DNR to protect spawning walleye? - Mille Lacs Lake Fishing (Fishing Reports, Events, Tournament Information and more)

Bobber · Admin / Moderator

DNR to protect spawning walleye?

fishstix · Member

"The late ice-out, Erickson said, “might have band members and anglers on the lake simultaneously. I would hope people would still be respectful of each other if that happens.’’

Yeah, Until one of our props gets stuck in there nets. I had that happen up on ball club on an opener a few years back.
There might have to be some black ops after dark this year.

ranger · Member

You made a very good point. Why should we believe it is only the taking of prespawn fish with hook and line by non natives that is harmful to fish population. If taking prespawn fish isn't a conservation issue, why bother closing the season. Fishing continues to improve in the Dakotas without closing of fishing season. We in Minnesota have been told all our lives that closing the seasons was necessary to protect the resource. I think it's time for our dnr to either stand behind their policy of protecting prespawn fish or get off the pot and admit they can't handle their job. This isn't directed at the field officer out there trying to enforce the laws. It's directed at those who make the policy within the dnr and to our politicians who seem to provide lip service prior to elections. Can anyone tell me how may dnr studies does it takes to change a light bulb. The real joke is that we are paying for their lack of action. Maybe we should increase the price of walleye stamp to help with stocking. I've just about had enough. I am making plans today for my Devils lake and Oaha trips this spring.

FisherOfMN · Member

I agree with ranger, our family has a cabin on the east side and I love taking the family up there getting them on a good evening walleye bite, but this year I have a week booked at a cabin in South Dakota. Can't beat the fishing out there and they don't shut it down in spring like other places I know. SD knows how to manage a fishery just my 2 cents. SD is my new play ground!

Steve Fellegy · Veteran Member

FisherOfMN wrote:
I agree with ranger, our family has a cabin on the east side and I love taking the family up there getting them on a good evening walleye bite, but this year I have a week booked at a cabin in South Dakota. Can't beat the fishing out there and they don't shut it down in spring like other places I know. SD knows how to manage a fishery just my 2 cents. SD is my new play ground!

The only reason some states don't close the season to protect spawning walleyes is fishing pressure ( man-hours), on an annual basis, is FAR less than on many of the good walleye lakes in Minnesota. Comparing rules/regs to Minnesota is rarely apples to apples from other states) Some areas/lakes are simply better walleye factories as well. It might seem places like Oahe get a huge amount of fishing pressure but when you look at 100 plus miles of water, it isn't comparable to many of the Mn. venues. If a lake like Mille Lacs/Leech/Winnie/Ottertail etc. etc. would be open year-round, even more restrictions would have to be put in place-based on annual fishing pressure/harvest.

-- Edited by Steve Fellegy on Monday 22nd of April 2013 05:51:22 AM

-- Edited by Steve Fellegy on Monday 22nd of April 2013 05:52:10 AM

Adam L · Member

"The late ice-out, Erickson said, “might have band members and anglers on the lake simultaneously. I would hope people would still be respectful of each other if that happens.’’

Erickson is kidding right? It will be very, very ugly if sovereign nation citizens are netting on, or after U.S. citizens are fishing.

Steve Fellegy · Veteran Member

FisherOfMN wrote:
I agree with ranger, our family has a cabin on the east side and I love taking the family up there getting them on a good evening walleye bite, but this year I have a week booked at a cabin in South Dakota. Can't beat the fishing out there and they don't shut it down in spring like other places I know. SD knows how to manage a fishery just my 2 cents. SD is my new play ground!

The only reason some states don't close the season to protect spawning walleyes is fishing pressure ( man-hours), on an annual basis, is FAR less than on many of the good walleye lakes in Minnesota. Comparing rules/regs to Minnesota is rarely apples to apples from other states) Some areas/lakes are simply better walleye factories as well. It might seem places like Oahe get a huge amount of fishing pressure but when you look at 100 plus miles of water, it isn't comparable to many of the Mn. venues. If a lake like Mille Lacs/Leech/Winnie/Ottertail etc. etc. would be open year-round, even more restrictions would have to be put in place-based on annual fishing pressure/harvest.

Here's another example that is contradicting the "it makes no differnce" at Mille Lacs" take the DNR has in Aitkin.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/205856311.html#commentHere

-- Edited by Steve Fellegy on Monday 22nd of April 2013 05:51:22 AM

Steve Fellegy · Veteran Member

http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/206792691.html

Note the quote from DNR about their "first responsibility" and then ask about Mille Lacs.......amazing.

fishnpole · Veteran Member

The longer it takes us to get this MAJOR PROBLEM taken care of, the worse it's gonna get, folks.

Step up.

There's ALOT of us that want this to get resolved for the better of the fishery.

Just give what you can. It's the only way to fight it....................

fishnpole · Veteran Member

We need EVERY angler's support on this issue, folks! By the time the tribal boats start setting their nets, it'll be too late to do anything about this year's slaughter of our spawning walleyes.

Dave Orrick;

The lake is under intense scrutiny following a state survey last fall that found the fewest walleye in the 40-year history of the survey. There appears to be an alarming dearth of young male walleyes -- the very same fish targeted by the Native American nets and encouraged for harvest by prior state regulations.

Biologists with the Department of Natural Resources now agree the small fish need protection, and new rules are designed to protect smaller fish. This year, the daily walleye limit is two fish between 18 and 20 inches, or one fish in that slot and one longer than 28 inches.

Tribal biologists are encouraging tribal members to spear larger fish instead of netting smaller ones. But tribal leaders failed to seriously consider changing regulations on mesh size, so the young walleye -- 71,250 pounds is the tribal harvest level -- could be as vulnerable as ever to the net. From a resource-management perspective, this makes no sense.