye in our lakes could go the way of the Dodo bird.

Sturgeon Lake Walleye Slot Sizes

I would be interested in attending one of your local meetings, if time permits. Please send me info on your next meeting.
Thanks,