Night Ban to go into effect for fall fishing

[Guest]

The DNR met with the Mille Lacs Advisory board on Tues August 27th. The DNR wanted input on a proposed night ban for Sept 30th through Dec 1. This proposal is to compensate for the overharvest. At the meeting, the DNR said they wanted to hear what the Advisory Board thought of the plan. But they also disclosed that they (DNR) had already sent the proposal to the band for approval. They then took a useless vote which was in favor of the night band. The plan also includes a barbless hook requirement for day fishing. The night ban does nothing to protect the current harvest because 14-16 inch class fish rarely hit big baits trolled by night anglers. This proposal is merely a carrot-on-the-stick to keep the band from going back to court. One resort owner wanted to know what the hours would be for the ban. If it were 10-6 like it is in the spring, some night fishing could be done. The band would have to decide what they thought was acceptable which the DNR said they probably would ask for a dusk to dawn ban. Right now its in the hands of the band to "approve" of the ban. I would say its going to happen. This is a major blow to Mille Lacs fishing, many anglers are starting to loose their cool. Iam trying to keep mine.

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MILLE LACS AREA GUIDE SERVICE
651-271-5459 http://fishingminnesota.com/millelacsguide/
click here

[Walleye_GFA]

I will NEVER buy walleye from the market, and I will NEVER again spend a single dime with an indian owned business, or one I suspect to be indian owned. Too bad our federal government wont ratify the treaties. Sad we have to beg for fishing rights. Someone should put together a book of non indian businesses so people like me know where to spend our money. I dont at all want to see local "american" guides and businesses get harmed... must be nice to be a seperate nation within the USA and still get all the advantages of a minoroity group. Let them have all the walleye and maybe they will choke on them.

"One nation under God"... if they want to be seperate let them pay their own way...

Walleye_GFA

[harvy56364]

D-man, I feel for you guides, but I can't get out to fish very often & I do like the taste of fish. So I don't fish M.L. & I don't go the casinos.

[avrg.joe]

Guys & Gals,
I heard the same report last Thursday, with a couple more disturbing things added to it. I am not going to get into any of these other items because some of my info comes from a source that could be traced back to this individual. Things may get even worse than D-man stated, MUCH worse.
Spend yur money wisely. Spend money at tribal owned businesses, they spend it on land and on lobbying polititions. The political system that gave us the five-four decision in the favor of the tribe.
Where you spend your money and who you vote for, will determine if your kids can hunt and fish as you could.

GHU

[Grabs]

How soon could this go into effect, and could it happen before our Sept 14th launch trip?

I am starting to feel sick!! Man I hope I can at least ice fish this winter!

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[This message has been edited by Grabs (edited 09-02-2002).]

[Guest]

The one time of year I really look forward to getting out on the lake - cancelled. But I guess I wasn't looking forward to catching that 30.5" walleye, weigh it, and find out it weighs 7lbs this year.
gte

[Guest]

The DNR and state leadership are nothing but a bunch of spineless bozo's.It's time for elected leaders to get their but to Washington ( the ones who aren't there already) and do some serious pushing to get this idiotic treaty done away with. For now , the heck with waht the tribes wnat ,make em take us back too court if need be.No where in the treaties does it say that the bands are are entitled to a certain amount of anything ,only that they will be allowed to hunt and fish ,nor does it say that they may do this outside of state regulations.
This whole deal is getting out of hand and needs to be dealt with.
If our current political people can't get it done then its time to replace them.

Sick and tired of the tribal rhetoric and the MN lapdogs.

