Another example of DNR ( Do nothing right )

Not to take this thread off track… but Snap, someday I need to meet you!

Good post JJ…not that I know anything about walleyes or Mille Lacs, but it sure sounds like that is the message they’re sending.

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As a walleye guy who has fished the lake for 25+ years, I’ll tell you bass guys what I think of the new rules. The message is clear. Keep and kill all the legal smallies you can. The population needs to be reduced drastically. The DNR goes from a one fish (Trophy) limit to six fish. Got it, and I’ll do my part to help out.

-J.

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Not a tasty fish. Back in the lake it goes…Maybe I can fertalize my garden with em? Hhmm, not a bad idea! …RR

The walleye guys need to convince the Governor to change the State fish from an ‘eye to a Small Mouth Bass. Then everyone will want to catch their limit of them and soon they’ll be lining up on the launches to take home their six.

Soon the population of SMB will decline and the wiley walleye can make it’s comeback.

On a side note. “Rumor” has it for the last 5-6 years a state record smallie has been caught and released at Mille Lacs prior to the bass opener. I’m predicting the new state record smallie to be caught and killed this Saturday. Might just be me who does it. You bass guys are welcome to come on up and tailpipe me if you like.

-J.

I understand what you’re saying Snap but I think the DNR is getting blamed for something that is more out of their hands than in. ML is a mess… can’t disagree with that. But the blame can be shared with more than one entity.

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Not to take this thread off track… but Snap, someday I need to meet you!

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Come to think of it. I have been thinking about trying to find a good pool 3 flathead guide. And you woudn’t even need to user your sidearm to convince me.

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On a side note. “Rumor” has it for the last 5-6 years a state record smallie has been caught and released at Mille Lacs prior to the bass opener. I’m predicting the new state record smallie to be caught and killed this Saturday. Might just be me who does it. You bass guys are welcome to come on up and tailpipe me if you like.

-J.

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Might as well use it for Muskie bait, kill two birds

i agree with all those that think the Bass population won’t be affected by the new regs.

The vast majority of people who set out to bass fish have zero intentions of keeping any. (especially on Mille lacs)

In contrast, most walleye fisherman fish for walleye to at least keep some of their catch (mostly depends on how much they are catching). People who are out to catch walleye and catch smallies won’t be excited to but it in their livewell.

they may kill it and let it be wastefully but won’t bring it home.

I don’t mind the taste of bass but even I probably wouldn’t keep one on Mille Lacs. (just not my mind set)

Another thing is that all those people rigging in the sands and mud on mille lacs won’t be catching many bass anyway. most of the traditonal walleye fishermen (except those that bobber on the rocks)won’t be where the bass are.

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I’m predicting the new state record smallie to be caught and killed this Saturday. Might just be me who does it. -J.

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Might as well use it for Muskie bait, kill two birds

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B R I L L I A N T

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As a walleye guy who has fished the lake for 25+ years, I’ll tell you bass guys what I think of the new rules. The message is clear. Keep and kill all the legal smallies you can. The population needs to be reduced drastically. The DNR goes from a one fish (Trophy) limit to six fish. Got it, and I’ll do my part to help out.

-J.

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Not a tasty fish. Back in the lake it goes…Maybe I can fertalize my garden with em? Hhmm, not a bad idea! …RR

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Just remember, the limit is six and wanton waste is illegal. Mmmmm fried wontons….

wanton waste ?
buried bass make for tasty tomatoes
doesn’t appear to be a waste at all

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Now they want to mess up what is one of the best Smallmouth fisheries in the state.

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They won’t mess it up, they are only being hypocritical and offering solutions that ignore the giant elephant in the room.

The catch and release ethic bass fishermen have will insure that the smallmouth population stays what it is today.

I for one am glad they did it because this will prove that having an early catch and release season in Minnesota will have a minimal impact on bass fishing in the state.

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In the arrowhead region bass (both small and largemouth) open the same time as walleye every year. Our bass populations are still constantly growing despite the taking of bass earlier in the season and there is plenty of evidence to support an earlier season hardly effects bass. Now if only they will cut that silly SM fall catch and release period off the calendar and keep it open until February like the LM.

The smallmouth are there because everyone that fishs for them have no
Itentions of keep them.
We would not be having the discussion if so was true of walleye.
If you travel the lake with close eye on your graph enough, you will see how furtile the lake can be in just even one year. We just need to hope there is enough big spawning fish left, to carry on.
If last years class which looked good going into winter is still there, we are already on our way back. Patients! We all need to do our best to continue
Going up there and supporting the resorts. Even though fishing may not be at it best.
So when it does rebound (which it will!) things don’t change to much!
My two cents worth!

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There’s a hard reality that people better start getting used to. Mille Lacs may NEVER be the walleye lake it once was because the lake has changed. The Zeebs, the more volatile weather patterns, different numbers of different species in the lake, etc.

Grouse

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More volatile weather patterns?? Really? I suppose this will affect the number of unicorns grazing on shore as well?

Fertilizer is not wanton waste. Throwing them in the woods or garbage is. I think…

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Just remember, the limit is six and wanton waste is illegal. Mmmmm fried wontons….

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You’re so lucky I wasn’t drinking a beer while I was reading this. Beer bubbles thru the nose hurts!

Sounds more like you’re the lucky one.

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…NOBODY keeps enough bass to harm the populations.

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except maybe pissed-off walleye die-hards on a mission

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Not nearly enough of them to make an impact.

