Rules

1. ALL Walleye 18 inches and over MUST be released. ALL Northern Pike 27 inches and over MUST be released. No trophy fishing. This policy is intended to protect the fish of the spawning population.

2. Fishermen that use the lake during the early walleye season are encouraged to leave areas where you find fish with egg/sperm. The timing of the spawn is entirely determined by water temperature, which is largely variable. If the temperature does not remain between 6 and 9oC, the spawn will be aborted and eggs re-absorbed. This event can have a very significant effect on the fish population, especially if it occurs over consecutive seasons. Similarly, after the spawn, Walleye congregate in large numbers to rest and feed, usually in very shallow water. In many lakes, the post-spawning beds are protected and there is no fishing until the end of June. Please consider NOT fishing in these areas.

3. All minnows MUST be purchased from the camp. This policy is required in order to keep foreign species out of the lake. The Round Goby is just one example of invasive species that have had devastating consequences on the Great Lakes water system. They can only enter the Arctic watershed (i.e. Basket Lake) via a bait bucket.

4. ALL barbs on single and treble hooks MUST BE crimped. All lures are allowed a MAXIMUM of 1 treble hook. It has been the law for over a decade.

5. All tackle MUST NOT contain lead. It is the leading cause of death in loons, seagulls and eagles.

Recommendations

Hooks

1. Circle hooks favor shallow hooking in comparison to J-hooks.

2. The larger the hook, the greater the tissue injury.

3. Survival rates are higher for deeply hooked fish when the line is cut and the hook left in place than when the hook is removed.

Landing/Handling

1. The duration of an actual angling event (i.e. reeling in a fish) correlates positively with the severity of physiological disturbance. The longer you ‘play’ a fish, the higher the rate of fish death due to lactic acid buildup.

2. Anything that reduces slime loss or injury to fish is useful such as using rubber nets and wet hands.

3. Air exposure occurs after capture when anglers remove hooks, weigh and measure fish, and/or hold fish for photographs. Extended exposure to air results in permanent tissue damage.