BuckSutherland
5 year old buck +
What a fricken joke the DNR is. Hard to fathom how they could possibly be any worse at managing the states waters and woods.
Looks like the DNR is gonna close down Mille Lacs
- Thread starter BuckSutherland
- Start date
BuckSutherland
5 year old buck +
(Released July 21, 2015) The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced today that last week’s creel survey on estimated walleye harvests, releases, and kill on Mille Lacs Lake during the first two weeks of July showed drastic increases that could result in the state reaching its limit by July 29.
Despite the ongoing challenges with the walleye population, other fishing on the lake remains strong and near record highs. DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr stressed that anglers should take advantage of the continuation of liberal northern pike and smallmouth bass regulations on the lake.
“Mille Lacs Lake remains one of the premiere fishing destinations in the state,” Landwehr said. “Northern pike and smallmouth bass are at or near record highs. Anglers should take advantage of the liberal regulations for these species. DNR tagging studies also indicate that muskies larger than 50 inches have never been more abundant.”
During the first seven months of the monitoring period (December 2014 – June 2015) walleye harvest rates were at or below predicted levels, based on tight regulations adopted for the open-water season. Based upon those results, total harvest was expected to be below the State’s 28,600-pound limit for this twelve-month period and the DNR’s June 30 creel study showed the state was within 15,300 pounds of reaching the annual quota.
However, as of July 15, when the last angler survey was conducted, the state was within just 3,000 pounds of reaching the annual quota. Records also show it was only the second time in 30 years that Mille Lacs walleye catch rates in July were higher than the second half of June. This dramatic spike is believed to be due to unusual circumstances – including the high catch rates over the 4th of July and warm water temperatures (the third highest on record). Warm water greatly increases walleye mortality on fish that had to be released because they did not fall within the harvest slot. The so-called “hooking mortality” of walleyes that die after being released counts toward the state quota.
Gov. Mark Dayton has directed the DNR to wait until after the next creel survey which will cover the period from July 16 to July 31, to see if the most recent numbers are an aberration. During that time, officials at the DNR, the Office of Tourism, and Department of Employment and Economic Development will meet with resort owners and other affected stakeholders on Mille Lacs to discuss the situation and seek recommendations.
A federal court decision legally requires state officials to abide by the limit agreed upon with the eight Chippewa bands for each year. After the next creel report is received, the commissioner will take the necessary actions. It should be emphasized, however, that if the state determines it has exceeded its harvest allotment, the commissioner will be legally required to suspend fishing for walleye on the lake.
The DNR has met with the Minnesota tribes who harvest on Mille Lacs, as well as the executive administrator of the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission on the situation and shared fisheries data with them. There is mutual concern to respond to the increased harvest and take steps necessary to protect the walleye population.
Earlier this year, the DNR also met with Mille Lacs Lake business owners and anglers to discuss the struggling walleye population and the risks of going over the lower quota. The DNR, Department of Employment and Economic Development, and Explore Minnesota Tourism will continue working with area resorts and businesses to gather their input, assess the impact of fishing conditions on area businesses, and work with the community as a decision is made on the continuation of the fishing season.
Additional Background on the Mille Lacs Lake Walleye Quota
Since 2008, not enough young walleye are surviving to maturity and replenishing the Mille Lacs Lake population. As a result, Mille Lacs walleye numbers are currently at a 30-year low. In response, the state instituted more restrictive walleye regulations this year in order to protect young walleyes so they could grow older.
In fact, this year Mille Lacs’ 2015 walleye safe harvest level was deliberately reduced from 60,000 to 40,000 pounds so that more fish could potentially survive and spawn to improve the walleye population. Under this year’s quota, state anglers can harvest up to 28,600 pounds of walleye, and the eight Chippewa bands with 1837 Treaty harvest rights can harvest up to 11,400 pounds of walleye. Anglers are able to keep one walleye that is 19- to 21-inches long, or longer than 28 inches.
Despite this year’s low walleye population, DNR fishery surveys have shown this year that there may be good news on the horizon. Biologists are seeing a large population of young walleyes hatched in 2013. Walleyes in that group are currently 10-to 13-inches long. It is important to protect those fish so they can contribute to future angling success and walleye production.
Despite the ongoing challenges with the walleye population, other fishing on the lake remains strong and near record highs. DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr stressed that anglers should take advantage of the continuation of liberal northern pike and smallmouth bass regulations on the lake.
