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This whole limit law was meant to stop the out of stae meat hunters that come and take 5000 gills a week and take home to sell. Several groups a year would show up at the IGL's and do this. No matter what the DNR says this is the reason that started the push for limits. Unless you live here or fish it alot you can't begin to imagine the fish that are kept if the bites on, summer or winter.
I bet I could catch 5000 by myself here at some of the local spots in the summer. Most of them would be 3-5" long but those people dont care what size they are. If its a bluegill they keep it.
I have easily caught 100 to 150 gills in 3 hr time span fishing with the fly rod. But the only times I keep any fish are early in the spring and ice fishing and that is usually no more than 5 at a time. The rest of the year I'm there relaxing at getting away from farming matching my wit against the fish's smarts as I hate to eat fish out of warm water on account of a muddy taste. So with a group of 20 people fishing I could see where it could be quite easy to catch 5000 gills in a week on the waters of the IGL's.
After reading some DNR posts/thoughts on this pan fish limits I come to some conclusions.The 25 pan fish limit is a social law. (Made some citizens feel good.)The law is somewhat unenforceable. (Only the most blatant offender will be caught)Iowa lakes with the most pressure produce the largest size pan fish (Especially gills ..example : Both BC's )I'm personally OK with the 25 limit on public waters. I don't want to clean anymore than that ...