question on lake herring

[Neto21]

I was just wondering why is it that herring has a 0 keep limit. i have heard that people are catching them in high amounts, did they get over fished in previous years. Just wondering as to why it is. thanks.

 

[fishermandan420]

Combination of over-fishing,poor water quality and spawning habitat loss. Supposed to open up again 2015

 

[classic drifter]

and i ve heard that the reason they close up specially on simcoe is to boost up the lakers natural forage, dont know if thats a big reason but i think it made good sense and outcome for our laker buddies that side of the lake, just tossing out what ive heard,

Combination of over-fishing,poor water quality and spawning habitat loss. Supposed to open up again 2015

but this makes alot more sense, just my 2 cents

 

[fishermandan420]

Sure they want forage. They were closed to let them re-populate. Apparently they are spawning successfully as they can become a nuisance when targeting other species. The Lakers i kept this year all had smelt in them

 

[classic drifter]

but i would like to ask one question, besides from smelt and other baitfish options, did you ever had a laker hit on a herring you are fighting? just a question, like how a musky would attack a pike that you are fighting on your line, because i was told that lakers follow the school of herring as well,

 

[steelhead101]

there really are not as many as you would think, the herring are hanging out in the shallows this winter so it seems like there are thousands. keep in mind they are a baitfish and there numbers should be even higher than what they are currently in a healthy lake. herring also provide a healthy food source for pike, walleye and trout. goby's ,sculpins and rainbow smelt being game fish's forage can often result in lower fertility rates than normal so its good that the herring are in there thick!