Fishing closures to protect spawning fish?

Cook County fishing closures will protect spawning fish

(Released April 11, 2014)

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wishes to inform anglers that there will be several fishing closures in Cook County during the beginning of the 2014 fishing season to protect concentrations of spawning walleye. Closures on Minnesota-Ontario waters are made in cooperation with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and affect both sides of the border.

The following closures took effect April 1:

• Sea Gull River from Sea Gull Lake through Gull Lake to Saganaga Lake approximately 1/3 mile north of the narrows; closed through May 23.

• Saganaga Falls on the Minnesota Ontario border where the Granite River enters Saganaga Lake; closed through May 31.

• Maligne River (also known as Northern Light Rapids) on the Ontario side of Saganaga Lake; closed through May 31.

• Channel between Little Gunflint and Little North Lakes on the Minnesota Ontario border; closed through May 31.

• Cross River (inlet to Gunflint Lake) from the Gunflint Trail to Gunflint Lake; closed through May 23.

The following areas will be closed to fishing from May 10 through May 23:

• Tait River from White Pine Lake to the Forest Road 340 crossing, including a portion of White Pine Lake.

• Junco Creek from the first log dam above County Road 57 downstream to Devil Track Lake, and including a portion of Devil Track Lake near the river mouth.

Closures apply to fishing only; travel is permitted through these areas. All closed areas will be posted.

The closures are intended to protect concentrations of walleye that may be vulnerable to over-harvest in what is expected to be a year with relatively late ice-out and delayed spawning. Questions can be directed to the DNR fisheries office in Grand Marais at 218-387-3056, or to the Grand Marais area fisheries supervisor, Steve Persons at [email protected].

Funny how Canada and the United States can agree to protect the spawn but the United States, Minnesota & GLIFWC can’t?

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Funny how Canada and the United States can agree to protect the spawn but the United States, Minnesota & GLIFWC can’t?

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Brian, My exact thoughts.

The closures are intended to protect concentrations of walleye that may be vulnerable to over-harvest in what is expected to be a year with relatively late ice-out and delayed spawning.

So the above sentence is right from the last sentence.

“Protect concentrations of Walleyes”. With my tin foil hat on I need to ask the DNR, how does “concentrations of Walleyes” on the Canadian border differ from “concentrations of Walleye” on Mille Lacs or any other body of water for that matter.

What makes the border waters different, other then the lack of populous to question the DNR’s actions?

Dear Commissioner,

We aren’t going away. You will explain your actions sooner or later. Can you feel the heat yet?

Signed, concern citizens who will never believe that 2+3 equals 4 like you would like us to believe.

Because they (MN DNR) have proven that netting HUGE(pretty much unregulated) concentrated amounts of spawning walleye in Mille Lacs is different. It can be controlled with constant sliding slot limits, reduced bag limits and night bans…. errrrr wait a minute…..

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how does “concentrations of Walleyes” on the Canadian border differ from “concentrations of Walleye” on Mille Lacs or any other body of water for that matter.

What makes the border waters different, other then the lack of populous to question the DNR’s actions?

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of course the only difference, in each instance, is which “nation” is on the other side of the negotiating table

what’s really telling is whether the DNR, when asked, will admit what we all obviously already know

Just a side note on the spring gill netting season, and it’s effect on Mille lacs.

Where are all the “Big Nuts” of the fishing industries, yea!, those of you who have made a living off of filming your shows on the big lake.

All the gear, gadgets,rigs, that you helped sell to us,you told us we needed this or that to help us catch more fish,which in turn helped you get where you are today, you made a living off of filming your shows on the big lake.

Where are you now?
What do you have to say now?
Are you just moving on and leaving the rest of us hanging?

You who made a living off the lake and are now “Silent!”

I find the lack of your involvement on this issue every bit as distasteful as the gill netting itself.

And every one of you know who you are.

And yet the concentration in Red Wing is not affected by harvest… Oh yea, I’m not supposed to say anything about THAT concentrated spawning harvest.

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And yet the concentration in Red Wing is not affected by harvest… Oh yea, I’m not supposed to say anything about THAT concentrated spawning harvest.

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Suzuki, you are correct. I see the same ones complaining about ML and posting about the fish they catch here (P4) in the spring.

Never been on P4… do they pull 40,000 lbs out in nets every spring in 2 weeks ? Can you really compare a couple thousand miles long river to a lake ??? Who complains about netting Mille Lacs and then pulls all these fish out of P4 ? Names ???

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And yet the concentration in Red Wing is not affected by harvest… Oh yea, I’m not supposed to say anything about THAT concentrated spawning harvest.

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Suzuki, you are correct. I see the same ones complaining about ML and posting about the fish they catch here (P4) in the spring.

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G is right you guys are comparing apples to oranges they are not netting up at the dam in the spring and the true sportsmen are releasing fish this time of year, just like the two guys on todays show.

It shines another light on the whole situation, here you have a group of fisherman who profit from all the parties involved here at Mille lacs. Yet they choose to have no voice involved in resolving the problem.
The phrase follow the money,not only applies to politicians, it also applies to those who stood in front of the cameras, photos and videos promoting fishing.

