Minnesota Outdoorsman
Minnesota - Specific Areas => Mille Lacs- Aitkin County Lakes => Topic started by: Lee Borgersen on August 08/05/19, 03:21:36 AM
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: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:
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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.
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them damn geese and ducks need AIS inspections I tell ya!!!!!! :doofus: :doofus:
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And I know JUST the guy to do it! :rotflmao:
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And I know JUST the guy to do it! :rotflmao:
Dotch!!! :happy1: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:
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:angry2: Da anti's prolly planted um in dare ta disrupt existing and future mine-in ! :mad1:
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Naa, they woulda tossed a couple spotted owls and wood turtles down in there.....
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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:
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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:
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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.
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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:
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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.
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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.
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You've never been able to convince me waterfowl DON'T move AIS from lake to lake.
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And I know JUST the guy to do it! :rotflmao:
Dotch!!! :happy1: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:
Glenn!!!!
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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?
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And I know JUST the guy to do it! :rotflmao:
Dotch!!! :happy1: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:
Glenn!!!!
:happy1: :happy1: how I do my best thinking.
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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?
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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:
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It's the Russians, Trump and Epstein I tell ya! :happy1:
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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:
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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:
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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.
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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....
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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..
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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:
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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.
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And otters & muskrats! I hear they eat 'em like popcorn! :rotflmao:
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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:
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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:
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I think the reason the DNR has never investigated the bird/mammal theory, just people and boats, is because you can't write a paying ticket to a duck.
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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:
So they say, boober.....who knows?
Origin and Spread
The zebra mussel is native to Eastern Europe and Western Russia. The species was unintentionally first introduced into the United States’ Great Lakes through the discharge of contaminated cargo ship ballast water. They were first discovered in the Great Lakes in 1988 and were first confirmed in the Duluth/Superior Harbor in 1989. Refer to EDDMapS Midwest for current distribution.
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Opossums never used to be in MN neither. So now they are common. I wonder if leprosy
will become more prevalent too. Isn't that what possums were supposed to spread???
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Boy, why the heck would they wanna move here?! :rotflmao:
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:rotflmao: :rotflmao: :confused: :sleazy:
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Opossums never used to be in MN neither. So now they are common. I wonder if leprosy
will become more prevalent too. Isn't that what possums were supposed to spread???
so LPS, you got jed and grannies possom stew recipe??? :scratch: :rotflmao:
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https://youtu.be/GAaUcExaMfA
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the DNR just announced that walleye season ends on Mille LACS sept 6th. :doah:
MEH............who cares!!!!!!!!!! :doofus: :doofus: :doofus: :pouty:
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Not I, said the Red Hen. :moon:
August 26, 2019 11:38 AM
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - The state is closing walleye fishing on Mille Lacs Lake effective Friday, Sept. 6, so sport anglers don't exceed the lake's safe harvest level.
The Department of Natural Resources cites high angling pressure and catch rates in July and August, when warm water increased hooking mortality and resulted in a larger-than-expected walleye kill.
The DNR this year allowed anglers on the popular lake to keep one walleye through May 31 before it returned to catch-and-release-only walleye fishing. It was the first time since 2015 that Mille Lacs anglers could keep a walleye during the open-water season.
Starting Sept. 6 at 12:01 a.m. anglers can't legally target walleyes on Mille Lacs, but may fish for other species.
Regulations for the 2019-2020 Mille Lacs ice fishing season will be announced in November.
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They die anyway (which is very debatable) but we can't keep them, what kind of person thinks this crap up?
Heck with trying to clone sheep thru old DNA, let's clone Custer!!!!! :tut:
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Heck with trying to clone sheep thru old DNA, let's clone Custer!!!!!
I get the reference, but I prefer Patton. Patton didn't cotton to :bs: and he was a better tactician.
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My hero was kernel klink!! :sleazy: :rotflmao:
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My hero was kernel klink!! :sleazy: :rotflmao:
He grew corn? :scratch:
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My hero was kernel klink!! :sleazy: :rotflmao:
(https://media.giphy.com/media/uuLoE7NVuQdc4/giphy.gif)
But seriously - managing the lake for sport fishing with what is left over is a no win situation and a thankless job.
