Yes gil that is why we planned our trip to the rainy this past spring, 1 to catch a trophy fish and 2 if we wanted to keep a couple of fish we could have. That’s exactly why so many people go to the fox. Yes it’s a 1 fish limit but you are allowed to keep it if its legal if you desire. And that is exactly why our group will not go to ML
We own land just off of Mille Lacs, back in the day the whole crew would meet up there several times a year. As a group we haven’t been there in 4 years. The family certainly has enjoyed the area, but there’s no getting everyone in from South Dakota or North Dakota when we can go to other lakes in other states and have the option to throw a couple walleye into the livewell.
The Millelacs tribe bought lundeens….came from a good source
They are buying up whatever they can…
My bet is they will close and remove it….just like the other resorts they bought……dont kid yourself….fishing is great but activity is not near what it was 10 years ago…
Hopefully a new governor can get the management of this lake back on track with equal rights for all.
Exactly my point rr, and its mostly related to not being able to keep some walleyes. Most responses on here don’t seam to be able to tie the 2 together and scorn those who like to keep some fish. It’s not going to change anytime soon until somehow the lake can rebound and that’s the number 1 priority for everyone
The Millelacs tribe bought lundeens….came from a good source
They are buying up whatever they can…
They will probably put a gas station or something there. It’s such a prominent corner and the entry point to the lake that everyone drives by and sees.
So this looks like a case of someone being offered enough to go off into retirement. Everyone has a price. Good for him, but sad for the area.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>RedRanger wrote:</div>
The Millelacs tribe bought lundeens….came from a good source
They are buying up whatever they can…They will probably put a gas station or something there. It’s such a prominent corner and the entry point to the lake that everyone drives by and sees.
Not likely they will, they bought Meleen’s right across the street little over a year ago and it is a gas/convenience store and they also added a Taco John’s. Apparently they closed the bait/tackle shop that once was Meleen’s Sport Center. Who knows what they plan for the Lundeen’s spot?
Most responses on here don’t seam to be able to tie the 2 together and scorn those who like to keep some fish.
I can agree with you based on most the comments on this thread but not entirely true for all of us.
Let me pause for a moment and add that although this thread started as an announcement that another Mille Lacs business closed, the discussion here has veered off the main topic but not at all in a bad way. In fact I’m impressed and somewhat surprised that this thread has remained civil and respectful and has not digressed into spitting, eye poking, ignorant racist accusations and other debauchery. This forum has had a history of that and another forum I’ve since abandoned was worse yet, basically like plugging a toilet.
All posts/comments on this thread I have agreed with to varying degrees but mostly because they were respectful and I could then respect their point of view and opinion.
What AUTO_5 stated did hit home for me. This will sound like I’m switching gears here (and perhaps I am), but as much as I love the big lake along with the fishing and history and culture…I can relate to what he is saying…
“this one’s going in the livewell,” and tossing em in there. Maybe it’s just the kid in me that still enjoys opening up the livewell and looking at the fish we’ve kept. Either way, there is just something very satisfying about eating a walleye that you personally worked for, caught, and filleted.
Mille Lacs is a big lake that many days is too windy and rough to fish comfortably. All last week I was up with family and was limited to just one day of being able to get to prime spots and was limited to areas closer to shore when the wind blew.
I commented on another thread that I am missing being able to simply slide a small boat out on calm waters of a small lake and keeping a couple walleyes for the pan.
Just like this…
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Right on, Andy! Also, nothing like an eater o
n a rattle reel at 2:13 am…
Also got word from a very reliably sketchy source….
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Also got word from a very reliably sketchy source….