[bigeyes]

D-man, thanks for the info. I had not heard that yet, and am shocked! I have tried to be helpful to the DNR this far and reserve judgement, always giving them the benifit of the doubt, but losing fall night fishing would really upset me. I know there is a lot of upset people on both sides, but steping back and looking at this in a logical way it doesn't seem to make sense. Most night fishing is done with large crankbaits, in cold shallow water, I would bet that due to these simple facts the hooking mortality rate is almost zero. What about the 14-16 slot fish, will some of them be caught, yes, but not many on those 5 inch crankbaits. If that is the consern why not make it catch and release. So lets review the rational this type of fishing is "not ok", but by all means in June and July let them take that live bait rig deep so we can horse them out of 35 feet, air temps are 90+?
I try to fish Mille Lacs once a week year round, but I think I may be finally giving up hope, it is just not worth it anymore, there are too many other lakes to fish, but it is a real shame.

[Fish-on]

The fall nightime trolling bite is phenomenal and mortality is minimal. I will lose quite a bit of business, as will a lot of other people and businesses. Maybe it's time we all banded together and filed a class action suit.

Losing my cool too.

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Bernie Barringer's 10,000 Lakes Guide Service
http://fishingminnesota.com/bernie
Call toll free 800-890-FISH (3474)
[email protected]

[Schnauzer]

Well, although it doesn't look good - this hasn't happened yet. I'm going to hold out hope (against odds) it doesn't happen.

The fall night bite on Mille Lacs is my favorite fishing. I'd be sad but go along with it if I thought it would do any good but this is an obvious example of throwing the band a bone - it only hurts anglers and does not help the situation that needs correcting. This is just devistating. If this goes through, I'm either going to cancel the 5 vacation days I have devoted to the Mille Lacs fall bite or go elsewhere.

[Long Gray Line]

I'm going elsewhere, Vermillion and Leech aren't that much farther if you're going for a few days. As far as the class action, has anyone contacted PERM about the idea? The decision by the limp wristed, black robed (how appropriate!) guilt ridden Supreme Court was regarding state's rights vs. the treaty. This would be a civil issue. Do you think there might be restriction of trade issues or violation of civil liberties issues (it seems like anything can be a violation of civil liberties these days, why not take advantage of it!) that a good attorney could argue? Whaddayathink?

[geebee]

Walleye_GFA I could be wrong, but I think all walleye in the market is from Canada, so not buying locally won't affect Mille Lacs tribes. Too bad.

[jighed]

who can we get a hold of to complain to and im not talking about the DNR
- - -

[This message has been edited by Rick (edited 09-07-2002).]

[mistermom]

Jighead'

I like to look at the posts with my son who is developementally delayed. He does know how to read, however... And now that Rick cleaned up your post mine makes no sense.

mm

[This message has been edited by mistermom (edited 09-06-2002).]

[This message has been edited by mistermom (edited 09-10-2002).]

[Kidd]

Here's an interesting article about this subject, read it and agree or disagree with the Bands thinking. Any good discussion needs an opposing view and here it is. It is not my view, but it certainly gives an insight into the reasons a night fishing ban may become reality.
http://www.millelacsojibwe.org/pdf/inasep02.pdf

[Fisher Dave]

We need the state to open up a few state operated casino's. See what happens to our fishing rights when their money takes a serious dive. In all reality the band doesnt need the fisherman now, but if the casino wasnt drawing the cashflow they would need some of ours. (fisherman in general). Money is alot more important to these guys than walleyes.

State run casino's would help everyone, they would generate alot of money that wouldnt have to be directly from our earned dollars .. unless of course we're blowing it at the casino's.

[Flash]

Did you guys see Dennis Anderson's article in the Star Tribune a couple days back. The head of our DNR does not fish or hunt. How would he know anything and why would he care. It seems to me all they are trying to do is keep the peace with Indians. I think they are making it worse. Something is going to break and it won't be good.

[avrg.joe]

kidd
This article says nothing new. He states the DNR basically should shut the lake down or the walleye population would crash. As anyone who has fished the lake knows, it is in fine shape.
Bottom line is, they want anglers off the lake for the rest of the year.

GOOD LUCK!!

