More Mille Lacs................

[Lee Borgersen]

                     More on Mille Lacs ............
 

 

It’s been state-wide news the past few weeks: The DNR has cut the walleye limit on Lake Mille Lacs down to two for the 2013 fishing season. What’s more, those kept in a live well or on a stringer can only measure between 18 and 20 inches, though one trophy catch can be longer than 28 inches. The new limits, half of what they were last year, are being imposed because of 40-year low walleye population, with the intention on rebuilding the fish numbers by limiting the harvest.

This is tough news for a lake famous for its walleye fishing, and a local economy dependent on tourists. Motorists passing by on Highway 169 through Garrison will even see a giant walleye statue overlooking the 132,000 acre lake.


“I think any guide who’s worth his salt in Minnesota is going to say they’re disappointed with what’s going on there, and we hope it repairs itself, but it’s going to be a long-term process,” said Tom Neustrom, a fishing guide in Grand Rapids and Deer River. “It’s not going to be short term.”

For guides like Neustrom, the Mille Lacs decision potentially means increased business. A lot of anglers looking to make it out for the opening of walleye season on May 11 just may find themselves driving further north where the limits aren’t as stringent. He, as well as other guides in the area, are gearing up for a busy season. But whereas this could be good business news for Neustrom, he adds that any amount of benefit isn’t worth the price.

“I’ll tell you what I feel for, it’s the businesses; the businesses that are going to be affected by it. Because they’re all going to be affected: The guide business, the bait shops, the resorts, the restaurants,” said Neustrom. “Everybody that depends on the fishery of Mille Lacs is going to be affected.”

Bill Heig, owner of Bowen Lodge on Lake Winnibigoshish (Lake Winnie), feels similarly to Neustrom. Though not preparing in any large way for an extra busy season, Heig says that it would be an unfortunate way to increase local business.

“We want the Mille Lacs people to do well down there, of course,” said Heig.

For Heig, the biggest thing he is taking away from the Mille Lacs situation is the warning signal it is sending, and he hopes that he and the other dependents of Lake Winnie are able to avoid the same fate. Over-fishing, tribal netting practices, and invasive species such as zebra mussels have done serious harm to the walleye population in Mille Lacs, and has resulted in many successive years of substandard walleye breeding. According to the DNR, the size regulation is meant to protect the 2008-class of walleye, which is now anticipated to be about 15 to 17 inches, and was one of the last successful walleye seasons.

Since zebra mussels have found their way to Winnie as well, Heig says that he and others on the lake have looked to cooperate as much as possible with the DNR in order to find a way to maintain the ecosystem of Lake Winnie, hoping to take more of a proactive response to a problem, rather than a reactive response after a hit has been made to the fish population.

In terms of what this will mean for the lakes and communities surrounding Mille Lacs, speculation continues as to whether or not there will be increased business in areas such as Itasca County.

DNR Grand Rapids Area Fisheries Supervisor Chris Kavanaugh said that he hopes the decision to limit the walleye take from Mille Lacs will allow the lake to remain open for fishing throughout the season, since having to close the lake for surpassing the allocated harvest amount would have a devastating affect on the local economy.

“The challenge then becomes setting a regulation that is going to keep us inside that safe harvest allocation, and keep the season open,” said Kavanaugh on how the decision to cut the walleye take to two was created.

It’s yet to be seen what this will mean for the various fishing tourism economies in northern Minnesota. But for Neustrom, it is at minimum a sign that diligence is needed in how natural resources are treated.

“I have such a respect for what the natural resources are in Minnesota compared to other states,” said Neustrom. “It’s such a great thing. We need to be stewards of the water and the woods, and to take care of it.”