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My hero was kernel klink!! :sleazy: :rotflmao:
:happy1: More of a Sgt. Schultz guy myself. ;) :laugh: 1 issue with ML IMO is it's location, too EZ for too many. :sad: Natives included. :pouty:
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I think it should be you catch 3 (or whatever number) fish and have to keep them all. Then you go home. No releasing fish and there is no slot. 3 fish any size you keep em. BIG fine if caught putting a fish back. Some negatives to this but I still think it is the most fair for fisherman and the fish. I remember at times big dead walleyes floated all over from being caught in warm water. Having this system will be fewer dead wasted fish and guys can bring some fish. Bummer if you catch 3 12". But next time you may catch a big one.
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My hero was kernel klink!! :sleazy: :rotflmao:
:happy1: More of a Sgt. Schultz guy myself. ;) :laugh: 1 issue with ML IMO is it's location, too EZ for too many. :sad: Natives included. :pouty:
thinkim more on the lines of gilligan!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:
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The DNR themselves says there is a high population of walleye's in the lake and that was part of their decision in this. Still we have a quota and now a ban on fishing for walleye's. Talking to the resort owners and how many walleye they are catching daily and releasing this argument on quotas and bans is insane. I agree with the resort owners and the majority of the fishermen. The DNR in this case is catering to the native's there period. They talk about the cash that flowe's to the stuffed shirts in St. Paul. They talk about how their rights are taken away while the native's there {Casino owners} are trying to devalue the property value's all around the lake. How they are buying up property's around the lake ect. The DNR should Cut the limit of walleye's to 4 and institute a slot limit. Lake full of walleye's yet they throw a bone to the anglers "you can have one now, and none later" BS. This has gone on long enough while restricting fishing to anglers to what goal? Is it the goal to restrict fishing to anglers for years to come as in past years. Looks like that goal is working. good luck.
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They need to replace the DNR boobs with you guys. :happy1:
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My hero was kernel klink!! :sleazy: :rotflmao:
:happy1: More of a Sgt. Schultz guy myself. ;) :laugh: 1 issue with ML IMO is it's location, too EZ for too many. :sad: Natives included. :pouty:
thinkim more on the lines of gilligan!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:
:offtopic: :offtopic: :offtopic: :offtopic: :offtopic: :offtopic: :tut: :pouty:
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Go on Johnsons Portside Resort and the owner has a great video which explains everything. This guy is the real deal. good luck.
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Ya I saw that RH. Good video and talk about the lake.
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Does he agree with the Supreme Court and thee blue ribbon commission?
Personally I think maybe they ought to handle a lake like mile lacs more like hunting. Or BWCA.
There are so many day fishing permits. You get to put in your application and there is a drawing for the permits which limits the number of angler days per period of time (day, week, whatever) to a level compatible with the allowable harvest. Fish for whatever you want, even keep a walleye or two. Apply the system year around.
Just a suggestion, since the lake seems incapable of handling the fishing pressure it is seeing.
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Just a suggestion, since the lake seems incapable of handling the fishing pressure it is seeing.
yea, especially the spring netting.
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Go on Johnsons Portside Resort and the owner has a great video which explains everything. This guy is the real deal. good luck.
Do he have it posted on YouTube?
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Don't know. He come's on Facebook with a weekly report. Didn't see a link so I googled Johnsons Portside and scrolled down and there it was. good luck.
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Does he agree with the Supreme Court and thee blue ribbon commission?
Personally I think maybe they ought to handle a lake like mile lacs more like hunting. Or BWCA.
There are so many day fishing permits. You get to put in your application and there is a drawing for the permits Incorrect In 2019 it is first come first serve and the system broke down twice :taz: which limits the number of angler days per period of time (day, week, whatever) to a level compatible with the allowable harvest. Fish for whatever you want, even keep a walleye or two. Apply the system year around.
Just a suggestion, since the lake seems incapable of handling the fishing pressure it is seeing.