“Mille Lacs Lake remains one of the premiere fishing destinations in the state,” Landwehr said. “Northern pike and smallmouth bass are at or near record highs. Anglers should take advantage of the liberal regulations for these species. DNR tagging studies also indicate that muskies larger than 50 inches have never been more abundant.”
During the first seven months of the monitoring period (December 2014 – June 2015) walleye harvest rates were at or below predicted levels, based on tight regulations adopted for the open-water season. Based upon those results, total harvest was expected to be below the State’s 28,600-pound limit for this twelve-month period and the DNR’s June 30 creel study showed the state was within 15,300 pounds of reaching the annual quota.
However, as of July 15, when the last angler survey was conducted, the state was within just 3,000 pounds of reaching the annual quota. Records also show it was only the second time in 30 years that Mille Lacs walleye catch rates in July were higher than the second half of June. This dramatic spike is believed to be due to unusual circumstances – including the high catch rates over the 4th of July and warm water temperatures (the third highest on record). Warm water greatly increases walleye mortality on fish that had to be released because they did not fall within the harvest slot. The so-called “hooking mortality” of walleyes that die after being released counts toward the state quota.
Gov. Mark Dayton has directed the DNR to wait until after the next creel survey which will cover the period from July 16 to July 31, to see if the most recent numbers are an aberration. During that time, officials at the DNR, the Office of Tourism, and Department of Employment and Economic Development will meet with resort owners and other affected stakeholders on Mille Lacs to discuss the situation and seek recommendations.
A federal court decision legally requires state officials to abide by the limit agreed upon with the eight Chippewa bands for each year. After the next creel report is received, the commissioner will take the necessary actions. It should be emphasized, however, that if the state determines it has exceeded its harvest allotment, the commissioner will be legally required to suspend fishing for walleye on the lake.
The DNR has met with the Minnesota tribes who harvest on Mille Lacs, as well as the executive administrator of the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission on the situation and shared fisheries data with them. There is mutual concern to respond to the increased harvest and take steps necessary to protect the walleye population.
Earlier this year, the DNR also met with Mille Lacs Lake business owners and anglers to discuss the struggling walleye population and the risks of going over the lower quota. The DNR, Department of Employment and Economic Development, and Explore Minnesota Tourism will continue working with area resorts and businesses to gather their input, assess the impact of fishing conditions on area businesses, and work with the community as a decision is made on the continuation of the fishing season.
Additional Background on the Mille Lacs Lake Walleye Quota
Since 2008, not enough young walleye are surviving to maturity and replenishing the Mille Lacs Lake population. As a result, Mille Lacs walleye numbers are currently at a 30-year low. In response, the state instituted more restrictive walleye regulations this year in order to protect young walleyes so they could grow older.
In fact, this year Mille Lacs’ 2015 walleye safe harvest level was deliberately reduced from 60,000 to 40,000 pounds so that more fish could potentially survive and spawn to improve the walleye population. Under this year’s quota, state anglers can harvest up to 28,600 pounds of walleye, and the eight Chippewa bands with 1837 Treaty harvest rights can harvest up to 11,400 pounds of walleye. Anglers are able to keep one walleye that is 19- to 21-inches long, or longer than 28 inches.
Despite this year’s low walleye population, DNR fishery surveys have shown this year that there may be good news on the horizon. Biologists are seeing a large population of young walleyes hatched in 2013. Walleyes in that group are currently 10-to 13-inches long. It is important to protect those fish so they can contribute to future angling success and walleye production.
B
bat man
Guest
So the paper is signed saying fishing will stop, but our DNR is holding all kinds of meetings to listen to those concerned because?
Super happy they liberalized pike fishing. Used to pick warm days during the rifle season and we caught a pike over 40 every 1 hour 45 minutes. But now we want them gone.
DNR did a 45 minute presentation at the last roundtable on Mille lacs walleyes and never once said the word net. That about sums it up.
Super happy they liberalized pike fishing. Used to pick warm days during the rifle season and we caught a pike over 40 every 1 hour 45 minutes. But now we want them gone.
DNR did a 45 minute presentation at the last roundtable on Mille lacs walleyes and never once said the word net. That about sums it up.
biglakeba$$
5 year old buck +
And the netting continues......
sandbur
5 year old buck +
The tribes will buy many of the businesses in time.
bwoods11
5 year old buck +
Their new slogan for Mille Lacs...take advantage of the plentiful bass and Muskie.
Wow, sorry but that won't cut it. It's a walleye lake and now you can't fish for walleye. Simple colossal failure.
