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The Slot.....


Chris_the_Cow

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I spoke with the local GW this weekend on (Contact Us Please). He said teh slot will definatly not be opened up to 22" in mid July. The odds are much better that it will be tightened to 14 to 16. His gut feeling was that it would most likely be left the way it is now.

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For the resorts and businesses, I hope the slot stays the same if it doesn't go to 22".

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I guess I kind of disagree regarding info given to the creel guys. The science (if you want to call it that) of determining harvested fish + mortality is extremely difficult. In my estimating world we pretty much refer to those kind of numbers as "Swag’s" Scientific Wild A$$ Guesses. However, it is the science they use, and it does appear to have helped the population especially with the netting going on. Now I ain't saying Mother Nature doesn’t play the biggest hand in fish population / good vs. bad year classes etc., but since the slots have been implemented, in my little Mille Lacs fishing world, which is a far cry from tournament and even bragging rights fishing, fishing has improved ten-fold. Now to contradict my myself, I'd hate to see a 14-16 slot. That's like trying to win the lottery. But giving out false information to the creel guys I'm not quite so sure that will benefit the fishery in the long either. To me it's such a SWAG that I feel the more accurate information they have, the better they can supposedly manage (and take that for what it's worth).

Just my 2 cents.

HB

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Personally, I fish Mille Lacs to fish and catch the big fish, not to catch food for dinner. I love walleye as much as the next guy, so if I want keepers, I will go to another lake for them and not have to worry about a tight slot. Reading all the stories about how crazy the lake has been, and seeing tons of fish caught firsthand yesterday, it's hard to argue that the DNR doesn't have the lakes' best interest in mind, since it appears they know what they are doing. So I guess if they want to tighten things up for the good of the fish, then that's what they should do in my opinion.

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I also wish this slot was state wide, I think most "true fishemen & women" would agree. I also agree with raising the top to 30". Made my first trip to the "pond" a couple weeks ago with my son's & caught some beautiful fish one was 25 1/2 (my personal best) it was awesome, took home 4 keepers & a couple of perch. Enough for a great meal. I could not ask for more.

I really appreciate the opportunity to catch such nice walleyes & they can still swim! There are alot of panfish out there in all the lakes for eating!

L2f

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Well said, i would rather catch a hand full of 25+ inchers than a bunch aof smaller eyes to eat. The chance to catch a trophy everytime out makes it all worth it.

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After reading this post, I get more confused. There is a post about dead fish floating and this post about the slot. It seems to me if the pressure on the lake needs to be reduced to keep the bigger fish from floating after being caught. Then the slot has little or no value. The smaller fish are being killed anyway and the bigger fish are also being killed by what I read so far. So to juice thing up. I suggest a boat limit on the lake with permit drawing like deer hunting. It will reduce the number of floating fish and also keep the slot larger for the people that like to take fish home. Seasons open boys have fun with this.

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I would agree with Subzero…

In my humble opinion, the DNR should just close the lake. Why kill more slot fish between 21” - 29”? It does not make sense to reduce the slot to 14” – 16”.

If we are truly trying to protect the slot (breeder) fish, why would we cause harm to them?

If the slot is reduced to 14” – 16”, I will not be fishing Mille Lacs for the rest of the season!!! It is a personal choice and I hope many anglers will take the stance to protect our great fishery!!! Surely the DNR does not share our interest!!!

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Lie to the survey people- I dont think so. the purpose is to protect the lake and that would just hurt it!. Dont ruin the lake cause u want to keep a fish or 2

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