Wit limited access (permit system) such as suggested yer lookin at a disaster such as what happened dis season in da BWCA. :doah: The ANTIS' (environmental groups) :moon: will gobble up as many limited access permits as day can. They have no intention of using dem. :tut: But da goal is to prevent da sportsman from getting access to fish and boat on a specific body of water because of limited permit availability. :doah: Dis way saving the lake from destruction! :crazy:
:angry2:
Without permits people will not be able to come ta fish. Would you sill come to M.Lacs if you can't get a permit ? Resorts and businesses will all suffer and many will have ta go out of business someware along da line. How would you like ta have property on the lake but can't even fish it because da limited permits are all spoken for :banghead:
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AND the Indians will buy each property as they sell out. That is the Grand Plan ya know!!
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AND the Indians will buy each property as they sell out. That is the Grand Plan ya know!!
yes it is.............stay AWAY FROM the casinos until they pay taxes!!!!!!!!! :banghead: :banghead: training-087 :taz: :taz: :taz: :taz:
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They're already encroaching on CAWchester. But, they can have it. I don't want it.
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They're already encroaching on CAWchester. But, they can have it. I don't want it.
You and the old guy with no teeth that I bought corn from....
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:rotflmao: :rotflmao: :happy1:
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:popcorn:
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AND the Indians will buy each property as they sell out. That is the Grand Plan ya know!!
yes it is.............stay AWAY FROM the casinos until they pay taxes!!!!!!!!! :banghead: :banghead: training-087 :taz: :taz: :taz: :taz:
Most certainly is. My Dad was told that by the big shot of the Mille Lacs band many years ago when my Dad had his shop in Garrison. I certainly stay out of the casinos.
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They're already encroaching on CAWchester. But, they can have it. I don't want it.
You and the old guy with no teeth that I bought corn from....
You can take over and be Mayor of CAWchester, land of diversity and native Minnysoda peoples Casinos. Maybe they'll stick a Great Spirit blessed eagle fedder in yer hat and name ya Little Big man, or the Great Wazoo.....
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They're already encroaching on CAWchester. But, they can have it. I don't want it.
You and the old guy with no teeth that I bought corn from....
You can take over and be Mayor of CAWchester, land of diversity and native Minnysoda peoples Casinos. Maybe they'll stick a Great Spirit blessed eagle fedder in yer hat and name ya Little Big man, or the Great Wazoo.....
Nah, not me. I'm too honest and forthright. Besides, Mayor has no power. City Council president maybe. Or even a member. If that Wojcik dude can do it so could I.
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Well, this town NEEDS some honesty! Graft and BS run amuck! Go for it! I hear they are installing a new meter in the city council chambers. Checks the amount of BS.
Been getting E-mails,from safety/pedestrian DMC council, wondering If I'd consider coming back as safety advisor.....NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :moon:
New meter:
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One walleye allowed for Lake Mille Lacs winter anglers starting Dec. 1
:popcorn: .....
Winter anglers on Mille Lacs Lake will enjoy a walleye harvest this winter for the fourth season in a row, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Similar to last season, anglers will be allowed to keep walleye on Mille Lacs starting Sunday, Dec. 1, with a limit of one walleye between 21-23 inches, or one fish over 28 inches.
“It’s good news that anglers will be able to harvest walleye again this winter,” said Sarah Strommen, DNR commissioner. “We’re encouraged to see evidence that our conservative approach to Mille Lacs is paying off, allowing continued walleye angling opportunities on this renowned fishing lake.”
Anglers are expected to make Mille Lacs a destination this coming winter. Under very similar regulations, anglers spent about 2 million hours fishing on Mille Lacs each of the last three winters.
“When the walleye population can support it, we want to provide anglers the opportunity to harvest some fish,” said Brad Parsons, DNR fisheries section manager. “As in recent winters, we’re confident that the walleye population is healthy enough to support some harvest.”
“We expect the walleye bite to be quite good on Mille Lacs this winter, which will likely result in a lot of fishing pressure and a relatively high harvest,” Parsons said. “Feedback from our advisory committee and the community has consistently been that a fish in the winter is the first priority for harvest.”
“If high catch rates continue this winter, harvest may exceed the 15,000 pounds of walleye taken last winter. This may also directly affect open water angling opportunities,” Parsons added.