Money talks, the Big Shots walk

Steve, the apples to oranges comparison is exactly what I was thinking. Mille Lacs is circling the drain despite all the time,regulations and money spent. The river welcomes early season anglers every year with no more than a 15″ min on eyes and some common sense.
Sustainability, Mille Lacs is being netted to death.

Jeff are you referring to Just Mille lacs? The two guys that I quoted are comparing the pond to pool 4 that just makes no sense what so ever.

If you do some searching on this site you will find that James has voiced his opinion on netting on the pond and has also donated dollars to the cause that Steve Fellegy started.

Does anybody know the DNR’s official stance on what happened to Red Lake a couple short decades ago ? Was it also a “perfect storm” … with invasives causing water clarity, septic systems, whitey killing practicing cpr and absolutely nothing to do with the spawning ground nets ???

We will never know what they think. They are to busy covering their a$$es and avoiding the taxpayers.

Now, if the elected officials would step up and do their jobs in forcing accountability from the DNR we might get somewhere.

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We will never know what they think. They are to busy covering their a$$es and avoiding the taxpayers.

Now, if the elected officials would step up and do their jobs in forcing accountability from the DNR we might get somewhere.

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WHAAAT?! Take a stand? That doesn’t help the plan of “pleasing everybody”

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Jeff are you referring to Just Mille lacs? The two guys that I quoted are comparing the pond to pool 4 that just makes no sense what so ever.

If you do some searching on this site you will find that James has voiced his opinion on netting on the pond and has also donated dollars to the cause that Steve Fellegy started.

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Steve knows exactly how I stand with him, and I hope James does also.

I applaud anyone who steps up and gives their opinion on the subject irregardless of the side they choose.
It is the ones who are sitting back and saying nothing, that I am referring to here.
They might not be members of this site, but I am thinking they may be viewing threads and posts on the Mille lacs issue around the old inter web.

They know who they are.

Thanks Jeff I was not trying to call you out but seeing as this is IDO and you did not name names some here might read more into your post then you intended. Thank you for the clarification.

The sad truth is,it takes more than one person to carry the weight of such a large issue.
The lack of most of the big Names of fishing sitting silent on the sidelines helps to stall any forward progress,it will forever be shoved under the table.

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The sad truth is,it takes more than one person to carry the weight of such a large issue.
The lack of most of the big Names of fishing sitting silent on the sidelines helps to stall any forward progress,it will forever be shoved under the table.

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“Young men want wealth, older men want respect.”
Something along those lines that saying goes. Problem is many of the big names are still active in the fishing world and thus need sponsors, therefore no voice. I still hold hope down the road many, many of these guys will no longer need to keep face for more $$, and their principles will start to show and then we will have voices to grasp on to, and boy will there be voices. I just hope we are ready for when that day eventually comes.

While we would all like to see a stance taken by the famous guys we all understand why some of them can’t.

I’m positive some are doing behind the scenes work and also donating money. Lets not cast a net over them all.

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While we would all like to see a stance taken by the famous guys we all understand why some of them can’t.

I’m positive some are doing behind the scenes work and also donating money. Lets not cast a net over them all.

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Maybe just me but sounds like change of tone?? Pretty abrubt prior and now some pretty convenient excuses. I’m average Joe fisherman, maybe know a lil more, if I don’t say so myself, and I have yet to hear anything connected to a big name. Behind the scenes work is as important as the stuff we can see, perhaps more so, but sooner or later the curtains need to drop.

I find it Ironic how on one hand politicians are to blame for the whole mess because they take money from the tribes or other sources that enhance their political careers, and on the other hand you have the same fishing Industry gurus and merchandisers doing the exact same thing, yet nobody is willing to confront or question them.

Everybody seems to leave that part out when it comes to the table, in fact it does not even come to the table in that regard.
If you have had a hand in the lakes resources while you polished your career, and put money in the bank. Why are they bailing on all of us now.

You can tell us all you want on where to catch, how to catch fish, what to use to catch fish, if there are no dam fish to be caught what the heck good does it do.

This,it won’t happen to me in my back yard, is ignorance.

And to just ignore what is going on at Mille Lacs at this time, when you have made your career there is hypocritical.

I am not trying to single out any Individual, there are many parties involved in this.

The depressing part is those who are uninvolved.

Personally I think Jeff has brought up a very valid point. What would happen if maybe people did a boycott of the lure and tackle manufacturers that are mentioned in these shows along with a boycott of the casinos and those who endorse them.

The difference is that politicians are elected to serve the best interests of the population. Fishing pros are in an industry of self promotion and selling to further their own cause – period. This is accomplished by sponsorships and endorsements, and by being paid walking advertisements. They are not elected by the public and paid by public taxes to best serve the people that elected and pay for them……

Apples and oranges.

Great piont

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Fishing pros are in an industry of self promotion and selling to further their own cause – period.

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Thats it in a nut shell

Look I understand each man or woman has a choice to make a living at whatever they so chose, and to say so may harm themselves.

What I am getting at is, there are those at the very peak of the fishing industry who are silent.

They have the clout to move the Mille lacs mess to the front burner, without causing damage to their reputations.