Recent

Check Out Our Forum Tab!

Click On The "Forum" Tab Under The Logo For More Content!
If you are using your phone, click on the menu, then select forum. Make sure you refresh the page!
The views of the poster, may not be the views of the website of "Minnesota Outdoorsman" therefore we are not liable for what our members post, they are solely responsible for what they post. They agreed to a user agreement when signing up to MNO.

Author Topic: More on Mill Lacs ........  (Read 12422 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Lee Borgersen

  • AKA "Smallmouthguide"
  • Pro-Staff
  • Master Outdoorsman
  • *
  • Posts: 15328
  • Karma: +40/-562
  • 2008-2011-2018-2019 2020 Fish Challenge Champ!
    • Lee's Lake Geneva Guide Service
 :coffee: .....
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) held a community conversation at Mille Lacs - Kathio State Park on July 16,

in efforts to gain public input to create their fisheries management plan on Mille Lacs Lake. This event was one of three meetings held; one meeting was in Brainerd on July 11, and another meeting was held in St. Paul on July 18.

 :police: ....
DNR Mille Lacs Fisheries Supervisor Tom Heinrich began the meeting welcoming the crowd of approximately 20 people gathered, three times the number gathered in Brainerd, to hear what he had to say.

Heinrich acknowledged that the DNR has “worked in a bit of a vacuum” :doofus: and has done what “we think people want.” He added, “By engaging the public, we’ll get input and listen to you to set up goals so the users of the resources will have more satisfaction.”

 :popcorn: .....
The audience was walked through a DNR walleye population timeline, along with a summarized history of tribal fishing treaty rights in relation to the Minnesota DNR fisheries management. A Q & A session was opened up with the formation of break-out groups designed to get more detailed thoughts from those gathered. Heinrich said a draft plan will be available for public viewing late fall or early winter on the DNR website. 

What does the DNR have to say?

Heinrich led the discussion by saying the plan wasn’t just for walleye but recognized walleye are the “big player on the lake and probably always will be.” He said the DNR can’t do whatever it wants on the lake for three reasons: Biological, legal and social.

“The lake isn’t the same lake it was in the 80s and 90s. :embarrassed: In the mid 1990s, we started seeing clear water, and the most likely causes are that we improved sewage treatment and some agricultural and forestry practices. Improved land usage and sewage meant less nutrients (nutrients are needed for the growth of algae that form the base of a complex food web supporting the aquatic ecosystem) into the lake,” he said.


The next thing they saw, he said, were zebra mussels. “They are filtering the little beasts and plants that form the base of the food web walleye feed on, and this caused a decline in the walleye population,” said Heinrich. He noted the invasion of the spiny water fleas to the lake in late 2009 which they believe reduced the abundance of zooplankton therefore reducing the prey species available for young walleye and perch. He added, however, that it is tough to blame the walleye population decline on any one thing since so many changes happened in a short period of time. :tut:

Heinrich noted that with the United States Supreme Court’s 1997 ruling on the hunting and fishing rights based on the 1837 Treaty for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and Fond du Lac Band, along with six Bands from Wisconsin, affect how many pounds of walleye can be taken from the lake each year between the state and the Band anglers.

“The way we currently manage the harvest is through the consensus agreement which is an agreement produced so we won’t have to go back to court,” said Heinrich. “The state not allowed to regulate harvest, methods, gear or time or place ... unless there’s a conservation or safety issue.”is  According to the agreement, the state must take restrictive actions prior to the tribes. “Going back to the Supreme Court is not part of the discussion and not going to be part of this management plan.”

He added the consensus agreement goes to the spring of 2020, and of the 150,000 pound safe walleye harvest limit for 2019, up to 62,200 pounds can go to the Band and up to 87,800 pounds can be taken by the state.

The DNR website says that the safe harvest determination has evolved over time and that originally they felt harvesting 24 percent of the walleye population greater than 14-inches was safe. However, they found that policy to be too liberal due to overharvest in some years.

He said the DNR observed the walleye population drop in 2012 during the peak of the zebra mussel population, noting that in the past three years, the zebra mussel population has  :scratch:

Social issues are also at play, Heinrich said. He said the DNR meets with the Mille Lacs Fisheries Advisory Committee (MLFAC) four times per year to check the heartbeat of the community. Heinrich explained that anglers have differing views on how to manage the lake’s fisheries depending on their interest in fishing whether it be harvesting a fish or sport fishing. Commercial, recreational and homeowner perspectives also vary.

