The Slot Will Be Tightened

[tmoney_0206]

My only concern is, with no smaller fish in the lake, what about the the future of walleye fishing ON Mille Lacs in 5 years??

I have seen what happenend to the Crappies on Red Lake!

[Kyle Sandberg]

I think it will be ok. You will still have some protected fish that will be spawning and the DNR stocking.

Also, what year class are all these 25-27"s from. That must have been a hot bite to and it's seems that they came out ok. Plus there is a decent class of 23-24" fish out there that'll hopefully live on for at least 3 years.

[TrophyEyes]

Because fewer fish will be kept in that small 14-16" slot limit than limiting it to let say 2 fish.

[CaptainMusky]

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Why is it all right for certain people to take fish by other means than fishing and keep any size but us who pay license fees must keep only certain sizes? If they could only keep fish in the slot we wouldn't be talking about this now because they wouldn't be up to the quota either. I understand the quotas and so forth but it would be nice to keep a few for a meal if your going to make the drive with gas as high as it is!!

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Do you really want to get into that argument? Grow up a little if you don't like the slot on Mille Lacs, there are a couple of thousand other lakes without any treaty agreements. Wow you paid $18.00 for a license, well hell, i guess you deserve every little privilege that people displaced and stolen from many years ago are ENTITLED to. Just one more person who thinks that everybody and everything is against them. If you have to catch slots to feed your family and aren't able to because they tighten it, let me know i'll send ya a few bucks!

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So we have to be forever indebted to a group of people that neither you or I, our parents or our parents' parents had anything to do with stealing land from.

Today's society is so sickening. We are so sensitive and worried about everyone's feelings and oppression.

There have been concessions long enough to make up for anything that could have been done to them. They are reaping the rewards of the MNDNR's management practices to keep up with their "way of life". If we want to go strictly by treaties, they better get out and use equipment from the day, birch-bark canoes and the like.

How about we charge them for the amenities we have?

Don't get me wrong, I am for the slot, but I just hate all the arguments that we have to repay for the wrongs in the past.

If we want to go strictly by treaties, the wording of a treaty in ND states that it is considered legal to shoot a Native American from inside a covered wagon. I WOULD NOT CONDONE THIS ACTIVITY, but it is purely an example of how ridiculous these treaties really are.

It is time to get into the 21st century. Eliminate the treaties. All those treaties do today is isolate and oppress them even more.

[The Cranker]

I just have to chime in here.

I was one of the biggest critics when the DNR put the first slot limits on Mille Lacs. I bragged about how they DNR was screwing up and that I felt that DNR stood for "Department Of Negative Results". I WAS DEAD WRONG!

Back then, all I cared about was how was I going to be able to keep any fish to eat? It was all about me. Me, Me, Me.

Over the years and the more time I spent on the lake, the better the fishing became, and the more I learned that DNR does not stand for "Department Of Negative Results." It stands for Department Of Natural Resources. Our DNR has turned lake Mille Lacs into one of the best Walleye, Smallmouth, Northern Pike and Muskie Fisheries In The WORLD!!!

I recently fished a tourney last week, and was pretty confident that I was going to do very well after I prefished and caught around 20 slot fish between 18 to 20 inches a day just days before the tourney.

Guess what folks?I didn't do squat in the tourney. I fished the very same spots that I prefished and all we caught were big fish. Allot of big fish! Well thats why its called fishing! At first my partner and I were frustrated then we realized, where can you go and catch 30 to 40 walleyes over 20 inches every day? And 7 fish over 27 inches! Think about that a second folks! That is pretty amazing fishing.

I have personally fished in Canada, the Dakotas and all through Minnesota and Wisconsin, and there are only a very few places that you can go and catch Quality Fish Like Mille Lacs On A Regular Basis!

The fishery on Mille Lacs is awesome, and I personally support our DNR in doing what ever it takes to PROTECT THIS RESOURCE! Don't we want our kids and their kids to be able to experience this fine fishery too?

With all the pressure this lake gets with the spring nettings from the Wisconsin Tribes and the $30K to $40K sportman's fishing boats that can get across a 130,000 acre lake in minutes with pinpoint GPS's and higher tech sonar units that get better and better each year. Its amazing to me that the lake is as healthy as it is! The fish have no chance.

I cannot remember in my lifetime so many boats with so many fishermen and women at all the landings and the resorts. The resort business has been incredible thus far due to the fishing. Think about how many boats are out there fishing,.... and then think about how many fish your boat caught during that day..... now times that by the number of boats you seen on the lake.............its unbelievable that the lake is still producing fish!

I hope we all really weigh all the facts before you go getting critical on the DNR and the slot sizes that they may or may not enforce. I believe that they need to be reconized for how great of a fishery we all have due to there studies and there work and their decessions. What they have been doing has proven to work extremly well, so why not support them instead of critizing them.

If you are that hard up for a walleye dinner they sell it a heck of allot cheaper at the store than fishing for them! Doesn't a sportman fish for the sport and not for the harvest all the time?

Fish On!!!

[CaptainMusky]

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If you are that hard up for a walleye dinner they sell it a heck of allot cheaper at the store than fishing for them! Doesn't a sportman fish for the sport and not for the harvest all the time?

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Couldn't have said it better myself. My dad and I spent a morning on Mille Lacs a couple Saturdays ago. We caught 12 fish, with only one of them being a keeper. It was an absolute blast. The rest of the fish were over 24". We commented to ourselves that we have never caught walleyes and thrown them back like that. Well, we have never caught the size we were catching PERIOD. No regrets. It is a phenomenal fishery and IMO whatever the DNR decides to do, it WILL be the right decision.

[NEANGLER]

Yes you should make some concessions as we lied, stole and murdered these people numerous times for our own gain and then when we did give them something, alot of the land was useless or barren of game. I guess a few fish for them is enough to cover the slaughter of their people. People like you make me nautious. Do you honestly think they want the fishery to go down the tubes - their casino business thrives on tourism so if the fishing sucks the tourism sucks. I don't think they make millions on fishing. But this should not matter so you can have your few eaters every time you go up.

No, you or I did not do this to these people - but the government in the past did and at least they have a few things to build on. They did not have te opportunites other people had as far as a good education, employment, since they were forced onto reservations. If the slaves were treat this way - you would probaly see the same thing. God forbid something would happen to you with your employment and you would need some concessions.

If you want eaters there are plenty of places to go to get those, me I would rather have a lake that gives you the chance of a trophy of a lifetime everytime out and it is not in Canada.

[SWMuskeye]

Guys, guys, guys,

Lets really not turn this into a diatribe about what happened in the past, or make mention of the horrendous things that happened to the tribes.

Lets all be thankful that we have one the most fantastic walleye fisheries in the WORLD, yes WORLD. The DNR and Tribes get a lot of unjust guff for their takes on slot limits and the tribes harvest.

Please everyone, take a step back, and enjoy the resources, the fun is in the catching for me, if I can have a fish sandwich after a trip, its icing on the cake, but it will not ruin a trip for me.

[1Yogi]

I agree, the argument about the Band and netting is tired and serves no purpose. the decision has been made and we have to live with it.

Back to the original Post, I have information from another business on the lake that the Data used and posted by John Odle was bad. I will use the name of the other business if the mods say its OK, lets just say they run the Bait Store in Isle with the big fish out front.

[harvey lee]

I dont believe we need to post hear say as one does not know that it is fact and we must not post statements that may not be true to harm said business.

Thanks

[Fishhawk17]

I agree with many statements above. I do not like the fact that the tribe gets to harvest by means that their forefathers could never do. Hollow out a canoe, instead of using your power boat, stitch together a net, instead of using a commercial net, but it is what it is, and that is not going to change.

My biggest issue is the people that go up to Mille Lacs, do not obey the slots, or fish limits, and think that by breaking the law they are getting even with the tribe. How ridiculous. But they will be the first ones to call Mille Lacs the dead sea, when it is fished out. I wish the DNR would enforce the laws more strigently. All the DNR would have to do is announce that they are going to enforce the law, and have more spot checks. I fish Mille Lacs regularly, and have for years, I can count on one hand the number of spot checks I have seen. If they would use one month out of the season, have regular spot checks on the landings, issue a bunch of citations, and fines, the word would spread, and the poaching would stop. Earlier this year, I launched my boat at one of the east side resorts, the owner was on the phone talking to a prospective customer, telling him the official slot limit, but ended the conversation with, "In regard to the slots, what we don't see, doesn't hurt us." With a little snicker. He was obviously condoning poaching fish. Now that irritates me!!!!

[NEANGLER]

Maybe what needs to be done one weekend is do checkpoints at the landing, I know this would be a utter nightmare but if a few people get caught people might get the message not to go over the slot and or limit. I heard one guy at the landing when we were up a few weeks ago say that they had some fish in their car from the day prior and told his buddies that if the DNR asked they got them at Gull lake the day before!!!! That is the problem with differnet possesion limits at differnet lakes - you can fudge around the law.

[eyesoneyes]

If you’re over your limit, and claim some of the fish were from a different lake, you had better have a receipt from a business in the area where you claim to have caught fish or you will be busted.

[1Yogi]

Harvey Lee, I didn't post the name of the business that I got my information from. The reason I didn't was to comply with forum rules. But you know the Bait / Convenience / Liquor Store on your left as you are leaving Isle? The owners spoke with DNR officials and were informed that the numbers used to calculate the harvest were based on bad data. The factors have been recalculated with good data, or at least the best they can get and the harvest is at least 35,000 lbs off. Too high was the problem the new numbers are reduced by about 35 or 36 tousand Pounds. Yeah I said Tousand.

[harvey lee]

I wasnt stating that you did, just suggesting that you dont. Thank-you.

[contrail]

I for one would rather have to fish hard to find slot fish while throwing back a decent number of fish I enjoyed catching than fish hard just to catch a few fish all day.

[wazz]

You guys are funny, everybody has blood on their hands. No culture is guiltless. Two sides to every story, take some time and research what really went on, instead of spouting the same old company lines. And then find the right forum to express your opinions.

Who cares is the slot is reduced, if you want to eat, it would be more cost effective to buy them from the store. They still taste the same.

The DNR is doing the best they can, in a difficult sitution, with some of the responses I have read in this thread, how do you expect everybody to be happy.

Deal with or go somewhere else.

JMO

Wazz

[chris63]

Can we just fish now?

[1775tiller]

I agree all the DNR has to do is a couple of weeekends put a bunch of DNR officers at a few landings and the word would get out that they are checking people. And it would probably pay for it self by how many people they bust with people having fish over the slot. Also make the fine more than it is make it a couple hunderd dollars for each fish over the slot.

[harvey lee]

If all fisherman were honest, one wouldnt need to worry about the DNR spending tons of money to enforce the laws that we should police ourselves.

The Native Americans are doing whats within the law and we as fisherman need to follow suit. This is where the problem lies, we dont take care of our end of the deal. The slot is the slot to protect the lake and we need to watch what we do. I do not believe that the Native Americans are going to mess up the fishing as it will hurt the casino & vacation business on the big pond too much.

[Scott M]

Getting back on topic here, the slot will not be tightened. You may have seen that the Outdoor News printed a front page, below the fold correction from the DNR. The harvest was overestimated. A good friend of mine was creel clerking and was partly responsible for accidently overreporting boat counts and other measures of fishing pressure and total harvest. The numbers were caught and evaluated, then reran and the slot will not drop to 14-16. I don't recall what the actual harvest was to date, but if I'm not mistaken we are still on pace to open up to 22-28 (although the harvest is above average).

[mngoosehunter]

I have a quick question. a couple of us were thinking last weekend when we were up there. dont you think it might be good to open a slot from 20-24 for a couple weeks or something to get some of the bigger fish out. There are so many 4-6 pounders in that lake right now its crazy. Last weekend I saw more 20-24 inch fish floating on the surface then ever before. I think it would help the population out to get some of the bigger ones out. Like i said maybe only allow it a couple weeks or so, but when we went there were probably 30-40 fish caught. 8 keepers and the rest 20-27 1/2 inch ranger. just a thought.

[MuleShack]

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I heard one guy at the landing when we were up a few weeks ago say that they had some fish in their car from the day prior and told his buddies that if the DNR asked they got them at Gull lake the day before!!!!

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Did you call TIP?

We all can do our part to protect the resource.....

[The Cranker]

Mngoosehunter,

To answer your question about catching and keeping 20 to 28 inch fish. These fish are vital to the fishery as they are the primary breeding fish and keep the fishery strong. It would be like only shooting hens for two weeks pheasant hunting. One hen is capable of laying up to 80 eggs a year! Thats why we don don shoot and harvest pheasant hens. The same goes here for those 20 to 28 inch fish, they are our resource to replenish the lakes fry for the following year.

If you caught 30 to 40 fish and where able to keep 8 fish (16 filets) thats a hell of a day fishing my friend! Be happy and thankful!

Fish On!!!

[wolfman-k]

I think being able to fish on Mille Lacs and catch big walleyes is a blast, but this time of year people need to be more respectful of the resource and quickly release those big ones, because handling them out of the water to take pictures and showing them to friends causes the fish too much stress & alot of them don't survive, get them back quickly. When some people break the rules & laws, they don't get back at the DNR, the tribes or anyone else but themselves! I was taught at an early age to always release some fish for tomorrow, or there may not be any tomorrow! I believe the DNR is doing a great job in managing the lake, believe me, it's gotten alot better in the last few years. Good luck & good fishing.

[mngoosehunter]

cranker- I understand, but couldnt it get to the point where there is too many bigger fish in the lake and could eventually stunt the fish to only get 5-6 pounds do to the lack of food for them. granted mille lacs is huge, but i think it could happen. just my opinion im sure they will do the right thing and what they feel is best.

ps- the 30-40 fish were on a launch. we caught 4 and released all 4 in the 20-24.5 inch range.

[rodmaker]

Cranker,

When we were up on Fri 6/29 (three of us). WE caught 30 and were able to keep 10, ranging anywhere from 15-19 1/4.

Releasing bigger fish has made The Pond the Lake it is today. Wouldn't change a thing now. If it tightens up a little, they must be doing the right thing. WE don't realize that we have one of the best Walleye lakes around, and it's only 2 hrs from the Twin Cities to get there.

It was nice to bring some home for a meal, but catching those 24-26" are a blast, and makes the trip. So far this year , I've released more big fish than any other year. One 29" One 28 1/4". One 27". Eight 26-26 1/2". And nine in that 24-25 " range. Can't ask for anymore than that and the season isn't half over yet.

[Ranger619vs4me]

Hey guy's I just read the new release on the MN DNR web site and it said the new regs go into effect 12:01 July 9th 2007. We are only allowed to keep 14 to 16 inchers till Dec.1st that should slow some of the boat traffic down!

[computerboy]

The slot will indeed by reduced to 14 -16, with one over 28 and the usual 4 bag limit. I know the forum rules prohibit unauthorized links, but this is the actual MN DNR news release Ranger619vs4me is referring to so I hope it's okay to include it:

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/news/releases/index.html?id=1183481956

[rangerforme]

Wish they'd waited on more week, oh well, doing a family vacation and was hoping to have one fish fry, sounds like that might be tough to do now.

I'll have to 'settle' for catching 5 lb walleyes all day i guess....