DULUTH, Minn. - The state senator who chairs the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee might try to push the state walleye fishing opener a week earlier but put a tighter limit on the statewide limit, from six to four daily.
DFL Sen. Satveer Chaudhary of Fridley suggested the changes in a letter to the state DNR commissioner and reported by the Duluth News-Tribune. He said the Legislature would consider the changes in the session starting in February.
Assistant DNR Commissioner Bob Meier says the agency already is considering some of Chaudhary's ideas.
Meier says the agency has looked at lowering the limit to four walleyes, with one fish over 28 inches. But he says the DNR hasn't discussed opening the walleye fishing season a week earlier.
In a letter to Commissioner Mark Holsten, Chaudhary said moving up the date would bring the state's dates in line with neighboring states and reduce conflicts with Mother's Day. It would mean a May 2nd opener in 2009, instead of May 9th.