The yellow perch population is currently very low and down to where it was in the 1980s, said Heinrich. “It isn’t clear why yellow perch are at a low level of abundance, but perch tend to decline after zebra mussel invasions. We feel that northern pike are pretty high and we could expand their harvest. The season is already longer than most of the state, and maybe we could have it open year round here,” he noted, adding smallmouth bass and muskies have similar management challenges. “Not because their species is depressed but because there is virtually no interest in harvesting these species. The bass population went up as the water started to clear. Pike, who are sight-orientated, also started expanding and taking advantage of the clear water.”

What do the people say?

Four questions have been presented to anglers during an annual creel survey (a survey given to anglers to analyze data on fish and to get an idea of the fishing quality and recreational pressure a lake has been subject to): 1) Do you fish for walleye? 2) What is the main reason you fish for walleye on Mille Lacs? 3) How important is the opportunity to harvest a walleye? 4) Would you support extending the walleye harvest season to June 15 if it meant there was a walleye closure from July 15 to August 31?

Gauging what interest there is in a trade off is something the DNR wants to look at, he said.

Audience members brought up issues concerning gillnetting (a net sampling method used to trends in abundance), the reliability of hooking mortality rate, and tribal netting practices. :doofus:

In-shore nets, to determine walleye population, were brought up by an audience member who questioned the accuracy of the count when walleye don’t prefer shallow, warm water. “Wouldn’t in-shore nets be getting less because they’ve moved out?”

Heinrich replied, “We have off-shore nets, and they are showing similar results to the near-shore nets.” He added that other estimating methods, not based on gillnetting, show similar results. “During the low period in 2015, we were looking at a quarter million [walleye], and now we have three quarter million with about seven to eight estimates.”

One audience member referenced the timeline of walleye decline, asking, “When did the Band start netting?” He added the netting started out slow but increased as time went on. Heinrich responded by saying they can only address the state’s fishing practices, not the Band’s.

Another audience member asked about hooking mortality and how the DNR estimates the number of walleye that die after they’re caught and released. Based on angler reports to creel clerks, the poundage of walleye and northern pike that die from hooking mortality is calculated and applied against the state’s harvest allocation, states the DNR website.

Heinrich explained the process to calculate this number, saying, “We had anglers go out fishing, and when we catch them, we put them in a tub and then bring them to a pen.” Heinrich admitted the fish are handled a fair amount and that there were a fairly large number in the pens. “Basically what we found is that hooking mortality goes up as water gets warmer.”

Comments in the breakout groups ranged widely from “We would like to eat more walleye” to “the lake always seemed to take care of itself in the 70s and 80s.” :moon:

Rep. Dale Lueck (District 10B), Aitkin said, “When the lake does good, everyone can enjoy it and make an investment in it. And when it doesn’t, it can really plunder the economy.”

One participant said, “If you are trying to take care of the fisheries, close it in the summer.” :banghead:

A lake business owner responded, “Do you realize the impact that would have on the resorts? Launch businesses would be hugely affected. What brings people to the lake is fishing in the summer.” :taz:

“I used to be able to keep six fish and now it’s zero, except for a very short time. The slots change all the time, and fighting the regulations is frustrating. The number one priority is that I want to fish and keep some fish. This burns me real bad,” said another group participant. :pouty:

Regional Fisheries Manager (Central Region) Brian Nerbonne said, “We have a better walleye population and still trying to figure out how the lake is going to behave and don’t want to make rash decisions and say we need to bring the walleye population down because there is less forage. The fish aren’t turning belly up and dying like in other areas which had fishing open up temporarily. We’re not there yet.”

Dean Hanson, co-chair of MLFAC, said, “I want to hear what other people have to say so we can represent everyone. It is what it is right now, and they [DNR] are so limited in what they can do.”

Community input is still being gathered online through August 1. The survey can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MilleLacs.


The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) held a community conversation at Mille Lacs - Kathio State Park on July 16,

            :Photography:


[attachment deleted by admin]
« Last Edit: August 08/05/19, 03:29:19 AM by Lee Borgersen »
Proud Member of the CWCS.
http://www.cwcs.org

Member of Walleyes For Tomorrow.
www.walleyesfortomorrow.org

              Many BWCA Reports
http://leeslakegenevaguideservice.com/boundry_%2712.htm

If you help someone when they're in trouble, they will remember you when they're in trouble again

Offline Rebel SS

  • Master Outdoorsman
  • Posts: 26405
  • Karma: +185/-50
  • "Seems like time is here and gone".....Doobie's

DNR: Zebra mussels discovered in Minnesota mine pit      :scratch:
August 10, 2019 02:23 PM

VIRGINIA, Minn. (AP) - The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is trying to figure out how damaging zebra mussels ended up in a mine pit on the Iron Range.
   