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the thing that worries me is the launches. I talked to a guy last year that ran one of the launches and I asked him if they keep smallies and he told me that they purposely target them because their customers want to bring home meat no matter the flavor. In my opinion the launches put a huge dent in all the species and I think maybe its time to look at them. Gregory’s resort has a sign in front of their resort that says ” DNR sucks have a nice day” maybe they shouldn’t be pointing fingers.

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For years the DNR would not open bass in Minnesota till 2 weeks after the walleye and nothern opener. The reason they always gave was it helped to get bass Thru the spawning season before they were targeted. Now this year on Mille Lacs they not only remove the slot they have had in place for many years but have allowed it to open early on the walleye and nothern opener ( Well before any spawning is complete ) As if their poor management of the walleye was not enough – Now they want to mess up what is one of the best Smallmouth fisheries in the state. Whats next – no restriction or seasons for Musky.

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You have to be kidding us on this post right?

Still haven’t heard a good explanation as to why so many walleyes in Mille Lacs look like absolute crap. Brad Juarie(sp.) always posts his open water trolling reports and there’ll be a pic of a 29″ walleye that would go about 4 pounds on a butcher’s scale. Last year caught several long eyes up there and they all were paper thin. Will never forget one was very lightly hooked in the lip and gently played, but died upon release. One less for the natives eh? The state of walleye fishing on Mille Lacs is in the toilet bowl, and will be there for a long time. I wonder if lindy rigging live bait on a number 14 live bait hook and giving the fish 15 minutes to swallow it has anything to do with it? Thanks to all the ignorant and selfish walleye fishermen who are keeping smallies just to make themselves feel better. After you’ve run your target species into the dirt try and do it to another.

Thanks to all the ignorant and selfish walleye fishermen who are keeping smallies just to make themselves feel better. After you’ve run your target species into the dirt try and do it to another.

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You bass guys might want to get a little more involved in protesting the tribal netting of walleyes. Every single problem with the lake today is a direct result of tribal netting over the last 10 years. Get the nets out and the DNR can go back to C&R on smallies.

-J.

The walleye’s looked like crap, because it was out of balance with large
Fish and no forage. The walleye’s that are left now are anything but skinny,
They eating quite well at this point in time. Lots of forage.
Keep in mind that we abide by the laws your DNR sets.
You can already see the affect of smallmouth coming out last year!
Take the smallmouth back to where they were 20yrs ago and we will be
good. Only reason they are still there is no one wants them! Not like they are a difficult species to catch!

Tell ya’ what…If you go to the public launches anytime in the first three weeks of the season I can guarantee you that you will see less than 10% of the livewells coming off the lake with green fish in them. Why? BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT A SPECIES OF FISH PEOPLE WANT TO EAT! Doesn’t matter where you put the slot or limit. People are going to throw them back and not in the livewell. The bottom line is the DNR (The managers of the lake…) are avoiding the real issue. The nets are hurting the truely desired fish for that lake and that is the walleye. Plain and simply they are grasping at straws to fix the problem and the main and largest straw that is right in their face is the nets and they refuse to grasp THAT straw… …RR

Amen to that!

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You bass guys might want to get a little more involved in protesting the tribal netting of walleyes. Every single problem with the lake today is a direct result of tribal netting over the last 10 years. Get the nets out and the DNR can go back to C&R on smallies.

-J.

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Nice, so you admit that tribal netting is the problem but you still make allusions and hints at killing smallmouths for no reason but spite. True sportsman there.

Nice, so you admit that tribal netting is the problem but you still make allusions and hints at killing smallmouths for no reason but spite. True sportsman there.

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J.J. Is a respected member on this site, your out of line as that kind of personal attack is unwarranted. You can disagree without being rude.

crawdady, I was simply point out the hypocrisy of the DNR. They toss darts at the problem hoping for a solution with no real clue as to what is really going on. They will not even acknowledge there are nets in the lake. Don’t believe me? Want to see copies of several dozen emails to the comish? In other words this is not a walleye guy problem. This effects bass, musky and even the carp shooter guys. Don’t like it? Get involved!

-J.

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You bass guys might want to get a little more involved in protesting the tribal netting of walleyes. Every single problem with the lake today is a direct result of tribal netting over the last 10 years. Get the nets out and the DNR can go back to C&R on smallies.

-J.

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Jon – I fully understand and appreciate your passion on the netting issue. My question is that back when walleye fishing on the lake was at or near the peak years there was netting going on to almost the same level as it is today – if the #’s are correct ( Not sure if I believe the #’s ) I still believe there are other issues as well at play here. I think all the slot limits that were tried also had a large impact. Just not enough males being left in the lake to breed. The slot size forced a lot of fisherman to keep small fish ( alot of which were males ) if they wanted fish to keep and take home to eat. This added to alot of big females that were past their prime for egg laying and were still eating lots of forage did not help. I am all for getting the nets out of the lake – i am just not sure it is the whole issue. I guess if they can get them stopped we could find out.

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Nice, so you admit that tribal netting is the problem but you still make allusions and hints at killing smallmouths for no reason but spite. True sportsman there.

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J.J. Is a respected member on this site, your out of line as that kind of personal attack is unwarranted. You can disagree without being rude.

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Darrin – If you see that response as a personal attack and rude I want to know what color the sun is in your world. JJ is a big boy and can defend himself. If you are going to make statements like he did you can expect some type of reply. You can’t say that netting is the sole cause of the lakes problems and then blame smallmouth.