News - Lake Mille Lacs Walleye Fishery Frequently Asked Questions

[Rick]

Updated: 7/21/15 Q:  What’s the status of the state’s allocation of the walleye quota? A:  As of July 15th, when the last angler survey was conducted, the state was within just 3,000 pounds of reaching the State’s 28,600-pound limit for … Full Story

Discuss below - to view set the hook here.

[Sculpin]

It's so inconceivable it defies common sense. They seemingly went from a "harvest" of 2900 lb's through mid June, to what appears to be around 25,000 a couple weeks later. ?

Sadly, it is all creel census extrapolation and "hooking mortality".

If everyone would cease and desist when it comes to pumping up their numbers when talking to the creel folks we would not be at this juncture. Better yet, simply do not talk to them. I personally try not to, ever.    

[ANYFISH2]

Or maybe tell the truth and hope that it is used to help the lake!!

Not cooperation is only serving yourself, all the while being a detriment to the lake as well as all those whom enjoy and need the lake for their lively hood.

 

[delcecchi]

It's so inconceivable it defies common sense. They seemingly went from a "harvest" of 2900 lb's through mid June, to what appears to be around 25,000 a couple weeks later. ?

Sadly, it is all creel census extrapolation and "hooking mortality".

If everyone would cease and desist when it comes to pumping up their numbers when talking to the creel folks we would not be at this juncture. Better yet, simply do not talk to them. I personally try not to, ever.    

Why do you put "hooking mortality" in quotes?  Do you not believe the numbers? Or the concept?

Edited July 27, 2015 by delcecchi

[Sculpin]

I do in fact believe in hooking mortality. However, I do not believe the numbers as recently reported by the DNR. The Minneapolis Tribune reported Wed. July 23rd, that 6,257 walleyes had died from hooking mortality the first two weeks of July, compared with 776 in the same period last year. It was also reported in the same article that "fishing pressure" rose about 20% in the period this year vs. last year, and the number of fish kept in the period was 622 this year, and 612 in 2014. I'm not sure how the numbers are all churned, I guess by the creel census folks sitting in the boat landings. Is the mortality one in ten ??  There sure as heck were not 60,000 or 70,000 walleyes caught and released in the first two weeks of July, nobody is fishing the lake.  How can "pressure" be up 20%, harvest be the same, and hooking mortality be up 5,481 fish ?    Even launch traffic cannot account for it, and I'm pretty sure the creel folks cannot and do not sit in resorts and try to pull numbers. I have personally spoken to them in pay to launch landings, and they ONLY speak to folks coming in on the pay ramp, NOT adjacent docks

 

As far as the concept, it's laughable, and 15 years of total management failure and futility have proven it so. The DNR basically has failed at every juncture, and the numbers as reported simply DO NOT add up 

[delcecchi]

If pressure is up 20 percent, then people are fishing the lake.  But being skeptical of the numbers is legitimate.  My guess is that a bunch of June reports got delayed and got added in without comment.