Walleye Slot Limits: Watch the Shrinkage!

I was just reading the latest in-fisherman this morning. One of the articles was quite interesting. They related the story of a man who got caught with a fish just a fraction of an inch below the slot limit. He was positive that when he measured the fish it was exactly the right length. He went on to claim that the fish had shrunk.

A study was commissioned to verify whether the man's claims were possible. It turns out that over time, dead fish will shrink, and the amount of shrinking depends, among other things, on the temperature at which it is stored. Fish that is put on ice will lose up to 1/2 inch over just a few hours.

The moral of the story is this: If you fish lakes with slot limits, don't take a chance with walleye that are within 1/2 inch of the slot limit. They may well shrink and cause you a lot of grief.