Ghost nets…Ghost fisherman?

Anyone tuned in to current happenings here at the Mille pond would know that the tribal netting exercise is still ongoing as of today yet. Furthermore, it is the Mille Lacs band fully participating despite their concession pronounced last August that they would abstain from netting this year. Supposedly WI bands released their quota back to the Mille Lacs band and they have been out in numbers “netting for perch”? Most of us know there are few if any perch worth setting nets for on Mille Lacs now. Political lip service delivered from the M/L band hierarchy, but most likely learned that from our own federal, state, local government two faces! So now there is building tangible evidence that there is at least one “ghost net” loose between Myr Mar and Garrison. So, who will be fishing opener on Mille Lacs next weekend? Guessing that many Mille Lacs anglers are now just ghosts!

What I wanna know is where is the Mn. DNR monitoring these nets. Why aren’t they at the landings? Why do we take the word of GLIFWC as to the poundage taken? Why, why, why isn’t there any transparency in whats going on up there?

Any sort of documentation on this WS? Not doubting it, but would like to see something to share. Thanks.

I’m still blown away by the lack of data tracking for for the netting or even the nets for that matter… It should be tracked exactly how many nets are placed each day and the exact harvest numbers by species for each net. This would be a very simple step that would significantly improve public perception. (Unless they really do have something to hide)

Walleyestudent Andy Cox wrote:

So, who will be fishing opener on Mille Lacs next weekend? Guessing that many Mille Lacs anglers are now just ghosts!

We’ll be a few miles east of you fishing the North end

Maybe what needs to happen is for people not to carry a license while fishing on Mille Lacs and take the ticket, then fight it on the basis of discrimination against white people since Indians don’t need a license, don’t get checked in the first place and whites cannot use the equipment to gather the fish the same as the Indians. All of these are provable points and in any court should be dismissed unless that court is willing to charge and fine the Indians too.

Steve Fellegy tried that once. He got the ticket and went to fight it. Nothing has changed.

While “perch” fishing what happens to the walleye caught in the nets??? Exactly…RR

I seen a video on FB, a local guy whom I know, pulled into Wealthwood, where they were “netting perch” and a DNR guy came up to his truck… the DNR guy said he was from Wisconsin, he was taking the place of another guy who had some personal stuff to take care of ? He had no idea what quotas were or what they were netting, just that it was for perch, but they caught Northern’s too…. kinda funny to listen to, but not really….

Here ya’ go G…

They may as well have said they were targeting shark…RR

Tom Sawvell wrote:

Maybe what needs to happen is for people not to carry a license while fishing on Mille Lacs and take the ticket, then fight it on the basis of discrimination against white people since Indians don’t need a license, don’t get checked in the first place and whites cannot use the equipment to gather the fish the same as the Indians. All of these are provable points and in any court should be dismissed unless that court is willing to charge and fine the Indians too.

This is essentially what Steve Fellegy did by catching a walleye before season started and the courts didn’t support that defense.

After watching that clip I can see how the cop isn’t working for a legitimate police force or dnr enforcement. Wow. Talk about vacant.

roosterrouster wrote:

Here ya’ go G…

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he said he was there to enforce the rules, but then said that he didn’t know what the rules were. He did have a badge and patch on his sweater so he LOOKED official but didn’t have a clue. Maybe a security guard from one of the Wisconsin casinos, they have badges and patches too. Just more proof that NOBODY, not the tribes or the state, have a clue as to how many fish are being taken out of the lake. They will hit their quota on Friday before opener, as always. Good interview Jonny, you are the best, keep it up. Only if the state of Minnesota cared half as much as you do

Forward the video to the DNR enforcement division. Then send it to KARE 11, WCCO, KSTP, FOX9.

BigWerm wrote:

Any sort of documentation on this WS? Not doubting it, but would like to see something to share. Thanks.

Bigwerm, How do you document a ghost net? Can’t really take video of something that is lost, unless it’s found…someday? This is what I heard, my neighbor up there who closely monitors these activities witnessed several tribal members jump into a GLIWC co boat from the North Garrison access with what appeared to be long poles with big hooks on the ends. After a couple hours or so the group returned without any nets. Mind you, netting activities are obviously still taking place. Furthermore, when my neighbor went into Garrison Hardware later the topic was brought up and the guy at the hardware store confirmed there were tribal members in there purchasing the “ingredients” for long poles with big hooks on the end. Sorry, no smoking gun but would not be the first or countless times a net has gone missing!
big_g, RR, I saw that “true reporting” video yesterday. The WI GLIWC co does seem to be caught in the crossfire, sort of…particularly when that “Big Chief” comes glaring over at the end.
Will, based on the census responded here, you will have the whole north end to yourself, amongst all the Mille Lacs ghosts!

Regarding the video, the guy was nice enough and at least didn’t come off as a Barney Fife. Didn’t appear to be the most informed, especially regarding a situation that does get a lot of attention. What really baffles me is what the passenger is doing at about the 32 second mark. You can see his reflection in the window and it looks like he is zipping up his pants! WTH?

The entire ML story is a tragedy and I certainly don’t have the answers to fix.

The video shown just goes to show where our government and society has gone. He was a really nice guy, but he was uninformed and nieve. His reactions displayed indicate he knew more than he lead onto. Don’t kid yourself thinking he didn’t. The United States is no longer the strong country it once was. It is overrun by money and corrupt politics. Sorry to turn this into a political rant, but I feel this is what has come to. When Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are the top candidates……shame on us. And we are all responsible because we have allowed Mille Lacs, the presidential race, and all the other catastrophes to happen….every great nation falls. Look at History. Won’t happen in my life, but I feel bad for my five kids and future grandchildren.