News - PERM Board members respond to DNR Mille Lacs announcement

[Rick]

Walleye showing up after two years of no gillnets

 

DNR Blue Ribbon Panel dodges the gillnet problem on Mille Lacs

 

The walleye being caught in Mille Lacs this year are mostly in the 13 to 15-inch range. That tells us they are about two years old. That in turn tells us they hatched in the years when there was no gill netting due to weather conditions (late ice-out).

 

It is also logical to conclude that this year-class of fish was not adversely affected by water clarity, zebra mussels, global warming, spiny fleas, cormorants, muskies, northern, or high bass population. Observers should then surmise (with confidence) that the effecting variable was gill netting.

 

In this case, the lack of gill netting resulted in respectable levels of reproduction (despite the reduced population of spawning fish). Nature has provided us with the perfect scientific conditions that verify what many have long suspected. Gill netting during the spawn ruins a lake’s balance and targeting of a species results in near extermination.

 

Of course this same conclusion could be reached by looking at historical data from other lakes that have been gill netted. But now Mother Nature has provided us with irrefutable proof of a cause and effect relationship between gill netting and the walleye population's demise. 

 

This also shows that the DNR's approach to improving the walleye population by targeting other species, such as northern or bass was misguided. Further, it is evidence that the DNR's "Blue Ribbon Panel" was far off the mark when they neglected to consider gill netting as a possible factor. 

 

Nothing in their report, "Mille Lacs Lake Walleye Blue Ribbon Panel Data Review and Recommendations for Future Data Collection and Management," mentions the problem of gillnetting during the spawn.

 

The Panel started "by agreeing that the decline in Mille Lacs walleye began around 2000 ... which corresponded to a period of considerable change for both the walleye fishery and the lake itself."

 

"Significant changes" included going to a joint recreational and tribal walleye fishery in 1998, and introduction of harvestable slot limits the next year and protected slot limits in 2003. Then they add, "However, these changes in the fishery occurred against a backdrop of lake changes related to water quality, etc., etc., etc., (see the list above.)

 

Not once in the entire 31 pages of the report do the words "gill net" or "gill netting" appear regarding harvest of walleye! Surveys, data, assessments, yes, but never harvest, let alone "during the spawn."

 

The DNR has neglected to responsibly manage the resource in an unbiased manner for the people of Minnesota. The Tribes and GLIFWC are equally culpable in this mismanagement. There is no longer any need for debate. 

 

These are my opinions and have not been reviewed or approved by anyone else.

 

Let me know where I am wrong.

 

Joe Ward, PERM Board Member

 

 

 Governor Dayton, Resign!

 

"I believe all hunting and fishing in Minnesota should be done under the same rules." Gov. Mark Dayton, Candidate Forum at Game Fair, August 2010. Gov. Dayton knew then about the issues at Mille Lacs. After the election, he appointed Tom Landwehr as DNR Commissioner. He also knew there were issues. 

 

Five years later, nothing has been done. Will he use a meet and great at Game Fair in a few weeks to announce the future of Mille Lacs? I doubt it; maybe a press release at best. 

 

The hierarchy of the MN DNR, Tribal DNR managers, and GLIFWC must take full responsibility for mismanagement of Mille Lacs. The Supreme Court did not order co-management. They stated the DNR must sit down with Tribal governments and figure a way to accommodate court-affirmed treaty harvest rights. They also stated, should conservation of the 1837 treaty area be negatively affected, bring it back to the court. 

 

Therefore, I am telling Gov. Mark Dayton to FIRE the hierarchy of the DNR, along with head of Fisheries and his advisors, prior to turning in his resignation.  Corporate Minnesota would not stand for this type of management, and neither should the citizens of Minnesota!

 

Doug Meyenburg, PERM President

What do YOU think?

[walleyepro13]

The gillnetters and Obama are  getting what they want!!! Obama giving them biliions for buying land back (is insane) on there treaty land !!!  We need to put a toll stop before casino $10/per vehicle going to casino and leaving to help support Mille Lacs!! There going to buy as much of Mille Lacs as they can and turn it into Red lake. Only need 51 percent of the lake. We'll only have part of the lake like red lake probably north end and east side. Dayton and DNR Commisioner T.L. BOTH NEED TO BE OUSTED!!! Our voices need to be heard loud and clear !!! As prior comments all the 11-15 nice upcoming walleyes are from mother natures helping hand with late ice out and no netting in the spawn!!!!!!!! There is some some predation including adult walleye eatin young walleye but that can be taking care of with 1 0ver 20" not 28".

[ANYFISH2]

Ageing of walleye has told us that 14" mille lacs walleye are 4 years old.

Once again perms facts are false or at least misleading.  Their timing is off. These fish in abundance are more likely from 2010-2013 year class.

With any hope 2014-2015 are just as good.  Even better if perms thoughts are right.

Irregardless, of how I feel of tribal netting, there is far more at play here than just nets. That is a FACT.

Edited July 27, 2015 by ANYFISH2

[Kyhl]

From a 2013 survey, a 3 year old ML walleye is 13-15" long.  A 4 year old ML walleye is generally 15-16" long.  I know I'm not catching or hearing of people catching an abundance of 15-16" fish.  There are 10-14" fish everywhere that I have fished this year.

http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/areas/fisheries/aitkin/mille-lacs-creel.pdf  Page 26.

I would accept that the abundance of 12-14" walleyes in ML are less than 3 years old, maybe 2-3 yrs.  Most likely not 4 years old.

At 1 year they between 9-10 inches.  I am seening a lot of 10-12" eyes.  Those could be in the wheelhouse of 1.5 years old and from the suggested year class of the original post.

Edited July 27, 2015 by Kyhl