Conservation Practices
We are fulfilling a lifelong dream owning a camp in the north. We do not consider ourselves "the owners", in reality we are only the caretakers of this great fishing lake. As caretakers, it is very important to us to make sure that we don't deplete this fishery for future generations to come.
With this being said, we ask that all of our guests partner with us in conservation practices. We believe this is the only way to ensure the quality of the experience. In addition, proper handling of these magnificent fish is important. We ask that in the handling of larger fish, please try to keep the fish at boat side while unhooking. Wire cutters, long nosed pliers and jaw spreaders are essential tools for a quick a safe release. If the hooks are buried too deeply, please utilize wire cutters to quickly cut your hooks and remove the lure. When your partner is ready with the camera, quickly lift the fish for a photo while carefully supporting the fish underneath. Vertical holds can damage internal organs and please do not put fingers in the eye sockets of the fish to neutralize them! This can permanently cause eye damage. Please use a glove when lifting the fish in the boat for a photo. Your grip should be strong and secure, so that you don't risk dropping these large, strong fish in the boat. Return the fish as quickly as possible to water to be revived. If they seem particularly weak, please slowly move the fish back and forth in the water until their strength has returned. This process can sometimes last approximately 20 minutes or longer, but this is a very important process. If everyone uses these handling techniques, it's our hope that most of the delayed mortality caused by improper handling will be eliminated.
While you are staying at the camp, EAT as many FISH as you WISH that are under the breeder's slot within your license limit, but please return all larger fish for future breeders. For those of you who are looking to take a trophy fish home, we encourage our fisherman to have a replica of their "fish of a lifetime" made instead of the old traditional skin mounts of a dead fish. We will help and assist you in locating a reproduction specialist that will provide you with a "real life" replica. Our fisherman who have "real life" replicas also have a real feeling of accomplishment along with the bragging rights for their friends to see. In addition, we know that when our fishermen tell their story about their trophy fish that their TRUE fish is only GROWING each year after! A conservation fisherman with his "real life" replicas are the ONLY fisherman that can truly brag about how the big one REALLY got away!
It's our hope that all current and future guests will endorse our conservation policy with open arms. After all, it is in everyone's best interest for today and tomorrow.
With the purchase of conservation license, we offer greater discounts on your stay with us. Plus, we offer discounts for future trips with a catch and release contests that are fun and offers rewards for our fisherman's efforts in their catch and releases.
We, as camp owners, feel that it is very important that we also invest and offer discounts to our fishermen that do participate in our conservation program. We appreciate our fishermen who are conserving and releasing fish through their efforts for the future of the Prairie Bee Lake. In closing, this only creates a WIN / WIN situation for all of us.
INTERESTING FACTS ON SIZE AND AGE OF FISH IN OUR COLD WATER ZONE:
NORTHERN PIKE
24 inch ( 7 years old) 35% female / 65% male at this size
30 inch (11 years old) 65% female / 35% male at this size
40 inch (21 years old) 96% female / 4% male at this size
WALLEYE
14 inch ( 6 years old) 35% female / 65% male at this size
20 inch (13 years old) 70% female / 30% male at this size
30 inch (29 years old) 99% female / 1% male at this size
BASS
12 inch ( 4 years old) 30% female / 70% male at this size
16 inch ( 7 years old) 60% female / 40% male at this size
20 inch (13 years old) 95% female / 5% male at this size
From this chart you can see that is a WIN / WIN situation for all of us when those large breeders are protected and returned back to the lake. On average,for all species combined, a female will produce 9,000 eggs for each pound she weighs. As the breeding female matures and grows larger, her eggs will be of higher quality and will have a higher survival rate than those of the smaller females. Large females will pass on their genetic genes, that will continue throughout the lake system, if they are left to reproduce to pass their superior genetics to the next generation.