The agency said Friday it has confirmed zebra mussels in the Rouchleau Mine Pit near Virginia in northeastern Minnesota.
   
DNR invasive species specialist Richard Rezanka tells the Star Tribune the pit is closed to the public and its waters have seen little, if any, activity.
   
Cleveland Cliffs, the mining company that owns the property, had been pumping water from the pit into a drainage ditch. Rezanka says after discovering the mussels, the company notified the DNR and immediately stopped pumping the water.
   
The DNR will inspect the surrounding waterways to see if any zebra mussels were able to establish a home downstream.

Online glenn57

  • Master Outdoorsman
  • Posts: 44760
  • Karma: +207/-191
  • 2015 deer contest champ!!!
them damn geese and ducks need AIS inspections I tell ya!!!!!! :doofus: :doofus:
2015 deer slayer!!!!!!!!!!

Offline Rebel SS

  • Master Outdoorsman
  • Posts: 26405
  • Karma: +185/-50
  • "Seems like time is here and gone".....Doobie's
And I know JUST the guy to do it!   :rotflmao:

[attachment deleted by admin]

Online glenn57

  • Master Outdoorsman
  • Posts: 44760
  • Karma: +207/-191
  • 2015 deer contest champ!!!
2015 deer slayer!!!!!!!!!!

Offline Lee Borgersen

  • AKA "Smallmouthguide"
  • Pro-Staff
  • Master Outdoorsman
  • *
  • Posts: 15328
  • Karma: +40/-562
  • 2008-2011-2018-2019 2020 Fish Challenge Champ!
    • Lee's Lake Geneva Guide Service
:angry2: Da anti's prolly planted um in dare ta disrupt existing and future mine-in ! :mad1:

[attachment deleted by admin]
Proud Member of the CWCS.
http://www.cwcs.org

Member of Walleyes For Tomorrow.
www.walleyesfortomorrow.org

              Many BWCA Reports
http://leeslakegenevaguideservice.com/boundry_%2712.htm

If you help someone when they're in trouble, they will remember you when they're in trouble again

Offline Rebel SS

  • Master Outdoorsman
  • Posts: 26405
  • Karma: +185/-50
  • "Seems like time is here and gone".....Doobie's
Naa, they woulda tossed a couple spotted owls and wood turtles down in there.....
« Last Edit: August 08/11/19, 05:25:32 PM by Rebel SS »

Offline Lee Borgersen

  • AKA "Smallmouthguide"
  • Pro-Staff
  • Master Outdoorsman
  • *
  • Posts: 15328
  • Karma: +40/-562
  • 2008-2011-2018-2019 2020 Fish Challenge Champ!
    • Lee's Lake Geneva Guide Service
Naa, they woulda tossed a couple spotted owls and wood turtles down in there.....

Nice goin bro :moon: Who's side are ya on here. :scratch: When day see yer post der gunna follow up on yer idea! :mad1:  :pouty:
Proud Member of the CWCS.
http://www.cwcs.org

Member of Walleyes For Tomorrow.
www.walleyesfortomorrow.org

              Many BWCA Reports
http://leeslakegenevaguideservice.com/boundry_%2712.htm

If you help someone when they're in trouble, they will remember you when they're in trouble again

Offline Rebel SS

  • Master Outdoorsman
  • Posts: 26405
  • Karma: +185/-50
  • "Seems like time is here and gone".....Doobie's
Not with the owl feathers and turtle shell clocks in their wig... er, houses...they'll get busted for messin' with endangered species, and locked up!  :police:

Offline Reinhard

  • Master Outdoorsman
  • Posts: 2384
  • Karma: +56/-68
Not just as in this story but state wide.  Sure invasive's get put in by some anglers but it is always my opinion that waterfowl do the most invasive contributations.  Even fish species that have no buisness in some lake's get discovered by the DNR in their test nettings.  I myself have fished small lake's that are remote with no creeks entering it, have all of the sudden had bass for example that were never stocked in them.  More examples of that in a variety of lakes are noted in the DNR lake finder.  The DNR say's they have no idea how they got there but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this out with ducks and geese getting their feet stuck with fish eggs and traveling from lake to lake.  good luck.

