July 21, 2017 at 2:29 pm
#1705909
MILLE LACS
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July 21, 2017 at 2:33 pm #1705912
Here is the new release::
News Release
Mille Lacs Lake Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for summer 2017July 21, 2017
Q: What is happening with the walleye season this summer on Mille Lacs Lake?
A: The closure that began July 8 and was set to end July 28 is being extended by two weeks. That means walleye fishing will reopen at 6:01 a.m. on Aug. 11 for catch-and-release only through Labor Day. A night fishing closure also will remain in place from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. through Nov. 30.
Q: How does this affect fishing for other species?
A: Fishing regulations for other species such as smallmouth bass, muskie and northern pike remain the same. During the night closure, there is an exception for muskie and northern pike anglers using artificial lures and sucker minnows longer than 8 inches.
Q: Why did the DNR extend the closure?
A: While the DNR wants to allow as much walleye fishing on Mille Lacs as possible, the state is also required to abide by cooperative agreements made with eight American Indian Chippewa bands. The two weeks of additional closure allows the state to abide by a harvest quota set earlier this year with the bands.
The DNR and the bands agreed to harvest quotas of 44,800 pounds for state anglers and 19,200 pounds for tribal fishing. They also agreed that up to 75,000 pounds of walleye could be sustainably harvested from the lake from Dec. 1, 2016 to Nov. 30, 2017 in order to conserve the population
That agreement allows the state to use a built-in buffer – the 11,000 pounds difference between the conservation cap of 75,000 pounds and the combined harvest quota of 64,000 pounds – in an attempt to allow catch-and-release walleye fishing through Labor Day, following the mid-summer closure.
The latest creel survey data shows that state anglers reached their quota of 44,800 pounds of walleye caught from Mille Lacs in early July. Even though state anglers already have caught their quota of fish, the DNR is dipping into the allowed conservation reserve in order to reopen the season on Aug. 11.
Q: Why has the walleye population in Mille Lacs declined? What is the DNR doing in the long-term to try to conserve the population?
A: The vast majority of walleye that hatch do not survive to their third autumn in the lake. Walleye numbers have declined to the point that it has become important to protect spawning-sized walleye, particularly the class of walleye that hatched in 2013. It is important to protect the large 2013 year class to replenish aging spawning stock. Most males from the 2013 class are now mature, but females will not start to contribute in large numbers until next spring. The state is committed to conserving the population of walleyes born in 2013 to improve and rebuild a sustainable population for the future.
Q: Why do we count hooking mortality during a closed walleye season?
A: The amount that state anglers can kill (as spelled out in state-bands agreements) also must include fish that die as a result of hooking mortality, the fish that die after being caught and then released back into the water. During the closure, some anglers still catch walleye incidentally and some of those fish die after being released. Under the state-band agreements, those dead fish must be calculated and counted against the state’s allocation.
Q: How did this cooperative management between the state and the bands of Mille Lacs Lake come to be?
A: Recall that in 1999, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld lower-court decisions that allowed the Mille Lacs band and seven other Chippewa bands to exercise off-reservation fishing and hunting rights. The lower federal court also set up guidelines, known as stipulations and protocols, for both sides to follow. These stipulations and protocols provide a framework for how the bands and the state must work cooperatively to manage shared natural resources, including Mille Lacs fish. In their agreements, the DNR and the bands are required to annually establish the number of walleye that can safely be harvested from Mille Lacs while ensuring sufficient remaining walleye in the lake for a healthy fishery.
Q: If the walleye population is in decline, why are anglers catching so many?
A: Fish are biting for two reasons. First, there is a shortage of food for larger walleye. Last fall’s assessment showed that larger walleye were thinner than average. Second, studies in many fisheries show that catchability actually increases when fish population decline.
In Mille Lacs, walleye congregate in preferred spots rather than disperse evenly throughout the lake. Fewer fish in the lake means there’s more room in the preferred spots for fish to gather, and anglers find these spots where they can catch a larger portion of fish. Finally, while the walleye population has decreased considerably (by half or more), the amount of fishing pressure has declined by a lot more. This means that there are more walleye per angler fishing Mille Lacs today.
Q: How is the DNR using science and research to help the walleye population?
A: Mille Lacs Lake is the most studied lake in Minnesota. It is also a complex and changing system. The agency conducts a large number of surveys on the lake annually. These surveys include assessing the abundance of young walleye; setting 52 nets to assess adult abundance; using fine-mesh nets each summer to determine abundance of food (prey fish) for walleye; and using interviews with anglers around the lake (called creel surveys) to estimate the number of fish anglers are catching. The DNR also periodically tags walleye and other species to provide actual population estimates. We are tagging bass this year in cooperation with angling groups, and will be tagging walleye in 2018 and 2019 when the 2013 year class will be reaching full maturity.
Q: What is the purpose of the external review the DNR has initiated?
A: The DNR has asked Dr. Chris Vandergoot to lead an independent review of the DNR’s scientific approaches to manage Mille Lacs Lake. Vandergoot is a key member of the international team that co-manages a very significant walleye fishery in Lake Erie. He works for the U.S. Geological Survey in the Sandusky Lake Erie Biological station in Ohio. His review report will be available to the public in early 2018 and will help inform fisheries management decisions for the 2018 season.
Q: What does the future look like for Mille Lacs walleye?
A: It is unlikely that Mille Lacs walleye production will return to the levels that state anglers enjoyed over 20 years ago. The ecosystem of Mille Lacs is going through extreme change, starting with increased water clarity in the mid-1990s, to impacts today from aquatic invasive species such as spiny water flea and zebra mussels. Longer growing seasons are also helping some species such as smallmouth bass but may be hurting others. While walleye will still be abundant, the future fishery will be more diverse, offering angling opportunities for a greater variety of fish.
July 21, 2017 at 3:22 pm #1705923This saga couldn’t be written any better with a reality TV show producer… some big time film maker should make a documentary on this.
July 21, 2017 at 4:46 pm #1705933This saga couldn’t be written any better with a reality TV show producer… some big time film maker should make a documentary on this.
Agreed, just bizarre.
July 21, 2017 at 6:36 pm #1705941Second, studies in many fisheries show that catchability actually increases when fish population decline.
In Mille Lacs, walleye congregate in preferred spots rather than disperse evenly throughout the lake. Fewer fish in the lake means there’s more room in the preferred spots for fish to gather, and anglers find these spots where they can catch a larger portion of fish.Is this a true statement? I have a difficult time excepting this explanation.
July 21, 2017 at 6:56 pm #1705943Density-dependent catchability has implications for use of fishery-dependent and fishery-independent data. Stock assessment from a restricted part of a stock’s range requires the stock to decrease in the same proportion across the entire range in which it is fished, a linear relationship [11,18,19]. For CPUE to represent abundance, averaging catch rates for any time period over only areas fished requires assumptions about what catch rates would have been in areas that had not yet or were no longer fished [11,20]. Ignoring unfished areas and averaging only over areas fished (i.e., using fishery-dependent data) essentially assumes fleets behaved the same in both fished and unfished areas, and leads catchability and productivity measures to potentially exhibit “hyperstability” or “hyperdepletion.” Density-dependent catchability typically increases as abundance declines, thereby causing “hyperstable” CPUE, in which CPUE remains high despite decreases in abundance
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X15002079
I believe I found the article they are referencing, however if you read it, it seems they are researching the effect in commercial type fishing, but I guess a fish is a fish and fishing is fishing?
July 21, 2017 at 7:12 pm #1705944Second, studies in many fisheries show that catchability actually increases when fish population decline.
In Mille Lacs, walleye congregate in preferred spots rather than disperse evenly throughout the lake. Fewer fish in the lake means there’s more room in the preferred spots for fish to gather, and anglers find these spots where they can catch a larger portion of fish.Is this a true statement? I have a difficult time excepting this explanation.
Not sure but the fish are literally all over the place. They were able to be caught just about anywhere.
July 22, 2017 at 9:08 am #1705993This FAQ is pretty much equivalent to Nazi Propaganda. Untrue. Biased. Political. Untrue.
July 22, 2017 at 11:27 am #1706017This FAQ is pretty much equivalent to Nazi Propaganda. Untrue. Biased. Political. Untrue.
Couldnt have said it better myself.
July 22, 2017 at 12:51 pm #1706022X3
Total BSJuly 22, 2017 at 5:10 pm #1706032Beautiful summer afternoon on a Saturday at Lake Mille Lacs. What’s missing from this picture? No fishing boats in sight! Not even the bass boats out there. So much for all the bass anglers replacing the lost walleye anglers in supporting the economy up here.
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July 22, 2017 at 5:27 pm #1706038I don’t find it sad. It’s a predictable outcome. This was forecast many, many years ago. Nobody would listen. It was written about on web sites at length and people thought the authors had a ax to grind. Now it’s here and everybody is pointing fingers everywhere.
July 22, 2017 at 5:51 pm #1706039Beautiful summer afternoon on a Saturday at Lake Mille Lacs. What’s missing from this picture? No fishing boats in sight! Not even the <em class=”ido-tag-em”>bass boats out there. So much for all the bass anglers replacing the lost walleye anglers in supporting the economy up here.
Probably doesn’t help that you’re on the north end Andy. Not many rocks up on that end. If it helps any I was fishing on the west side around Rocky Reef all day and probably saw around 100 different boats in the 7 hours I was there. Lotsa bass boats, but also plenty of tin boats trolling around for pike/musky.
BTW: it wasn’t hot n heavy, but 6 smallmouth with 2 hitting 20″ an 18″ & 17″ and a couple 12’s. Didn’t see any Walters at all, and I even dropped the camera down about 20 times.
And YES, it was absolutely gorgeous out today!!
July 23, 2017 at 11:02 am #1706081<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Walleyestudent Andy Cox wrote:</div>
Beautiful summer afternoon on a Saturday at Lake Mille Lacs. What’s missing from this picture? No fishing boats in sight! Not even the <em class=”ido-tag-em”>bass boats out there. So much for all the bass anglers replacing the lost walleye anglers in supporting the economy up here.Probably doesn’t help that you’re on the north end Andy. Not many rocks up on that end. If it helps any I was fishing on the west side around Rocky Reef all day and probably saw around 100 different boats in the 7 hours I was there. Lotsa bass boats, but also plenty of tin boats trolling around for pike/musky.
BTW: it wasn’t hot n heavy, but 6 smallmouth with 2 hitting 20″ an 18″ & 17″ and a couple 12’s. Didn’t see any Walters at all, and I even dropped the camera down about 20 times.
And YES, it was absolutely gorgeous out today!!
I was trying to make more of point about the extended walleye closure and perhaps added an unfair judgement on bass fisherman. FWIW, the picture I posted is out across the west Myr Mar reef and I typically see many bass boats out there.
July 24, 2017 at 7:59 am #1706228It is unlikely that Mille Lacs walleye production will return to the levels that state anglers enjoyed over 20 years ago.
Giving up are we?
-J.
July 24, 2017 at 8:36 am #1706251questions as an outsider looking in:
why is that only ONE species of fish is being affected by,global warming,AIS,too clear of water,lack of food sources,hooking mortality,etc.etc.
yet the lake can produce trophy fish of other species????why are they not starving?? dont big fish eat little fish regardless of what type of fish they are?? ( not counting carp here ) and yes,I understand that each species can have a favorite meal but to survive you eat whats available up to a point.
or is it that walleye eat only one thing and would starve to death before they would eat anything else??why is it that only one lake in an entire country with many other states that have walleye populations,why are they not affected like Mille Lacs??
especially if those other lakes have similar issues? ie,AIS,global warming,etc.
I am guessing that in some mysterious way that cannot be explained that Millie has a magnifying glass focused on it and NO other body of water is affected?sure,I have read about Erie and others cleaned up by zeebs yet they are now producing bigger eyes than ever? how does that work??
here in Iowa we several invasive species and much warmer waters that support a healthy walleye population even in shallow waters,why are our shorelines not lined with dead eyes by the thousands??just asking honest questions as I cannot understand how one lake can have the entire sky fall into it and wipe out only one species.
July 24, 2017 at 9:06 am #1706262Sheldon, Sheldon, Sheldon. You know you can’t interject logic into a Mille Lacs discussion. GLIFWC has issued the marching orders and the MNDNR is just stepping to the music. You would think that the DNR would at least pound the treaty as the reason they can do nothing. To keep putting these ridiculous reasons and excuses out there is laughable.
July 24, 2017 at 9:08 am #1706263questions as an outsider looking in:
why is that only ONE species of fish is being affected by,global warming,AIS,too clear of water,lack of food sources,hooking mortality,etc.etc.
yet the lake can produce trophy fish of other species????why are they not starving?? dont big fish eat little fish regardless of what type of fish they are?? ( not counting carp here ) and yes,I understand that each species can have a favorite meal but to survive you eat whats available up to a point.
or is it that walleye eat only one thing and would starve to death before they would eat anything else??why is it that only one lake in an entire country with many other states that have walleye populations,why are they not affected like Mille Lacs??
especially if those other lakes have similar issues? ie,AIS,global warming,etc.
I am guessing that in some mysterious way that cannot be explained that Millie has a magnifying glass focused on it and NO other body of water is affected?sure,I have read about Erie and others cleaned up by zeebs yet they are now producing bigger eyes than ever? how does that work??
here in Iowa we several invasive species and much warmer waters that support a healthy walleye population even in shallow waters,why are our shorelines not lined with dead eyes by the thousands??just asking honest questions as I cannot understand how one lake can have the entire sky fall into it and wipe out only one species.
Do they net in Iowa? Just sayin
July 24, 2017 at 9:14 am #1706265Beautiful summer afternoon on a Saturday at Lake Mille Lacs. What’s missing from this picture? No fishing boats in sight! Not even the <em class=”ido-tag-em”>bass boats out there. So much for all the bass anglers replacing the lost walleye anglers in supporting the economy up here.
I’ll support the local economy in the fall and winter when the real eyeguys fish. Too hot in the summer, I need gray skies crappy weather or ice. Summers are for bass guys and jet skiers anyway.