B
bat man
Guest
They just bought Meleens and likely have their eye on more.
Hell go a plan if you ask me.
wiscwhip
5 year old buck +
Sounds a lot like the Green Bay perch fishery not to many years ago, thankfully it has rebounded well.
West Branch
5 year old buck +
Perch? Apparently they aren't doing very good either:
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/ou...line-minnesotas-perch-has-officials-concerned
BuckSutherland
5 year old buck +
I get grief from people for saying this sometimes, but the DNR should take 100% of the responsibility for the piss poor hunting and fishing in this state. I am old enough to know that better than 95% of people will operate within whatever limits, rules and regulations the DNR sets. Of course there are some people that will poach and be meathogs no matter the law, but by far and away people listen. Well the DNR is responsible for letting all the big northerns in the state get slaughtered. They offer them little to no protection and then stick their heads up there asses once the lakes are full of hammerhandles and terrorizing the entire lake. Having a lake full of these little bastards is like having ISIS roam our streets. They also allow the constant raiding of panfish beds. The limits for panfish are outdated and need to be reduced to protect some resemblance of quality for future generations. The resources simply cant sustain with all the pressure being applied. Kinda like getting 5 permits over the counter to waste as many does as a person wants.
Should be real simple:
1 hunter, one deer
4 walleyes 1 over 20
10 northerns 1 over 24 with no harvest 24-36
6 crappies
10 sunfish
10 perch
1 turkey
2 pheasants/day 4 possesion
3 ducks/ six possesion
Unlimited geese, carp, wolves, dogs, liberals
Any SOB that "needs" any more than that to feed his family is just plain full of shit. We have the fattest poor people in the world. Now if you will excuse me I am gonna go call a lawyer so I can get through the 400 page MN fishing handbook.
Should be real simple:
1 hunter, one deer
4 walleyes 1 over 20
10 northerns 1 over 24 with no harvest 24-36
6 crappies
10 sunfish
10 perch
1 turkey
2 pheasants/day 4 possesion
3 ducks/ six possesion
Unlimited geese, carp, wolves, dogs, liberals
Any SOB that "needs" any more than that to feed his family is just plain full of shit. We have the fattest poor people in the world. Now if you will excuse me I am gonna go call a lawyer so I can get through the 400 page MN fishing handbook.
*Hawaii5joe*
5 year old buck +
This is why I will NOT STEP A FOOT IN THAT DAMN CASINO!!!!! Why any sportsmen that fishes does is beyond me. The fishing world needs their own Brooks to get things rolling. They can't have ours.
bwoods11
5 year old buck +
I like your limits, could never understand the 3 northerns and 6 walleye??
6 walleye...why????
biglakeba$$
5 year old buck +
H Joe..... You nailed my exact thoughts. I went to a casino ONE time. I hated it.
No way am I funding them. But sadly I saw a lot of retired people dumping their lifelong earnings into machines by the bucket loads. I know an older couple and their only entertainment in life now is to go to the casino.... Its hard for me to judge the way they spend their money, but the last place my lifelong earnings are going, is into the Indians pockets.
No way am I funding them. But sadly I saw a lot of retired people dumping their lifelong earnings into machines by the bucket loads. I know an older couple and their only entertainment in life now is to go to the casino.... Its hard for me to judge the way they spend their money, but the last place my lifelong earnings are going, is into the Indians pockets.
biglakeba$$
5 year old buck +
I am sitting next to a lake right now that the pike limit should be 50 per person.... Its so overloaded with hammer handles, I cant remove them fast enough to make pickled pike.
3 pike limit just blows me away for this lake.
I look at it like deer hunting..... Deal with the hot pockets, and dont tell the macro society that the limit is all the same across the board.
3 pike limit just blows me away for this lake.
I look at it like deer hunting..... Deal with the hot pockets, and dont tell the macro society that the limit is all the same across the board.
BuckSutherland
5 year old buck +
I go, but the bastards lose money every time I walk through the door. I can really put the hurt on their crab buffet.
sandbur
5 year old buck +
Two excellent posts by Mark!
My wife and I went to a Casino once to eat-at Mille Lacs.
We left and my wife said we should go to a place where people actually pay taxes.
BuckSutherland
5 year old buck +
Bravo to HT for being the only website to leave up the Mille Lacs discussion. All the other boards removed the threads because they are afraid to offend anyone. Been a beautiful sight to watch Fishing Minnesota crash and burn. Thanks John for giving guys the freedom to actually express their opinions without being shamed like a first grader.
