Steve McComas

In the past month, I’ve been tracking the notorious curlyleaf pondweed. Under optimal conditions, it can produce more than 700 stems per square meter (spacing of one stem every 2 inches). This presents not only a recreational hindrance, but when the stem density is that high, fish can barely swim through that dense jungle. It’s poor fish habitat.

Temperature is a regulator regarding the distribution and abundance of aquatic plants and fish in lakes.
With that in mind, consider that this winter has been super mild, but over the years, weird winters or summers raised the question: Is this a blip or a trend? It takes a few years to distinguish a blip from a trend.

Let’s consider the fish within a slot limit.
Minnesota’s Lake Mille Lacs for example had a recent walleye slot (which expires Nov. 30) of 20 to 23 inches with one over 28 inches. The new slot begins Friday, Dec. 1, when Mille Lacs anglers can keep one walleye 21 to 23 inches long or one longer than 28 inches. I was wondering how old those walleyes were in the slot, so I did some investigating.