Hello Friends and Fishermen of Mille Lacs Lake,

Attention Please! I am sure there will be many rumors and speculation following this announcement around the lake. 

Let us hope there is some common sense that prevaials!

http://www.kare11.com/story/news/outdoors/2015/07/21/state-nears-mille-lacs-walleye-quota/30473967/

The following news article appeared today courtesy of Channel 11 news service on the DNR announcement:

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Despite reduced walleye limits and a ban on night fishing, it appears the state of Minnesota could reach its limit on Mille Lacs Lake walleye by the end of July.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) made that announcement Tuesday, citing last week's result of a creel survey on estimated walleye harvests, releases, and fish kill during the first two weeks of July that indicated the limit could be reached by July 29.

Despite ongoing struggles with the walleye population, other fishing on the lake remains strong and near record highs. DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr stressed that anglers should take advantage of the continuation of liberal northern pike and smallmouth bass regulations on Mille Lacs.

"Mille Lacs Lake remains one of the premiere fishing destinations in the state," Landwehr said. "Northern pike and smallmouth bass are at or near record highs. Anglers should take advantage of the liberal regulations for these species. DNR tagging studies also indicate that muskies larger than 50 inches have never been more abundant."

During the first seven months of the monitoring period (December 2014 – June 2015) walleye harvest rates were at or below predicted levels, based on tight regulations that allowed anglers to take just one walleye during open-water season. Based upon those results total harvest was expected to be below the State's 28,600-pound limit for this twelve-month period, and the DNR's June 30 creel study showed the state was still 15,300 pounds away from reaching the annual quota.

That changed on July 15 when the last angler survey was conducted. Calculations showed the state was within just 3,000 pounds of reaching the annual quota. Records also show it was only the second time in 30 years that Mille Lacs walleye catch rates in July were higher than the second half of June. This dramatic spike is believed to be due to unusual circumstances – including the high catch rates over the 4th of July and warm water temperatures, which are the third highest on record. Warm water greatly increases walleye mortality on fish that had to be released because they did not fall within slot. The so-called "hooking mortality" of walleyes that die after being released counts toward the state quota.

Gov. Mark Dayton has directed the DNR to wait until after the next creel survey which will cover the period from July 16 to July 31, to see if the most recent numbers are an aberration. Officials at the DNR, the Office of Tourism, and Department of Employment and Economic Development will meet with resort owners and other affected stakeholders on Mille Lacs to discuss the situation and seek recommendations.

Mille Lacs walleye numbers are currently at a 30-year low. Since 2008 not enough young walleye have been surviving to maturity and replenishing the population. As a result the state has been instituting more restrictive walleye regulations in order to protect young walleyes so they could grow older.

There is some good news. Biologists are seeing a large population of young walleyes hatched in 2013. Walleyes in that group are currently 10-to 13-inches long. It is important to protect those fish so they can contribute to future angling success and walleye production.

Information on Mille Lacs management can be found on the DNR website.

Thanks for you attention and comments,

MM Malmo Mike