Here’s a case study for y’all. Annie Battle Lake in Ottertail county has been classified as a “Heritage Fishery” since 1997 which bans the use of ALL electronics and gas powered motors, including augers. Another part of this regulation is that bass and pike are CnR only, and bluegill/crappie limits are 5/piece. Wow, what, no technology and reduced limits?! This lake must be chalk full of 10″ bluegills, 15″ crappies, 22″ bass, and 40″ pike! Well, not exactly. If we use the most recent 2019 DNR lake survey as a point of reference: the <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>bass still average 13″, the <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>pike still average 18″, the bluegill still average 6-7″, and the crappies still average 9″.
Annie Battle lake is less than 400 acres. Regardless of regulations, a somewhat sterile, sandy, clear lake cannot crank out many 40″ pike or 22″ bass. As I said earlier, fishing is only as good as the habitat available to the fish. I want the agencies to protect and enhance the public’s habitat, not reach in my boat and tell me what transducer to use.