Is it that these sizes are less abundent? But that would mean more catching, unhooking and handling of other sizes? Or are they insignificant in contributing as spawning stock? Seems to me it should be 29 and over.
Seems to me it should be 29 and over.
Do you really want to eat a 29+” fish?!?
Yes, they are far less abundant but more importantly the DNR wants at all costs to protect the sacred 2013 year class. Some of them are up to 17″ and could be approaching 18″ by next spring. This class is the savior of the walleye in Mille Lacs and represent a huge spawning bio-mass coming in the next few years.
Andy, will that 2013 class slip right through the nets during the spawn?
I you don’t mind, I’d like to quote a post I made in another tread.
Can I be the first to criticize from my biologists armchair?
First and foremost I am thrilled that there’s a season at all.
I have read that the 18-24″ fish are the most effective spawners. They’ve essentially only targeted the most effective spawners for harvest.
Furthermore they still seem to be trying to preserve the 2013 year class, the most abundant class in the lake. Isn’t that setting things up for another boom and crash?
What happens to that class when the reach 24″? Are the going to continue to protect them?
Please let me end by saying that my confidence in my concerns above are somewhat low, but worth asking. I’m kinda curious if I’m alone on this idea.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Buzz wrote:</div>
Seems to me it should be 29 and over.Do you really want to eat a 29+” fish?!?
Absolutely; cut it into small manageable pieces and you won’t over cook it. Nice Cheeks,and pectoral fins.
It would make a great meal in this house.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Munchy wrote:</div>
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Buzz wrote:</div>
Seems to me it should be 29 and over.Do you really want to eat a 29+” fish?!?
Absolutely; cut it into small manageable pieces and you won’t over cook it. Nice Cheeks,and pectoral fins.
It would make a great meal in this house.
I have to agree with this,when I was twenty one and a dumb ass farm kid from Iowa,I swore I was going to have the first fish I caught over five pounds mounted and put on the wall.
wouldnt you know it?? I caught a thirty inch walleye my second year fishing MN and it barely weighed five pounds as it was spawned out,so we cut it up into smaller pieces and ate it,very good when marinated in lemon water,couldnt tell the difference between it and an eighteen incher.
come to think of it,thats been almost thirty three years ago now.
would eat one that big again in a heart beat.
Why do Mille Lacs posts always open up so many cans of worms beyond the OP?
The slot is theoretically calculated to have the least impact on population size and growth for the total number harvested. We will have to believe there was some science behind the slot calculation, with the formula certainly heavily weighted with 2013 year class data, since that huge population affects current population size so much. I’m thankful for a season at all, and will plan c&r trips there and meal trips elsewhere.
What happens when the 2013 year class reaches 22″? Will they continue to protect them?
If so, this roller coaster ride will continue.
They need to start thinking about creating some kind of balance. Over the past 20 years they’ve done nothing but create imbalance in the lake and we’ve all witnessed the results.
Why do Mille Lacs posts always open up so many cans of worms beyond the OP?
??..Not seeing what you’re seeing? This Mille Lacs thread is mostly benign as far as Mille Lacs discussions can digress. Mostly some talk of eating larger walleye…not so bad.
I remember back in my youth, pretty much everything we caught was destined for the table…just the way it was back then.
Andy, will that 2013 class slip right through the nets during the spawn?
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The slot is theoretically calculated to have the least impact on population size and growth for the total number harvested. We will have to believe there was some science behind the slot calculation
Science had absolutely nothing to do with setting this slot. It is simply the size of fish that keep anglers under the harvest limit. (Idea being there are few fish in the 19-21 inch range.)
-J.
Is it that these sizes are less abundent? But that would mean more catching, unhooking and handling of other sizes? Or are they insignificant in contributing as spawning stock? Seems to me it should be 29 and over.
Yes, this size range of fish is few and far between in #’s in Mille Lacs, and the DNR wants to minimize the harvest as much as possible while still keeping the season technically “open” in my opinion. 19-21″ fish are some of the most productive spawners, so it doesn’t make sense from that perspective. If it were 29″ and over it would basically be closed, there just aren’t a ton of 29+” fish in the lake for whatever reason. And from what I understand, historically (even pre-treaty management) MLacs hasn’t produced a lot of 30+” eye’s. Seems the DNR is banking on the 2013 year class to get the biomass up, and hopefully at that point switch to a better long term slot (some under and some over 20″s). At least that’s the most positive spin I have, if I’m wrong then I think Big Gill is right about the Roller Coaster of Mille Lacs management.
next spring the target will be 19.75 – 20.00… 
Yes, this size range of fish is few and far between in #’s in Mille Lacs, and the DNR wants to minimize the harvest as much as possible while still keeping the season technically “open” in my opinion. 19-21″ fish are some of the most productive spawners, so it doesn’t make sense from that perspective.
It is a benign slot based on what you posted. I wouldn’t sweat it because there aren’t many of them also because we keep being told that Mille Lacs does not have a spawning problem. It has a problem with survival of the fry to year 2.
From that perspective, I’m more concerned with the continued protection of the 2013 class. Eventually they will be the class that decimates the fry and ML will still have the same problem of fry not surviving to adults.
next spring the target will be 19.75 – 20.00…
My money is on C&R with a much higher quota that will allow the season to stay open through November.
The slot is theoretically calculated to have the least impact on population size and growth for the total number harvested. We will have to believe there was some science behind the slot calculation,
Thanks for that. 
I’d love to see Mille lacs do what Red is doing at some point in time (or maybe a hybrid of that…). Say 1 over 17″ and 1 under 17″ limit two…RR
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