New Mille Lacs slot

[skee0025]

For anglers, the fishing opener is the most anticipated day of the year -- but come May 11, keeping a monster walleye from Mille Lacs won't be an option because the DNR is narrowing the harvest to fish between 18-20 inches while reducing the bag limit from four to two.

Read more: DNR reduces slot size, limit for walleye at Mille Lacs - KMSP-TV http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/story/217...s#ixzz2O50tuhtD

[John Mickish]

You can still keep your monster walleye, it just has to be over 28". Just like it has been for years. 2 19" fish will weigh more than 4 15" fish so you will actually have more meat than the old rules. I don't see a problem with the new rules, it's just a change and people have to get used to them.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

You can still keep your monster walleye, it just has to be over 28". Just like it has been for years. 2 19" fish will weigh more than 4 15" fish so you will actually have more meat than the old rules. I don't see a problem with the new rules, it's just a change and people have to get used to them.

+1

Still the best walleye lake close to a metro area IMO.

[Alagnak]

If they were serious about it, they'd shut it down for a year or two instead of playing games.

[leechlake]

They have to be practical when being "serious" about it. You can't throw local businesses down the drain by closing walleye fishing. The decisions aren't without consequences that go in other directions.

Leech Lake stunk 8 years ago, people quit fishing it along with other things that were implemented and it came back. Things ebb and flow.

[Sifty]

They have to be practical when being "serious" about it. You can't throw local businesses down the drain by closing walleye fishing. The decisions aren't without consequences that go in other directions.

Leech Lake stunk 8 years ago, people quit fishing it along with other things that were implemented and it came back. Things ebb and flow.

Good Point

[gregg52]

I guess if I owned a business

I think I be alittle more active in trying to get those nets out of the lake

I know eddy tried for years then finally threw in the towel

so maybe it just isnt possable

it could be a deal where law enforcement needs to make it tougher for those wisc bands to come here and take over as in camping and cleaning fish in pulbic landing etc etc

follow the catch once its caught see where it actually goes

whats done with

see what they do with the rough fish they catch

just cuz they can net doesnt mean they dont have to observe the rest of the laws

are all there boats licensed in mn etc etc i'm sure they are not

or is it just a free for all over there

i dunno ...just a though

[Alagnak]

Tell that to the owners of lodges and guiding services on the Kenia river last year. IF you really care about the future of the fishery and your business- and not just how many walleyes are killed in the year 2013 you might just be on board for a 'serious' change.

They have to be practical when being "serious" about it. You can't throw local businesses down the drain by closing walleye fishing. The decisions aren't without consequences that go in other directions.

Leech Lake stunk 8 years ago, people quit fishing it along with other things that were implemented and it came back. Things ebb and flow.

[Walleyehooker]

As bad as this seems it just might be a good thing. As this is the only way its going to get out to the media and public and politicians etc. on how bad netting is to a resource. Yes you can argue its not only netting but other lakes do just fine without nets. You cant do both. Take Red Lake for instance. Netting on the West (cant tell you how that's going) and angling on the east doing fine again.

It would have to get REAL bad before they shut the lake down as fishing is about the only reason most businesses survive up there and would have a MAJOR impact.

[thatoneguy]

They have to be practical when being "serious" about it. You can't throw local businesses down the drain by closing walleye fishing. The decisions aren't without consequences that go in other directions.

Leech Lake stunk 8 years ago, people quit fishing it along with other things that were implemented and it came back. Things ebb and flow.

+1

[John Mickish]

Exactly. And what did the locals do when their guides and businesses got hurt? They raised money and stocked the darn thing themselves. I don't hear much planning for something like that going on. The lake has been in trouble for years and everybody has known it, yet nobody from the state or the locals seem to really take it that seriously.

[Fish Head]

It will be interesting to see what happens if it is a good spring and the total harvest exceeds expectations.

[gregg52]

Exactly. And what did the locals do when their guides and businesses got hurt? They raised money and stocked the darn thing themselves. I don't hear much planning for something like that going on. The lake has been in trouble for years and everybody has known it, yet nobody from the state or the locals seem to really take it that seriously.

Well one reason for that just might be

why bother!!!!!!!!!! if they continue to net

maybe the casino could throw a few bucks into it huh??????????

remember its the best reproducing lake till nets came along

i dont think leech can claim that

[John Mickish]

I don't think Leech is trying to claim anything. Both lakes stumbled for different reasons so it was not meant as a comparison. Red crashed because of both netting and angling, and was brought back by stocking. Paid for by both the tribes and state (maybe some local money but I am not sure).

I just don't understand everyones attitude to stand back, point fingers and do nothing but complain. Then when someone does do something they complain about that. Whatever happened to being proactive and working together (locals,state and tribe)? Oh, I get it. It's just easier to let someone else take care of it.

