Mille Lacs new regs.....

[Lee Borgersen]

    DNR Mille Lacs News Release ............   DNR Mille Lacs News Release............ DNR Mille Lacs News Release

                     Like it er Lump it !

 
 
  For Immediate Release:

March 17, 2020
 
 Questions? Contact DNR Information Center by email or call 888-646-6367.
 
 
 

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DNR issues open water regulations to protect Mille Lacs walleye
Additional regulation changes for trophy northern pike and bass
Walleye angling on Mille Lacs Lake will be catch-and-release only for this year's open water season, with the exception of the month of July, when walleye fishing will be closed.

Additionally, anglers will not be allowed to use live bait for any species in July, except sucker minnows greater than 8 inches in length for targeting northern pike and muskellunge.

The new walleye rule is among several regulations changes this year. Bass and northern pike also have new regulations.

The restrictive walleye rule for the open water season is due in part to a record ice fishing season on Mille Lacs this winter.

Poor ice conditions on other lakes focused attention on Mille Lacs, resulting in the highest fishing pressure there in 30 years: almost 30,000 pounds of harvest. This leaves only 57,800 pounds available for the state's open water season under the safe harvest level established for 2020 by the state and the eight Chippewa bands that have treaty fishing rights.

We know any summer walleye closure is disappointing, but anglers have told us they prefer a planned temporary closure in July to an unplanned one later in the season, said Brad Parsons, fisheries section manager for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The addition of the live bait ban allows for the shortest closure to ensure we remain within the set allocation and support the long-term interest of the walleye fishery.

Walleye are particularly vulnerable in July because, as water temperature increases, so too does hooking mortality the tendency for fish to die after being caught and released. By implementing fishing restrictions when walleye are most vulnerable, and reducing angler take, anglers could potentially gain two months or more of late-summer and fall fishing.

Walleye season opens on Saturday, May 9, and continues through Monday, Nov. 30.

Other regulations
Mille Lacs also is a destination for quality bass, northern pike, and muskellunge fishing.

During the July live bait ban, anglers targeting northern pike and muskellunge can use sucker minnows greater than 8 inches in length.

New regulations to maintain and improve fishing for bass and northern pike include:

Immediate release of all smallmouth and largemouth bass greater than 17 inches during the harvest season that begins Saturday, May 23.
Limit of three largemouth and smallmouth bass.
Release all northern pike greater than 30 inches.
Limit of three northern pike from Saturday, May 9, through Wednesday, March 31, 2021.
The DNR heard good support for these bass and pike changes.

People who come to Mille Lacs for smallmouth and northern pike are hoping to catch a real trophy,Parsons said.


  ...
More information about fishing regulations on Mille Lacs Lake, ongoing DNR management and research, and Mille Lacs-area recreation opportunities is available on the DNR website.
 
 

[Lee Borgersen]

> Tom Neustrom, a veteran fishing guide based in Grand Rapids who sits on the DNR's citizen advisory committee for Mille Lacs, said "he and others believe the DNR over-estimates the mortality rate of walleyes caught and released."

  Star Tribune article on Mille Lacs situation

  more......
http://www.startribune.com/mille-lacs-walleye-fishing-to-be-catch-and-release-only-dnr-announces-season-will-close-in-july/568868862/

[snow1]

Another kick in the nutz to us tax payers/license buying public,yet the damn dirtbags gill netting will be out in force,the madness continues

[LPS]

So how do they have an even close estimate as to how many pounds of fish were caught and kept during the ice fishing season?  It is a complete guess.  It may be 5,000 instead of 30,000 and they would have no idea which. 

[Steve-o]

Maybe they should wait to see how long it takes to fill up the nets before they decide how many fish are or aren't in the lake.
 

[Reinhard]

There is no way the dnr can estimate correctly but they side on the high numbers.  The fishing on the big lake for walleyes was excelent.  Twice I went on a launch to support local buisness there.  The captain was saying that he normally catches over 100 walleye's per trip.  The first launch we caught more smallmouth than walleye's but the second trip the walleyes were hungry.  Also I have two friends who have trailers at Resorts there.  Both have had great fishing during the year.  If they ban the taxpayers from keeping a walleye then the same should apply to the natives.  They should do that voluntarily in my opinion.  good luck.

[Rebel SS]

Why don't they just tell all the resort owners to pack it in and go home, 'cuz the natives are gonna own the lake and profits anyway. Wonder what the DNR's cut is?

[snow1]

well we hit mille lacs early in december 4 of us,side step creel folks both days out we hit triple digit walleyes both days,most in 23" to 28" fish,the lake is damn healthy,,sucks for  non natives  and business owners around the lake.hell I'm as native as these yahoo's netting,born just like them.total b.s..

haven't herd how the rez is doing with the virus,but bet they'll be calling our healthcare folks for help,damn shame we put up with they're double standard life style

[Rebel SS]

Just tell 'em to eat more fish. 

[Reinhard]

Far as I know the Casino's like Black Bear, Hinkley , Canterbury and others are closed.  Don't know about Mystic though.  good luck.

[Rebel SS]

Ya, they'd haveta be. Any large gathering over 50 people......

[Jerkbiat]

Ya, they'd haveta be. Any large gathering over 50 people......

They are a sovereign nation Rebs. They can do as they please.

[Rebel SS]

Ya, they'd haveta be. Any large gathering over 50 people......

They are a sovereign nation Rebs. They can do as they please.

Oh. That's right.          Well then, don't come to "US" when the Corona hits.

[glenn57]

i've said for years.........let the tribes and casino buy ot all the white mans land on there "soveriegn" nation. let them pillage the lake. when there's no fish left and they come whining for help......go tell them to F836 OFF !!!!!!

[Lee Borgersen]

           Just a Quick Reminder!            

Mille Lacs walleye fishing closing for July, live bait restricted 

Walleye angling on Mille Lacs Lake will be closed beginning Wednesday, July 1, and continuing through Friday, July 31. Additionally, anglers cannot use most live baits for any species in July. The exceptions are sucker minnows greater than 8 inches in length for targeting northern pike and muskellunge, and wax worms for panfish and perch.

The closure and live bait ban are due in part to a record ice fishing season on Mille Lacs this past winter that resulted in a harvest of almost 30,000 pounds of walleye. Closing the fishery in July, when warm water temperatures cause the highest rates of hooking mortality, is intended to avoid an unplanned closure later in the season. An unplanned closure would be triggered prior to the end of the open water season if the state reaches its share of the safe harvest amount agreed upon by the state and eight Chippewa bands that have treaty fishing rights on Mille Lacs.

With the exception of the month of July, walleye angling on the lake is catch-and-release this season. Catch-and-release walleye fishing is scheduled to re-open on Saturday, Aug. 1, and continue through Monday, Nov. 30. More information on Mille Lacs Lake is available on the DNR website.