· Some Walleye Regulations Change on July 1
· Early Ditch Mowing Hurts Nesting Pheasants
Some Walleye Regulations Change on July 1
PIERRE, S.D.—Anglers are reminded that July 1 marks a change to temporarily eliminate the minimum size limits on Lakes Sharpe and Francis Case and on the Missouri River below Fort Randall Dam downstream to the South Dakota/Nebraska border.
The 15-inch minimum size limit will go back into effect on Sept. 1.
The change in minimum size limits allows the harvest of smaller walleyes. “In July and August, fishing pressure on those areas of the Missouri River isn’t typically as heavy,” said Jim Riis, Missouri River fisheries program manager. “With the lower fishing pressure, dropping the minimum size limit for two months won’t significantly reduce the number of walleyes.”
Anglers are more apt to land walleyes longer than the 15-inch minimum during the spring and fall but fish longer than 15 inches can be hard to find during the summer. Removing the minimum length limit allows anglers the opportunity to harvest a few walleyes on each fishing trip during a time of the year when harvest generally isn’t very high, Riis explained. “Maintaining the quality of the fishery has to be balanced with allowing anglers the opportunity to harvest fish during a day on the water,” he said.
Removing the minimums for two months during the heat of the summer is also good stewardship of the resource. “During those months the water is warmer and fish are deeper,” Riis said. “Removing the minimum length limit allows anglers to keep smaller, deep-hooked walleyes that might not otherwise survive.”
Anglers often ask why the minimum length limit can’t be removed in June as well. According to Riis, late May and June represent the times when the walleye harvest is at its peak. Without minimum length limits in place, more walleyes would be harvested than those lakes could sustain on an annual basis. “The minimum length limit is a safeguard on the walleye population at a time of year when fishing pressure can be excessive,” Riis said.
While the minimum length limit has been lifted, anglers are reminded that the regulation allowing only one walleye over 20 inches in length on a daily basis is in effect year-round on Lakes Sharpe and Francis Case and on the Missouri River below Fort Randall Dam downstream to the South Dakota/Nebraska border. The daily walleye limit in those areas is four with a possession limit of eight.
On Lake Oahe, walleye regulations remain the same year-round. The daily limit is four with a possession limit of eight. Anglers are allowed one walleye over 20 inches within the daily limit.
Riis advises anglers who reach their limit of walleye to try for other sport fish such as smallmouth bass and channel catfish. Smallmouth bass length limits on Lake Sharpe are in effect year-round with anglers allowed to keep bass less than 12 inches long or 18 inches or longer. Of those fish, only one in the daily limit may be longer than 18 inches.
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Early Ditch Mowing Hurts Nesting Pheasants
PIERRE, S.D.—The S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department offers a friendly reminder to East River landowners with plans to mow ditches along state highways to check the calendar before they get started. State rules provide that no mowing of the right-of-way may begin east of the Missouri River before July 10. All mowing by permit must be completed by Sept. 1 each year.
The early mowing of road ditches endangers one of the state’s most valuable natural resources, the ring-necked pheasant.
“It’s very important that pheasants nesting in grass cover remain undisturbed,” said Jeff Vonk, secretary of the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department. “This rule was developed as a compromise, taking into consideration both a need to protect nesting pheasants and the need that producers have for forage. In many areas of the state, road ditches provide significant nesting cover and annually produces a lot of pheasants.”
Those pheasants, in turn, help shape South Dakota’s economy. “Pheasants and pheasant hunting don’t just provide recreational benefits for hunters,” Vonk said. “Pheasant populations help ensure the economic well-being of many communities across the state during the fall hunting season.”
The S.D. Department of Transportation rule dealing with mowing along state highways was developed in large part to protect nesting pheasants and young chicks. From early June through August is a critical time for nesting pheasant hens.
“Due to the importance of roadsides to nesting pheasants, we’re asking that landowners delay mowing right-of-way ditches as long as possible to give nesting hens a chance to hatch their broods,” Vonk said.
The rule does allow the Department of Transportation to begin mowing the right-of-way before the start date if there is a need to provide increased safety to the traveling public or to control noxious weeds.
For more information, contact DOT at (605) 773-3265 or GFP at (605) 773-3381.
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