Online Leech~~

  • Master Outdoorsman
  • Posts: 3211
  • Karma: +25/-133
them damn geese and ducks need AIS inspections I tell ya!!!!!! :doofus: :doofus:

I've been saying Waterfowl for years. I even had a long discussion with one of them DNR AIS folks at Da MN fair at their booth and he said No way!
I still say it's the birds moving from lake to lake in minutes!  :coffee:
Cooking over a open fire is all fun and games until someone losses a wiener!

Offline delcecchi

  • Master Outdoorsman
  • Posts: 3692
  • Karma: +19/-374
Not just as in this story but state wide.  Sure invasive's get put in by some anglers but it is always my opinion that waterfowl do the most invasive contributations.  Even fish species that have no buisness in some lake's get discovered by the DNR in their test nettings.  I myself have fished small lake's that are remote with no creeks entering it, have all of the sudden had bass for example that were never stocked in them.  More examples of that in a variety of lakes are noted in the DNR lake finder.  The DNR say's they have no idea how they got there but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this out with ducks and geese getting their feet stuck with fish eggs and traveling from lake to lake.  good luck.

Or  some dude with a couple 5 gallon buckets...  bass lay eggs in nests in several feet of water.   No evidence eggs are sticky.   

Midnight stocking is my guess.

Offline Reinhard

  • Master Outdoorsman
  • Posts: 2384
  • Karma: +56/-68
Yes they do.  However 1 to 5 feet is most common.  No evidence that the eggs are sticky or even if they are not they can still be lodged somewhere on the duck.  www.askbassfishing.com/spawning-largemouth-bass.html  good luck.

Offline Rebel SS

  • Master Outdoorsman
  • Posts: 26405
  • Karma: +185/-50
  • "Seems like time is here and gone".....Doobie's
You've never been able to convince me waterfowl DON'T move AIS from lake to lake.

Online Dotch

  • MNO Moderator
  • Master Outdoorsman
  • *
  • Posts: 12278
  • Karma: +57/-8
And I know JUST the guy to do it!   :rotflmao:
Dotch!!! :happy1: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:

Glenn!!!!



[attachment deleted by admin]
Time itself is bought and sold, the spreading fear of growing old contains a thousand foolish games that we play. (Neil Young)

Offline Rebel SS

  • Master Outdoorsman
  • Posts: 26405
  • Karma: +185/-50
  • "Seems like time is here and gone".....Doobie's
Ducks and geese scoop 'em up, and poop 'em  out 5 mns later while flying over a lake...you know, like sh** thru a goose. Who says that kills 'em?
« Last Edit: August 08/12/19, 06:46:45 PM by Rebel SS »

Online glenn57

  • Master Outdoorsman
  • Posts: 44760
  • Karma: +207/-191
  • 2015 deer contest champ!!!
2015 deer slayer!!!!!!!!!!

Offline Bobberineyes

  • Master Outdoorsman
  • Posts: 6010
  • Karma: +36/-17
Ducks and geese have been around alot longer than all of us,  moving from one body of water to the next. Sure they might have something to do with it but it's on us to blame!! They've been saying for years the waterfowl migration has shifted more to the west, hows those lakes doing compared to ours?

Online Leech~~

  • Master Outdoorsman
  • Posts: 3211
  • Karma: +25/-133
You've never been able to convince me waterfowl DON'T move AIS from lake to lake.

Echo, echo, is there an Echo in in here?  :shocked: I think I done said that above!  :doah:
Cooking over a open fire is all fun and games until someone losses a wiener!

Online glenn57

  • Master Outdoorsman
  • Posts: 44760
  • Karma: +207/-191
  • 2015 deer contest champ!!!
It's the Russians, Trump and Epstein I tell ya! :happy1:
2015 deer slayer!!!!!!!!!!

Online Leech~~

  • Master Outdoorsman
  • Posts: 3211
  • Karma: +25/-133
Ducks and geese have been around alot longer than all of us,  moving from one body of water to the next. Sure they might have something to do with it but it's on us to blame!! They've been saying for years the waterfowl migration has shifted more to the west, hows those lakes doing compared to ours?

You may want to look up how many other water birds there are it's not just Ducks and geese, Loon!   :rotflmao:

[attachment deleted by admin]
« Last Edit: August 08/12/19, 07:21:43 PM by Leech~~ »
Cooking over a open fire is all fun and games until someone losses a wiener!

