DNR Says Ice Anglers Can Expect Mille Lacs Walleye Fishing

From KSTP.com

DNR Says Ice Anglers Can Expect Mille Lacs Walleye Fishing

Updated: 10/19/2015 2:48 PM
Created: 10/19/2015 2:46 PM KSTP.com

Minnesota outdoors officials are assuring anglers that there will be an ice fishing season for walleye on Lake Mille Lacs.

The Department of Natural Resources decision announced Monday is expected to be a relief to area resorts, restaurants and other fishing-dependent businesses that suffered from the early end to the open-water walleye season.

The DNR says state and American Indian tribal biologists agreed on a 5,000-pound winter walleye harvest, which is up from the 3,100 pounds a year ago. The per-angler quotas and other aspects of the season will be announced the last week of October.

Officials have struggled to balance the importance of walleye fishing on the Mille Lacs’ economy with steps they’re taking to reverse a long-term decline in the species’ population.

-J.

I’m glad they’re finally coming around to what I’ve been saying the whole time

In all seriousness though this is great news, especially for all of my friends up there who own businesses. Everything I’ve heard is that the Fall netting results were much more positive than they (the DNR) were expecting.

Will

More news from KSTP.com

Mille Lacs Winter Walleye Plan Catches Heat

Created: 10/21/2015 9:16 PM KSTP.com
By: Beth McDonough
It’s been a tough time for folks on Mille Lacs Lake in Garrison.
That’s because the summer walleye season was cut short. Now that the weather is getting colder, attention is on the fate of ice fishing. 
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced this week winter walleye fishing is a go, but there’s a catch. It allows anglers to catch a certain amount – a collective 5,000 pounds over the ice fishing season. That’s because the walleye numbers are near an all-time low.
And that concerns Mike Bezelheim.
“I’ve been fishing here for 50-55 years,” he said.
He’s so hooked on walleye, he lives on the lake too. Bezelheim is one of many who attended a meeting Wednesday night in Garrison, where the lake is located. Dozens showed up.
Tony Roach, a fishing guide, reacted to the limit.
“My concerns is the big elephant in the room, we don’t know how good the bites will be. I’m concerned about the 5,000 mark,” he said.
Tom Neustrom went on to say, “If you hit a hot streak, the season could be over in 2-3 weeks.”
Meaning, another fishing season could be cut short and hurt the bottom lines of lakeside resorts. That’s why the DNR met with folks who frequent the lake or own businesses or homes. Experts explained why the restriction on how much walleye can be taken out of the iced-over water.
“Now, the big thing is to keep those fish, keep ’em out there, to protect them, let them reach a size, age and mature to continue spawning to stock and rebuild the fishery,” Melissa Treml of the DNR said.
Bezelheim calls the plan short-sighted.
“I care about the long term of businesses, not just this month or this winter,” he said. “I care about more than a season. I care about decades; how about our children?”
The ice fishing season begins Dec. 1. Two questions still linger; how many walleyes can anglers catch and how big?
The DNR says it’ll monitor the harvest monthly and in January see if adjustments need to be made.

This has probably been discussed before but how do they get an accurate number of lbs. of fish harvested? Do anglers report each time they take fish home or how does it work? Ive never fished Milla Lacs myself, but would love to give it a shot at some point.

The Mn DNR have one creel clerk that works the lake during the ice season! During the Advisory meeting the other evening the DNR stated they would look into possibly having another added this ice season. Lots of accesses to cover on any given day….they do a sampling only?

If someone who has more resort knowledge than myself could explain if most them are happy with this?

#5k isn’t much, and like already stated that could get blown through in a couple weeks if bite is right.

Could we see this poundage taken before the houses even hit the ice? If they do hit the ice how long until they are taken off, would it even be worth the initial investment of getting them out?

At this point is it to simply get them some access fees and bait $$, and this little amount that does come in, is it even worth having a season at all? Seeming the drop in the bucket for finances for these resorts would be negligible at best?

Happy? Hard to be happy with the situation. But better than no ice walleye season at all. Houses will not be required to be removed from the ice if the walleye season closes early. Still be able to fish for other species. Had there been no walleye season, yes I would expect a lot of guys to keep their shacks on shore. Resorts would probably go to short weeks like Thur-Sun.

I’m guessing the DNR will go back to the one fish limit with 19-21 slot. Not many of those fish are left in the lake. Might actually be hard to hit the 5k poundage. Guys will be catching a lot of 14-17 inchers to keep it interesting…..

-J.

IMHO, this season is to appease the resorts somewhat and more so the folks with permanent shacks at them, designed to make them “feel good” about being able to keep a walleye. I doubt this will make it a “destination” spot for others seeking walleye fishing through the ice. I am of the thought long term solutions need to be sought… this short term stuff is what got it where it is today…..

big_g wrote:

IMHO, this season is to appease the resorts somewhat

I get it, I honestly do, but do the resorts give back excess when they were flourishing? Its the same with any business and getting into a business that is based on a natural resource or weather and then getting “relief” when times are tough or special regulations to “appease” them is doing it for the wrong reasons.
Of course I want to see the businesses stay open. Im not heartless, but how about all the snowmobile dealerships/repair shops that lose TONS of money when we don’t have any snow? You don’t see anything being done to help them out.
Im all for having a season if there are truly numbers of fish to support it. I am not for having a season if its solely for the purposes of benefitting the businesses on the lake. That’s the chance you take…

CaptainMusky wrote:

but how about all the snowmobile dealerships/repair shops that lose TONS of money when we don’t have any snow? You don’t see anything being done to help them out.

The difference is nature is not the cause of the lake’s problems. DNR miss management and corruption is the cause. When the government is the cause of the problem, they should be held responsible for a solution.

-J.

It isn’t? Couldve fooled me they pointed to zebra mussels as one of the culprits so yeah, certainly it is a factor. Not the SOLE factor, but it does have an impact.

Correct, it is not. If the DNR had done its job, we would not be in this mess. Bottom line – period!

-J.

Jon Jordan wrote:

Correct, it is not. If the DNR had done its job, we would not be in this mess. Bottom line – period!

-J.

Im not going to get into a urinating contest over this because we will just have to agree to disagree. The DNR made some huge mistakes, that is without question, but “bailing” out businesses is not something I OR YOU should take lightly. If you read the end of my first post you can clearly see that I support a season IF the numbers of fish truly support one. If they do not, I do not support it nor should you or anyone else for the sake of businesses on the lake.

So 3100# quota last winter. 3# average for a 20″ fish. Roughly 1033 fish to hit last years quota. Say a permanent shack keeps 5 fish through out the winter. That means it would have taken 206 permanent shacks to meet the quota with zero mortality and not including any other fisherman….. Interesting numbers….

Who cares about the meat. Fish for fun!

kroger3 wrote:

So 3100# quota last winter. 3# average for a 20″ fish. Roughly 1033 fish to hit last years quota. Say a permanent shack keeps 5 fish through out the winter. That means it would have taken 206 permanent shacks to meet the quota with zero mortality and not including any other fisherman….. Interesting numbers….

no comment….

1 fish between 18-20. yeeee haaaaah

http://www.startribune.com/one-walleye-5-northerns-per-angler-on-mille-lacs-this-winter/337171171/ new regs just
announced