July 24, 2017 at 10:13 am #1706282Second, studies in many fisheries show that catchability actually increases when fish population decline.
In Mille Lacs, walleye congregate in preferred spots rather than disperse evenly throughout the lake. Fewer fish in the lake means there’s more room in the preferred spots for fish to gather, and anglers find these spots where they can catch a larger portion of fish.Is this a true statement? I have a difficult time excepting this explanation.
Not true in my experience. I’m catching walleye in “eater size” pike locations, shallow 75F water in July, when I have not caught walleye in these spots the last four years.
That goes against every rule of fishing ML summer walleyes and suggests to me the walleye are everywhere in that lake.After cleaning the pike it was clear that they were hungry, empty stomachs.
July 24, 2017 at 10:18 am #1706289Beautiful summer afternoon on a Saturday at Lake Mille Lacs. What’s missing from this picture? No fishing boats in sight! Not even the <em class=”ido-tag-em”>bass boats out there. So much for all the bass anglers replacing the lost walleye anglers in supporting the economy up here.
They were on the other end of the lake.
I went out Thurs afternoon and had the lake to myself. By Thurs evening a few boats showed up.
Friday there were more. By Saturday we were sharing trolling spaces, weaving in and out of boat traffic.
July 24, 2017 at 10:43 am #1706293they had a really nice flea market at Hunters Point on saturday… lots of pontoons, pleasure crafts and a few bass boats pulled in. Place was packed with people at least… gonna be more difficult to starve out HP…
July 24, 2017 at 5:23 pm #1706399What’s wrong with this picture? Tim Chapman from Chapmans Resort and Guide Service posted this recently of a 28″ walleye caught on jig and bacon. Yep, bacon…does this walleye look healthy?
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July 24, 2017 at 7:55 pm #1706423Cmon now. How could anyone resist bacon? I mean really?
Looks like that fish needs to eat more bacon.
July 25, 2017 at 7:26 am #1706477does this walleye look healthy?
Looks like a walleye near death from old age. Would have been a good eater 5-6 years ago.
-J.
July 25, 2017 at 7:56 am #1706488<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Walleyestudent Andy Cox wrote:</div>
does this walleye look healthy?Looks like a walleye near death from old age. Would have been a good eater 5-6 years ago.
-J.
+100, though you might be surprised how old that fish actually is. I was reading an article yesterday where an angler caught a 27″ walleye on ML that was tagged. Sent in for the information regarding the prior capture and it was netted in 2009 and was 25.5″. So, that was 8 years ago and it grew 1.5″. They had estimated the fish at roughly 20 years old.
July 25, 2017 at 2:21 pm #1706585they had a really nice flea market at Hunters Point on saturday… lots of pontoons, pleasure crafts and a few bass boats pulled in. Place was packed with people at least… gonna be more difficult to starve out HP…
Oh yes, meanwhile we were on the west side at Garrison Play Days feeding goats…
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July 25, 2017 at 4:31 pm #1706610<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Jon Jordan wrote:</div>
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Walleyestudent Andy Cox wrote:</div>
does this walleye look healthy?Looks like a walleye near death from old age. Would have been a good eater 5-6 years ago.
-J.
+100, though you might be surprised how old that fish actually is. I was reading an article yesterday where an angler caught a 27″ walleye on ML that was tagged. Sent in for the information regarding the prior capture and it was netted in 2009 and was 25.5″. So, that was 8 years ago and it grew 1.5″. They had estimated the fish at roughly 20 years old.
That’s probably normal right? Just like humans, they stop growing after a certain time. Eyes rarely get longer than 28″ on inland lakes. Sure you will get a few with the right genetics that get into the 30’s from Erie or LOW but pretty rare especially the mille lacs strain. Even those Columbia river pigs don’t get that long, they are all shoulders.
July 25, 2017 at 7:31 pm #1706635I’m not necessarily the world’s largest MNDNR fan, but some of these posts are comical. Do people truly think the MNDNR is blatantly lying intentionally about decreased walleye populations? What do they have to gain by this?
It’s not information that I like to hear, but I don’t just pass it off as “BS” because it isn’t favorable. I also don’t blame the DNR for what is going on. It’s almost as if people are taking the current political climate into consideration and want to instantly shout “fake news” when they are told the lake is struggling and changing.
It’s a reality that the lake is changing, and that walleyes are going to suffer from the changes. Accept it, get angry, or cry yourself to sleep at night for all I care…but don’t just blatantly deny it or shoot the messengers (MNDNR)
July 25, 2017 at 8:32 pm #1706647Well those that have been around and know the history are laying the blame on the DNR. What has changed in the last 20 years that differs from the last 100+ years?
Slots & gill nets during the spawn.
You’re welcome.
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