04-19-2004, 06:55 PM
[font "Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][#000000][size 2]ST. PAUL, MN—Recently released information by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) delivers an important message to anglers: When fishing bedded 'gills, keep some females but throw males back! [/size][/#000000][/font]
[font "Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][#000000][size 2]Brady Becker, assistant DNR area fisheries manager, says that while this might seem contradictory to typical fish management strategies, which almost exclusively protect females, there is good reason for releasing male bluegills.[/size][/#000000][/font]
[font "Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][#000000][size 2]"The males play a critical role during the spawn," Becker explains. "They fan out the nests for females and guard the eggs and fry. But most importantly, by keeping small, genetically inferior male bluegills away from the nest, they may actually help prevent stunting."[/size][/#000000][/font]
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[font "Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][#000000][size 2]Brady Becker, assistant DNR area fisheries manager, says that while this might seem contradictory to typical fish management strategies, which almost exclusively protect females, there is good reason for releasing male bluegills.[/size][/#000000][/font]
[font "Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][#000000][size 2]"The males play a critical role during the spawn," Becker explains. "They fan out the nests for females and guard the eggs and fry. But most importantly, by keeping small, genetically inferior male bluegills away from the nest, they may actually help prevent stunting."[/size][/#000000][/font]
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TheAngler BFT Moderator
TheAngler BFT Moderator