New MLacs pike winter regs

[Lee Borgersen]

        New Mille Lacs northern pike winter regulations begin Dec. 1

  .....
Anglers and dark-house spearers on Mille Lacs Lake this winter will have northern pike regulations that continue to allow plentiful harvest of smaller pike from the lake, while continuing to protect large fish.

The only change from current regulations is a reduction in daily bag from 10 to 5, which is consistent with input received from the new Mille Lacs Fisheries Advisory Committee and other anglers. 

"Northern pike are abundant in Mille Lacs Lake," said Brad Parsons, central region fisheries manager with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. "During the winter season that starts Tuesday, Dec. 1, regulations will be in effect that are meant to protect large pike while allowing a high harvest of smaller pike."

The Mille Lacs northern pike bag limit is five, and only one may be longer than 30 inches. Additionally, an earn-a-trophy regulation requires the harvest and possession of two pike less than 30 inches long on the same day before taking a pike longer than 30 inches. These regulations apply to both anglers and spearers.

On Mille Lacs, state regulations for party fishing apply. Anglers may party fish, and pike longer than 30 inches may be taken as long as the party has at least two small pike for each large pike harvested.

Spearers may not party fish, and therefore each spearer must harvest two small pike before spearing a larger pike. Spearers cannot accept pike caught by another person in order to fulfill the two-small-pike requirement.

Spearing for pike on Mille Lacs ends Sunday, Feb. 28, at the same time that the statewide angling and spearing seasons end. The angling season on Mille Lacs is extended through Sunday, March 27, to allow more late-season fishing opportunity. As a reminder, permanent fish houses must be removed from Mille Lacs Lake by March 7.

"This fall is much warmer than last fall, which may delay ice formation on Mille Lacs and many other lakes," Parsons said. "Be sure to check ice thickness before you go out and as you travel on early ice."

Spearers are reminded to push their blocks of ice back into or under the ice surface. If blocks of ice are left on the ice, mark them with branches or other biodegradable materials that make the block visible to others. For safety, filled holes also should be marked. 

For more information on Mille Lacs Lake management, see www.mndnr.gov/millelacslake. For dark-house spearing regulations, see www.mndnr.gov/regulations/fishing.

[Lee Borgersen]

          ...  what the

 Correction

DNR NEWS -- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                             Dec. 10, 2015

Correction on party fishing on Mille Lacs Lake

Anglers and dark-house spearers are advised to closely read the regulations regarding party fishing on Mille Lacs Lake. A previous Department of Natural Resources news release and online material describing this regulation was inaccurate.

Regulations became effective Dec.1 that set the northern pike bag limit at five. Each angler or spearer can keep one pike longer than 30 inches only by first harvesting and possessing two pike under 30 inches from Mille Lacs Lake on the same day and by keeping them in immediate possession.

Anglers wishing to harvest a pike longer than 30 inches may not accept a pike shorter than 30 inches from another angler in order to fulfill the two-fish-under-30 requirement. However, anglers not harvesting pike larger than 30 inches may party fish for pike shorter than 30 inches.

“The bottom line is you need to take two northern pike shorter than 30 inches yourself before harvesting a pike longer than 30 inches,” said Brad Parsons, central region fisheries manager with the DNR.

Consistent with statewide regulations, dark-house spearers are not allowed to party fish, which means each fish a spearer harvests counts only toward that person’s bag limit. Because dark-house spearers are not allowed to party fish, spearers are not allowed to accept pike from another person to fulfill the two-fish-under-30 requirement. 

For more information on Mille Lacs Lake management, see www.mndnr.gov/millelacslake. For Mille Lacs fishing and spearing regulations, see www.mndnr.gov/millelacslakeregs or contact the DNR Information Center at info.dnr@state.mn.us or 888-646-6367 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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[glenn57]

yea Lee I gotta agree. like that's going to be followed. the general consenses last year up there was, if you seen a lot of fish, which generally was in an area with weeds, they were smaller and you didn't see the big ones. if you seen a big one chances are you didn't see those smaller under 30 fish.

[glenn57]

no need to worry yet. need ice first. right now a lindy rig or daredevil is the baits of choice over decoys!!!!!!

[The General]

What a bunch of idiots.