[gregg52]

I don't think Leech is trying to claim anything. Both lakes stumbled for different reasons so it was not meant as a comparison. Red crashed because of both netting and angling, and was brought back by stocking. Paid for by both the tribes and state (maybe some local money but I am not sure).

I just don't understand everyones attitude to stand back, point fingers and do nothing but complain. Then when someone does do something they complain about that. Whatever happened to being proactive and working together (locals,state and tribe)? Oh, I get it. It's just easier to let someone else take care of it.

when i win the power ball tonight I will get those nets out of that lake !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!....lol

I wish

but i agree I WOULD JUMP ON ANY BAN WAGON STARTED OR PETITION OR DONATE WHAT i COULD IF i KNEW IT WAS GOING TO MAKE A Difference

sorry bout the caps didnt feel like typing it over...lol

[mainbutter]

I guess if I owned a business

I think I be alittle more active in trying to get those nets out of the lake

If I were in the fishing camp/guide/resort business, I'd run it like the ones I've been to with the best fishing.

Without fail, the best fishing I've had has been at camps where the owners restricted harvest further than what the local regulations allowed. It was a shore lunch or two, and at one place only pike and trout, no walleyes as they are trying to build that part of the fishery.

[John Mickish]

I'm pretty sure I'm the one to win the lottery tonight, then the only fish I'll be catching will be salt water fish!

[amateurfishing]

mmm....maybe a mille lacs stamp? can only fish it & take if you purchased the stamp & proceeds go to restocking? so the only anglers that can harvest out are already helping to replace?

[Slabasaurus]

Well one reason for that just might be

why bother!!!!!!!!!! if they continue to net

maybe the casino could throw a few bucks into it huh??????????

remember its the best reproducing lake till nets came along

i dont think leech can claim that

My cabin is on a lake in the WI ceded territory, and despite the tribe spearing, we (the association) are stocking the lake.

we'll see how it works, but I'm not willing to say a sovereign nation has no right to spear on a lake in territory wherein it can utilize the resources they want to.

It'd be like the people in Nodak telling me my mineral rights are no longer valid since we sold the homestead.... but not bringing it up until they started extracting oil.

[Cfollow]

You are stocking the lake so the natives (I use that term loosely as do they) can spear the walleyes? Let me know how that works out I bet the WI DNR had a good laugh about tha one.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, if you want the nets gone, you and everybody you know needs to boycott the casinos.

And what's up with encouraging the keeping of smallmouth? That's not good advise to encourage a species that should be c&r IMO.

[Walleyehooker]

Well its not the fisherman that keep the casinos up and running but some do go there. A lot of older folks that have nothing better to do than hand over their SS checks and retirement funds.

I still don't see livwells full of smallies and getting rid of some smaller fish isn't going to hurt. They are definitely an eating machine and have been known to take over smaller walleye lakes if left unchecked.

[delcecchi]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, if you want the nets gone, you and everybody you know needs to boycott the casinos.

And what's up with encouraging the keeping of smallmouth? That's not good advise to encourage a species that should be c&r IMO.

Boycotting Minnesota casinos won't discourage the Wisconsin bands.

[Alagnak]

Exactly- blue hairs don't give a S. They'll keep puffing away and dropping coin.

[CaptainMusky]

I guess if I owned a business

I think I be alittle more active in trying to get those nets out of the lake

I know eddy tried for years then finally threw in the towel

so maybe it just isnt possable

it could be a deal where law enforcement needs to make it tougher for those wisc bands to come here and take over as in camping and cleaning fish in pulbic landing etc etc

follow the catch once its caught see where it actually goes

whats done with

see what they do with the rough fish they catch

just cuz they can net doesnt mean they dont have to observe the rest of the laws

are all there boats licensed in mn etc etc i'm sure they are not

or is it just a free for all over there

i dunno ...just a though

Many of the businesses around the lake are owned by the band. I dont see them being real active in trying to ban themselves.

[gregg52]

well mostly on the west from about twin pines to kinda just north of rocky reef

but there businesses will suffer as well

of course probably not the casino

but that could be a GOOD reason to build that casino downtown mpls

that would curtail the business

[Walleyehunter38]

Why cant they just use a hook and line to catch their fish like I have to?

[delcecchi]

Why cant they just use a hook and line to catch their fish like I have to?

They can if they want to. They don't have to. Why do some people spear northern pike through the ice?

[Slabasaurus]

You are stocking the lake so the natives (I use that term loosely as do they) can spear the walleyes? Let me know how that works out I bet the WI DNR had a good laugh about tha one.

No, the natives have nothing to do with this. The association is stocking the lake because cabinowners whine about no more walleyes.

This lake has been speared for a long time... the walleye population decline happened about the same time the CLP explosion happened.

I wonder if there's any correlation there? Hmm...

So far it is working though, thanks for asking!

[delcecchi]

CLP?