[Long Gray Line]

If you read deep into the article, you can see the MLB's plan. If the lake is shut down to fishing, the resort owners will be hurt the worst and will have to declare bankruptcy or sell. This will present the cash rich MLB their best opportunity to create a monopoly around the lake by buying up the businesses that are forced to liquidate or sell completely at reduced prices. What a brilliant scheme! Don't federal laws outlaw schemes like this though as 'racketeering'?

[Long Gray Line]

Sorry for venting, but there's something wrong when one group is allowed to take advantage of another group, no matter which direction it goes.

[This message has been edited by Long Gray Line (edited 09-07-2002).]

[Guest]

L G L
No need to be sorry. You're right on the mark.

[Guest]

LGL/ That's exactly what they are trying to do.

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MILLE LACS AREA GUIDE SERVICE
651-271-5459 http://fishingminnesota.com/millelacsguide/
click here

[Long Gray Line]

Thanks gang. I sent a copy of the forum to Sen. Wellstone <[email protected]> with the reminder that the state gov't, Sen. Dayton and he have all been silent on the issue, that we realize that opposing any Native American action is politically incorrect, that this is an issue that deals with an outdated 165 year old treaty that the federal gov't must deal with, and that we're hoping for more courage from our representatives. I haven't found Sen. Dayton's e-mail address yet but I plan on doing the same with him. I'll let you know if I hear anything back.

[uffdapete]

Here's a small slice of where Wellstone stands on Indian issues.

http://www.senate.gov/~wellstone/Key_Issues/NAmericans/namericans.html

[REA]

Long Gray Line - It would help to also forward to Norm Coleman. Unfortunately, I don't have his address. The more publicity, the better!

[eye]

uffdapete,

Thanks so much for putting that link on the board. I have never been a big fan of this liberal, and after reading that I'm feeling a little sick to my stomach! We should orginize as a group and do a little compaining for someone, anyone, else. If we get enough people behind it people would have to listen. I really doubt a lot of people know what he has done and what he will do!! Everybody please spread the word!!

[Long Gray Line]

I managed to find Candidate Coleman's campaign e-mail address [email protected]
and sent him a copy of the forum. I added the following note with the forward: (Could have said alot more but felt maximum verbosity was not called for!)

I thought you might be interested in reading this web page: It has to do with the actions the Mille Lacs Band of Chippewa is taking to drive out local business from the Mille Lacs area under the guise of 'managing' the walleye population in Lake Mille Lacs. They are hiding their actions behind a Supreme Court decision regarding the outdated 1837 treaty and the cash they have accumulated from their casino. Their actions are causing a growing antagonism toward the MLB for their unethical actions. If any other group attempted to create a monopoly by driving out small businesses using tactics such as these, it would be called racketeering. Senators Wellstone and Dayton have been silent on the issue, although with the amount of money historically provided by the tribe to the Democrat/Wellstone candidacy, this is no surprise. State agencies are unwilling/unable to take any action or effectively negotiate solutions. Only the federal gov't can do something about this situation as it is directly related to a federal treaty with the tribe.
Thank you for listening.

[TRZ]

Long Gray Line, good work you are fight on the mark. i have had the same idea for a couple of years now but have thought that it was too far fetched, but it now seems to be more of a reality. all of us who have so much fun cranking in the fall would be hurt the most by this, and we seem to be the ones who don't care if we have to release fish. why don't they just make the fall totally catch and release, like D-man said few fish die from being caught in cold water under 10 feet deep.

[Guest]

I would totally be happy with a barbless catch and release only for fall fishing.

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MILLE LACS AREA GUIDE SERVICE
651-271-5459 http://fishingminnesota.com/millelacsguide/
click here

[Schnauzer]

I too would have no problem with catch and release only in the fall. I caught a legal-to-keep 30" last fall and let it go anyway. The night ban is the killer.

BTW everyone said the indians were going to be letting the DNR know their answer to the proposed night ban and barbless restrictions by the end of last week. There is still no news. Does anyone know if there is a deadline for their answer?