At least it’ll smell the same.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>nhamm wrote:</div>
Also got word from a very reliably sketchy source….At least it’ll smell the same.
ew
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>biggill wrote:</div>
I forgot to mention that I think US sports fishermen are some of the most selfish and ignorant people in the outdoors world. Just take a step back and look at our views on Mille Lacs, AIS, lake associations, recreational boaters, canoeists, environmentalists, etc, and try for a moment to understand another point of view for once. Quite often I am thoroughly embarrassed at what we think we deserve and have trouble explaining some of these things to my non-fishing friends.Agreed. I shake my head whenever I see a comment about “Well they shouldn’t be able to net because why should they get to do something that I am not allowed to?” As if everything else is equal between different groups and they only difference in rights, opportunities, quality of life is one can net fish from one lake for profit and the other can’t.
Sorry to say, fishermen often come off as the most entitled, whiny babies in a world full of entitled whiny babies.
I’m with slawrenz, if I had a boat big enough to get me out on Mille Lacs, I’d be up there all the dang time. Maybe in a couple years….
But Phil, how will you pay for the boat? Surely you will pay with cash, right. Don’t finance and pay the man interest.
/I can’t keep all this straight anymore.
Agreed. I shake my head whenever I see a comment about “Well they shouldn’t be able to net because why should they get to do something that I am not allowed to?” As if everything else is equal between different groups and they only difference in rights, opportunities, quality of life is one can net fish from one lake for profit and the other can’t.
Sorry to say, fishermen often come off as the most entitled, whiny babies in a world full of entitled whiny babies.
I’m with slawrenz, if I had a boat big enough to get me out on Mille Lacs, I’d be up there all the dang time. Maybe in a couple years….
Not sure what size boat you have but if you pick the days right, like how this weekend is looking. I’ve had no problems running around out there with a 16.5′ 25hp tiller when the weather cooperates. Just pay attention to the weather in case something unexpectedly changes.
I say they both were always crabby! I always get my bait at trailside in isle or lately Reeds in Onamia, I was told by a local it was purchased by tribe I think reeds hurt them with there great personalities,
Here ya go.
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I see this and I get confused by the comments I keep hearing that the tribe is trying to buy up all this land around the lake. Can anyone rationally explain why this is the case? Seems to not coincide with their game plan that I keep hearing about.
Hopefully this illustration will help clear up some of your confusion.
The Mille Lacs Band is not trying to buy all the land (and businesses) around the lake, just what is within this (currently contested) boundary.
If you are aware of what they have purchased…all have been within this boundary. The other places you mentioned currently for sale are outside of this.
The only exception would be Izaty’s but you must not be aware that there really wasn’t much of resort to actually buy. Most if not all the units/townhomes are privately owned. The only way the Band could have bought and controlled it all would have been to purchase all the townhomes which they couldn’t because they were not all for sale as if one package.
So to add to that, there are many that believe including those in the Band governance that the reservation lands will one day include all within that boundary.
And that is what has so many worried.
MLB.png
Andy you’re way more knowledgeable than I on this, but does that include the state park? Are they counting on the state to just surrender that? Or am I looking at the map wrong?
Andy you’re way more knowledgeable than I on this, but does that include the state park? Are they counting on the state to just surrender that? Or am I looking at the map wrong?
It does include both state parks but keep in mind that boundary is not currently recognized as the reservation today. Secondly, the Band is only buying what is for sale…the state land is not for sale.
Without speculating, if the day ever came that the Band was awarded that boundary as reservation land…it would likely remain an “open” reservation unlike Red Lake Nation. Meaning outside parties could still lease property or land for business or residence.
I suppose I am speculating, but doubtful the state would just surrender the parks. Most likely a negotiation or better yet…
…co-management. 
So Zander are you saying the band has no desire to own all the lands previously held in 1855 treaty? What about the well publicized band statement stating that was the goal? If you are unaware of that check with Steve Fellegy he has it for you. I’m not saying you are wrong but their goals have been publicized for years. BTW, the “one crappy failing bait shop” was a families lifes work and business. Do you think they were happy to close?
Did a quick search of available homes/land for sale, not including mobile homes or condos.
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Hopefully this illustration will help clear up some of your confusion.
The Mille Lacs Band is not trying to buy all the land (and businesses) around the lake, just what is within this (currently contested) boundary.
If you are aware of what they have purchased…all have been within this boundary. The other places you mentioned currently for sale are outside of this.
The only exception would be Izaty’s but you must not be aware that there really wasn’t much of resort to actually buy. Most if not all the units/townhomes are privately owned. The only way the Band could have bought and controlled it all would have been to purchase all the townhomes which they couldn’t because they were not all for sale as if one package.
So to add to that, there are many that believe including those in the Band governance that the reservation lands will one day include all within that boundary.
And that is what has so many worried.
It is surprising to me with all the money available that Izaty’s would not be in their sites.
A little history from the south metro fits in here. The Mdewakanton Sioux Cheif Black Dog supposedly came from the south shores of Mille Lacs and he settled Black Dog village near where Hwy 77 crosses the MN River. Hence, Black Dog power plant.
The band would mostly roam around the south end of what is now the city of Prior Lake through the south shores of the MN River up to Fort Snelling. I read somewhere that Black Dog’s people would retreat in the summers to his summer camp on the south side of Mille Lacs, named Izaty.
Eventually their roaming lands were purchased and they were moved. I’ve read to the Mdewakanton Sioux reservation in Prior Lake, and also read about them moving to Morton but that doesn’t make any sense to me.
Anyway, that creates a link between the metro’s Mdewakanton Sioux money making machine of a casino and Mille Lacs, specifically Izaty’s. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if they intend to buy out that entire southern shore one property at a time.
If you are aware of what they have purchased…all have been within this boundary. The other places you mentioned currently for sale are outside of this.
Incorrect, Gregory’s is for sale and inside that boundary. Drive up 169 and you’ll see lots of properties for sale. Drive East on 27 and then up 47 and you’ll see lots of properties listed. Heck, just do a quick search and there are all kinds of properties for sale totaling over a thousand maybe even several thousand acres inside that boundary. Why isn’t the band buying them?
Izaty’s was a 500 acre resort that sold at auction for pennies on the dollar, and the band didn’t want it because there may or may not been a handful of townhome lots owned by others (my understanding is most of those are time shares so the resort still owns the proerty), so the band passed on that large chunk of prime real estate that would have added a lot of acreage inside that boundary…..
…..yet they were just chomping at the bit to buy Lundeen’s in this supposed effort to regain all the land inside that boundary?
Uh, can you see how that doesn’t make any sense? There’s all this land for sale and always is a bunch for sale inside that boundary, yet one crappy failing bait shop changes hands, supposedly is purchased by the band (nothing more than an unsubstantiated rumor), and that somehow equates to them trying to buy back all the land that was inside the boundary of an 1855 treaty boundary…..
…..despite the fact that they don’t seem to give a ratz azz about this to anyone capable of using a minimal amount of logic and reason.
Incorrect??
Go back and look at the illustration again. Enlarge it if you have to. Gregory’s and the old Pike Point resort are clearly north of that boundary. I have attached another map for reference. Gregory’s is immediately south of Twin Pines. While your looking at that, note most all of 47 along the east side is north of the boundary.
You asked for a logical explanation and whether it’s logical or not, I cannot say but it was a valid response. Here’s some facts…they bought Eddy’s, the gas station/ convenience/Subway along 169, the old Econolodge next door (currently transitional housing), the old Meleens’s, the old Rod’s Tackle in Isle amongst others. Clearly all in that boundary and you see a pattern.
Furthermore, I would think they exercise some prudence in what they are buying, so it’s reasonable to understand they cannot or choose not to purchase every singe available property for sale.
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Did a quick search of available homes/land for sale, not including mobile homes or condos.
I didn’t realize there were that many islands on the south west side. 
So Zander are you saying the band has no desire to own all the lands previously held in 1855 treaty? What about the well publicized band statement stating that was the goal?
This statement?
On January 14, 1989 Art Gahbow, Chief Executive Officer of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, stated “As of right now we are on the offensive. We are on the attack. To state it simply, we will take it back…. The goal is to get back the original Mille Lacs, Sandy Lake and Rice Lake Reservations. The Lake Lena area will also be expanded…. One way or the other, we will take it back…. The State of Minnesota does not understand that we are a sovereign government…. Commissioner of Natural Resources Don Wedll, I want you to have our 1837 Treaty litigation underway in the next six months…. All work hours, all business transactions, all contract negotiations will be aimed at one goal: restoration of the reservation lands…. We will not back down. We are on the attack. There is no surrender.”
It is with these goals and principles in mind, that the Mille Lacs Band’s tribal government has proceeded with tax agreements with the Minnesota Department of Revenue, a police reciprocity agreement with Mille Lacs County, tribal license requirements for those doing business with the Band, a Memorandum Of Understanding for enforcing environmental regulations with the Federal Environmental Protection Agency and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and other agreements and contracts. Again, all these efforts are aimed at expanding the control of the Mille Lacs tribal government and re-establishing the Mille Lacs Reservation. Their stated goal would expand the area of jurisdiction from a little over 3,400 acres to more than 61,000 acres in the Mille Lacs Lake area. The townships of Isle Harbor, South Harbor and Kathio as well as the cities of Wahkon, Isle and most of Onamia would fall under tribal jurisdiction.
. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if they intend to buy out that entire southern shore one property at a time.
Feel free to Google the real estate websites and see what’s for sale on that southern shore/old tribal land for yourself. Lots of property to go buy out right now sitting around. We all know the cash these tribes have on hand, they realistically could gobble up all those right now if they wanted.
I’m not in the know but it’s a great point Zander wrote here.
Leaves evidence to the fact many of the rumblings of what’s going on simply as bitter gossip. Which I don’t care for no matter who’s involved.
Love the discussion.
It is surprising to me with all the money available that Izaty’s would not be in their sites.
Perhaps they cannot outbid the Chinese?
Who owns Izatys?
The owners, six successful businessmen from China, recently spent long hours with their general manager expressing how they wish to move the resort forward. According to Mullarky, the owners often used the phrase “change of direction” when considering where their resort would be headed.
Link to the article that tells a lot about the current Izaty’s…
Thus began “meatloafing da bar”
I’ll have to add that to my repertoire. I normally alternate Mambo #5 and Thong Song.
Those are both totally twisted. And awesome.
Grouse
Well run businesses that cater to families versus a strict focus on fishing are doing well. Those living in the past are struggling.
^^^ This.
And this has been THE trend in resorts for only about the last 30 years. Most of you will be too young to remember this, but believe it or not, Brainerd used to be the prime fishing resort destination. The resort owners saw the writing on the wall 30 years ago and they changed. Mille Lacs, apparently, didn’t get the memo.
A lot of these Mille Lacs resorts and businesses that people are mourning the passing of look about the same as they did in 1988. Pretty much says it all, but yeah, it’s the DNR’s fault.
I look around up north and EVERY successful business that I know of today that was around back in the 1970s and 1980s is almost totally transformed for today. Reeds is a great example up there in Walker. Somebody said to me, why the heck is that phone always ringing in the back room? Because they do a sh!tpot load of business on the internet and by mail order, dummy. It’s 2018 for cripes sake.
Sign o’ the times.
Grouse
Perhaps they cannot outbid the Chinese?
Who owns Izatys?
The owners, six successful businessmen from China, recently spent long hours with their general manager expressing how they wish to move the resort forward. According to Mullarky, the owners often used the phrase “change of direction” when considering where their resort would be headed.
Link to the article that tells a lot about the current Izaty’s…
Thanks Andy. That was interesting.
I’ve been confused about Izatys for a while. I’ve seen some of their marketing this year but it didn’t make any sense to me because I always saw Izatys as a private club for the people that buy housing on the site.
They do need to work on their marketing if they want to change it like that.
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