Harvest from the winter of 2019-20 will be counted toward the state’s annual share of walleye from Mille Lacs under the 1837 treaty. State anglers share the safe harvest level with eight Chippewa tribes that have fishing rights under the treaty. The state’s allowable harvest for the coming year will be set in early 2020 through discussions between the state and the tribes.
Winter regulations are set after completion of the DNR’s annual fall netting assessment of the lake. The DNR’s 2019 assessment found that the walleye population has remained relatively stable over the past three years, having rebounded from population lows seen from 2012 – 2016.
Conservative fishing regulations in response to the population lows have contributed to the recovery, and allowed the DNR to offer a harvest opportunity in recent winters as well as in May 2019 during the open water fishing season.
Insights into fall assessments
While encouraged by the rebound in walleye abundance, the DNR continues to take a cautious approach to managing the fishery. Survival of walleye to age 3 and older has been inconsistent in recent years. The fish hatched six years ago – referred to as the 2013 year class – are now 17-21 inches and continue to dominate the population, accounting for about 40 percent of the fish caught in fall test netting. Year classes formed since 2013 show mixed results.
Numbers of walleye from the 2014 and 2015 year classes remain below the 15-year average. The 2016 year class appears close to average, while the 2017 year class, now between 12 and 14 inches in length, is above average in abundance. The size of the 2017 year class is significant because since 2008, only the 2013 year class had been average-or-above.
“We are encouraged to see additional year classes that will contribute to the fishery in the future,” Parsons said. “Having multiple year classes approaching maturity makes us more comfortable with starting to harvest some of the 2013 year-class under this winter’s regulation.”
The assessment also looks at food abundance and walleye health. Perch and tullibee are the primary food source for Mille Lacs’ walleye. Perch and tullibee from 0 to 2 years old were caught in moderate numbers.
Walleye condition, or “plumpness,” remained lower than recent averages. The relatively thin condition of fish suggest that forage was limited during parts of this year. This contributed to the high catch rates in Mille Lacs this summer. Limited forage usually results in a good walleye bite because there is less food available for fish to eat, making an angler’s bait all the more attractive.
Complete winter fishing regulations for Mille Lacs Lake is available on the DNR website at mndnr.gov/millelacslake.
Categories: Ice Fishing, News, Walleye
Tags: DNR, Ice fishing, Lake Mille Lacs, Minnesota, Walleye, winter limit
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Screw that lake! :confused:
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Low forage numbers to means there are a lot of predators meaning lot's of walleye's which is reported by all the resort owners. The DNR [which I respect and believe are doing a good job generally] are flat out not telling it like it is as far as this lake. The lake is full of walleyes, Loaded. To me they are with the tribes more than they are with the anglers who pay to stock the lake and support local buisness's there. I talked to one guide on one of the launches I fished on this year. He was not a happy camper. he is seeing local resorts, gas stations and more being bought up by the tribe to control most of the lake in the future. He talked about the hundreds of walleyes his launch gets daily. Just one of the 4 launches. I will go back and support that resort when I can. No reason the limit can't go to at least 3 or for within a slot limit, none. This is political not reality. DNR and the Tribes vs the anglers of Minnesota and any buisness that is localy owned there. good luck.
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great post Reiny……… especially that part about the tribes buying everything up. I've said that from the very beginning of the casinos being built. white man goes spends there money at a place that doesn't pay taxes, gets U.S government subsidies then goes to buying up everything on the lake cause they got ridicules amounts of money to throw around!!!! :confused: :confused: :angry2: :angry2:
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Made it up last year, caught lots of walleyes. Several big fish but like the article stated lots of 19"ers ( 13 class). Managed 1 slot fish but being that size I knew it was full of eggs. Why would they let us keep a fish between 21 and 23 ?? Are they not prime reproducers? We'll head up that way a couple times this year, i guess if i dont keep the slot fish we all know who will..
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I miss the big lake greatly. I use to sled and porty way out to the flats, behind Spirit, Jug, all over, but I'm not unloading the sled and riding miles out there for one fish! Can't even seem to get many nice Jumbos any more! :pouty: