New Quotas 2004

http://www.startribune.com/stories/767/4343269.html

It will be very interesting to see what they come up with for a slot.

Sounds like they might give us an opportunity to harvest something in the 17-28 protected slot. I think they might go back to one fish over 20 inches again.

A one over 20 would not only be good for the lake, but good for the resorters and tournaments! May actually see some full fields again!

Jon J.

I’ll betcha they don’t open it up until most of the big money tournaments are over in june. If this is the case it doesn’t help the resorters much mid summer.

I still think we will see a harvest slot now of 18-22 or something like that. Sounds like they are realizing the importance of that 2002 year class as well as the few 14-18 inch fish that are still in the lake.

I am not saying that this is the best way to go, just that I think they will do somthing like that. Unless they allow harvest of fish over 22 inches it really isn’t going to make a difference in 2004.

The Spring bite will be good and it will go South fast after that.

I’m very anxious to see what they come up with. I know the businesses up there could use a shot in the arm after last year.

I personally don’t go to Mille Lacs to catch eaters anyway, and would unlikely keep anything over 18 inches unless I managed to hurt the fish somehow. I hit the pond for big fish, and that’s my main goal when up there, lots of pictures.

I do believe they need to protect those 11-13″ fish though, especially if we don’t have a good spawn for another couple years. I guess time will tell.