Online glenn57

  • Master Outdoorsman
  • Posts: 44760
  • Karma: +207/-191
  • 2015 deer contest champ!!!
Ducks and geese have been around alot longer than all of us,  moving from one body of water to the next. Sure they might have something to do with it but it's on us to blame!! They've been saying for years the waterfowl migration has shifted more to the west, hows those lakes doing compared to ours?

You may want to look up how many other water birds there are it's not just Ducks and geese, Loon!   :rotflmao:
I agree, there's Rebs rubber ducky!! :confused: :rotflmao:
2015 deer slayer!!!!!!!!!!

Offline LPS

  • Master Outdoorsman
  • Posts: 23698
  • Karma: +70/-14
It's all of us.  There is a lot more of us than there used to be so we and the waterfowl are spreading it.   

Offline Rebel SS

  • Master Outdoorsman
  • Posts: 26405
  • Karma: +185/-50
  • "Seems like time is here and gone".....Doobie's
You've never been able to convince me waterfowl DON'T move AIS from lake to lake.

Echo, echo, is there an Echo in in here?  :shocked: I think I done said that above!  :doah:

Well, I speak for myself! Or, you can say I agree with ya, Glenn!  :rotflmao: ECHO....ECHO...ECHO....
« Last Edit: August 08/12/19, 07:33:12 PM by Rebel SS »

Offline Bobberineyes

  • Master Outdoorsman
  • Posts: 6010
  • Karma: +36/-17
Ducks and geese have been around alot longer than all of us,  moving from one body of water to the next. Sure they might have something to do with it but it's on us to blame!! They've been saying for years the waterfowl migration has shifted more to the west, hows those lakes doing compared to ours?

You may want to look up how many other water birds there are it's not just Ducks and geese, Loon!   :rotflmao:
So your saying ducks, geese , loons, herons and other birds didn't move around from lake to lake back in the day before all the problems.. ITS ALL MAN MADE and spreads from there..

Offline Rebel SS

  • Master Outdoorsman
  • Posts: 26405
  • Karma: +185/-50
  • "Seems like time is here and gone".....Doobie's
Ducks and geese have been around alot longer than all of us,  moving from one body of water to the next. Sure they might have something to do with it but it's on us to blame!! They've been saying for years the waterfowl migration has shifted more to the west, hows those lakes doing compared to ours?

You may want to look up how many other water birds there are it's not just Ducks and geese, Loon!   :rotflmao:

Ya forgot the one in Duluth Harbor yday too!  :shocked:

[attachment deleted by admin]

Offline LPS

  • Master Outdoorsman
  • Posts: 23698
  • Karma: +70/-14
OR how about a bear or a beaver that spend lots of time in the water.  Mom makes the young go look for their own body of water.   SO they must be spreading them too. 

Offline Rebel SS

  • Master Outdoorsman
  • Posts: 26405
  • Karma: +185/-50
  • "Seems like time is here and gone".....Doobie's
And otters & muskrats! I hear they eat 'em like popcorn!   :rotflmao:

Online Leech~~

  • Master Outdoorsman
  • Posts: 3211
  • Karma: +25/-133
Ducks and geese have been around alot longer than all of us,  moving from one body of water to the next. Sure they might have something to do with it but it's on us to blame!! They've been saying for years the waterfowl migration has shifted more to the west, hows those lakes doing compared to ours?

You may want to look up how many other water birds there are it's not just Ducks and geese, Loon!   :rotflmao:
So your saying ducks, geese , loons, herons and other birds didn't move around from lake to lake back in the day before all the problems.. ITS ALL MAN MADE and spreads from there..

Man made Zebs and weeds?  Wow.  :bow:   :bonk: :bonk:
Cooking over a open fire is all fun and games until someone losses a wiener!

Offline Bobberineyes

  • Master Outdoorsman
  • Posts: 6010
  • Karma: +36/-17
Ducks and geese have been around alot longer than all of us,  moving from one body of water to the next. Sure they might have something to do with it but it's on us to blame!! They've been saying for years the waterfowl migration has shifted more to the west, hows those lakes doing compared to ours?

You may want to look up how many other water birds there are it's not just Ducks and geese, Loon!   :rotflmao:
So your saying ducks, geese , loons, herons and other birds didn't move around from lake to lake back in the day before all the problems.. ITS ALL MAN MADE and spreads from there..

Man made Zebs and weeds?  Wow.  :bow:   :bonk: :bonk:
  So back when your old man was baiting your hooks the lakes were not good??? And you blame the birds.. :bonk: :bonk: :bonk: