Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

What fish species is most important in Mille Lacs poll?


little-red-lund

Recommended Posts

just a friendly unscientific poll: what is the most important fish species in Mille Lacs and what species should the DNR manage for...

I think the walleye is most important...but i think the DNR should manage more for panfish..especially crappies...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 62
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • fishorgolf

    7

  • Supercrew

    6

  • james_walleye

    4

  • muskiedreams

    4

I think they shouldn't stock a dang thing. It is, and has always been, a great natural re-producing lake.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Right now, I'd say muskies. Walleyes get more attention/pressure, but the muskie fishing is probably in the top 10 fisheries in the world, if not better.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think they shouldn't stock a dang thing. It is, and has always been, a great natural re-producing lake.

Why F with mother nature?

Can't say I disagree, but I understand the idea of filling it up with walleyes to increase angler success rates on a lake that gets a ton of pressure. A lot of folks come from across the country to fish there, buying licenses, bait, contributing to local economies, etc.

what the heck everything turned green on me!

I wouldn't want to make a pick on what species is most important. It has been noted that in many ecosystems it is the diversity of species that contribute to the quality of said ecosystem. Maybe rinky-dink perch are the most important as they are a forage base for the monster walleyes, pike, and muskies everybody is after up there. One step further, maybe it's some minnow that feeds that perch that feeds that muskie?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"most important" has a different meaning to different people.

It's been shown the that Walleye is King Fin on ML so it should be given special attention.

Money talks wink

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Eelpout? They are the tastiest...

Really I would say walleyes, they've been there forever and there's tons of them. I like that Mille Lacs is a great musky fishery but I think walleyes are definitely a better fit for the lake's ecosystem and the people that fish it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Walleyes IMO. The muskies are great, but more people out there after the eyes and much more to the local economy as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Walleyes=Mille Lacs

I have been up there a dozen times and still not caught one but that is what I think of when I hear about Mille Lacs.

It is interesting that it receives so much pressure and still goes by just natural reproduction. That says a lot for what kind of lake it is.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

use to be said to the best reproducing walleye lake in the

not sure if that still holds true or not

i think whats hard on it is all the different regulations

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lakes with good natural reproduction and good numbers like you see in Mile Lacs will never get stocked by the DNR. It's a waste of resources. Nothing is better at putting fry in a lake than some prime size females. That's why they're protected (read managed for). It's a whole lot cheaper and a lot more affective than stocking.

BTW - Economically speaking the walleye is by far the most important fish in the lake so that's where the majority of the management dollars will go even though the fish doesn't need any help populating the lake; it just needs protection.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quit netting the darn lake and all will be WELL!! Oh ya; WALLEYES ARE KING

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Walleyes without question. It is a natural walleye lake. Muskies are IMO and evasive species. I will always throw back 40 plus northerns (see my post in the red lake forum) but any legal muskie is going to be pickled.

Let me re-qualify that and legal muskie that comes from a non natural muskie lake.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quote:
I will always throw back 40 plus northerns (see my post in the red lake forum) but any legal muskie is going to be pickled.

laugh

For a natural reproducing lake and how large it is, IMO, it would take a heck a lot of supply of stock to even make a dent in the population. The amount of predators in the lake would be hard to over come.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A 48" musky sure makes allot of jars of pickled musky. Christmas presents for everyone! smile

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

Eelpout & Tullibe no one else wants them! frown

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Eelpout are so down they should be protected. As for Tullibees....it's a sad state of affairs when we need to tout the tullibee action as a reason to fish a lake like Mille Lacs! I don't thing Tullibee is the first fish that comes to peoples minds when they think Mille Lacs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For sure Tullibee, The bee is King in my book. But of course Walleye is The most important by far to the economics of the lake. Very little money is made off of Musky and Smallmouth compared to Walleye. If walleyes become secondary look for alot more resorts to close. Almost all(99%)of the winter money is made off walleyes and most of the summer money too. But i sure like fishing for Musky and Smallmouth, although they lack in eating quality....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A 48" musky sure makes allot of jars of pickled musky. Christmas presents for everyone! smile

Oh no you did'nt? If your in the gift giving state of mind, why not support your local grocery store or local meat market and keep the lake a gift that keeps on giving.

Aside from this disturbing Quote, cast my vote for trophy Smallmouth, nobody knew (other than the Real Fisherman) they were there till the Linders brought their TV cameras around and started a smallie frenzy...... Thanks Ron and Al, your the best?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My place is 100 yard for

What is wrong with taking legal musky the same as taking a legial walleye! I came keep 4 walleye's under 18" for a total of at maybe 6 lbs. One 48" musky is 25-30 lbs. If I am going to pickle I like to work volume.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

I wouldn't mind if they could do something about the crappie population. I've heard there are some nice slabs, but you don't hear about it either in winter or open water. You hear about jumbo perch being caught, but not crappies. Is there a sunfish, bluegill population?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What would you like them to do???? Built crappie cribs in Isle bay???? There is a small niche fishery of sunfish/crappie in Mille lacs but i don't know how you would like the DNR to manage them?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What would you like them to do???? Built crappie cribs in Isle bay???? There is a small niche fishery of sunfish/crappie in Mille lacs but i don't know how you would like the DNR to manage them?
To be honest, I think that would be an excellent idea...put cribs in the bays areas and stock a bunch of crappie and sunfish fry in the lake...I don't see how the walleye popuation will be able to maintain it's historical levels with the way the lake is currently managed..with increased tribal netting quotas and increased pressure from anglers through the use of electronics and walleye fishing tournaments, etc...With more panfish in the lake...it would help augment the fishery as a whole...and probabaly bring less resentment towards tribal nettters given anglers another option to catch and harvest for a meal besides walleye and perch....perch used to be a good option...but it seems there are less and less qulaity sized perch in ML for what ever reason...
Link to comment
Share on other sites

From what I've seen in the last few years, won't be long and it will be considered a smallmouth bass lake instead of a walleye lake. For every single walleye I caught, I bet I caught 10 smallies!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's a big lake don't see why we can't manage them all.

Especially the walleye thats what 90% of people are fishin.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

whats funny to me is all the excuses people come up with because they are not able to catch a "walleye" netting,muskie,tullibee boom, 2much perch blah blah blah,,, if you cant catch walleyes on mille maybe ya should hang up your rod!!!!! just my opinion:):)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What makes you think I am making excusing for not catching walleyes? Can you please show me were I have made this excuse? Ok I will be will make my non trolling opinion (seeing as I caught a perch) why I have my opinion on muskies in ML.

# 1 Muskies are not a native species in the lake. Have you ever wondered of ever cared why?

#2 is there really any good studies done on the effects of stocked muskies on non native waters. And please you muskies guys do not give show me studies on they eat suckers etc. as you know as well as I do these are studies done on traditional muskie waters not stockers non traditional waters. There are allot of these studies going on right now and they will not favor muskie stocking in non native waters. Thus the reason the muskie crowd if pushing for as many waters as they can before these studies are compleated.

# 3 throwing hardware all day attempting to catch a muskies is a great sport for the avid muskie angler but how does that relate to the average fisherman and his family that enjoys a day on the water?

I know now I am going to get some 500 word essay from the elected spokesperson for muskie inc or something. Hey I give you guys credit you put you money were your mouth is. I kind up put you guys up, there will wall street bankers. [Note From Admin: Please read forum policy before posting again. Thank you.]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.