Mille Lacs Regulations Update

http://www.messagemedia.co/millelacs/outdoors/mille-lacs-lake-fish-advisory-committee-meeting—primary/article_d61de446-dfbf-11e5-a5c7-33c007a280c5.html

Mille Lacs Fish Advisory Committee met again to discuss possible walleye regulation options
The seventh Mille Lacs Lake Fish Advisory Committee meeting was held at Izaty’s Wednesday, Feb. 24. And the committee finally had a chance to do what they were assigned to do. Advise.
SSI-BigAd & MOB
Their advice on Wednesday night to the fishery management team of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources – keep the lake open. No matter what.
DNR staff said the goal of the meeting was two-fold: 1) understanding the open water regulations range of options, assumptions and analysis, and 2) opportunity to give input in order for the DNR to make the best decision possible. In order to do that, they needed input from each member.
DNR staff also informed committee members that each option will have consequences.
Because many conditions can’t be predicted, DNR has asked committee members to consider the pros and cons they see for each option and the necessary tradeoffs for businesses, customers, area residents, anglers and others. Committee members were also encouraged to suggest other regulation scenarios and options.
All but one regulation option for the 2016 open water season would keep Mille Lacs Lake’s one walleye harvest slot between 18 and 20 inches or one longer than 28 inches limit in place but adjust the time periods when anglers could keep a fish.
One computer model estimated a 75 percent likelihood the state would reach its angling allocation by Aug. 1 if a one-fish, 18-to-20-inch slot were allowed the entire open-water season. “That is not an option,” Bill Eno, committee member and owner of Twin Pines Resort and Launch Service said.
Options
Tony Roach, committee member and owner of Roaches Guide Service, said he is “strongly opposed” to the use of circle hooks reasoning the smaller walleye will completely ingest them causing more damage to the fish. He suggested artificial lures for anglers and jigs for launches.
“If going to artificial lures only will assume a 50 percent reduction in pressure alone, it might be worth it,” Roach said.
Dean Hanson, committee member and owner of Agate Bay Resort asked, “Does it meet the perimeters and feasibility and is that acceptable to the public?”
“It is going to be an unbelieveable bite this summer,” Roach said. “I think a lot of people are going to show up.
We need to do whatever it takes to keep the lake open all season.”
Several members agreed some type of catch and release season, whether partial or full season, would be the best for the lake.
“Catch and release keeps the lake open,” Eno said. “People will keep coming to catch fish even if they can’t keep anything, they will still come.”
Fisheries research staff based the options on data collected in previous years and walleye population estimates. Each option has multiple scenarios that consider varying levels of:
• Potential fishing pressure.
• Number of fish that die after being caught.
• Water temperature.
• Biological factors such as sex, age, length and growth rates.
Factors across all scenarios that increase the likelihood of walleye fishing being closed on Mille Lacs include:
• Allowing fishing within the harvest slot for longer periods of time.
• More people fishing.
• More fish being caught.
• Hotter weather.
Allocations
The total harvest allocation has been set by the Technical Advisory Committee with members of Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Council and the DNR. The total harvest allocation has been set at 40,000 pounds, 28,600 for anglers harvest and 11,400 pounds for tribal harvest.
“The biggest question that hasn’t been answered is why is it 40,000 pounds again this year,” Steve Johnson, committee member and owner of Johnson’s Portside said. “There are more fish out there than last year.”
“Nobody fought for us,” Eno said.
“If we make every effort – reduce hooking mortality – and reduce the chance of reaching the allocation, can we go back to the tribes and ask them to guarantee no closure?” Hanson asked.
Don Pereira, DNR fisheries chief, assured the committee members the DNR had invested heavily in the interests of the lake and the business owners. “If we thought we could have taken 60,000 pounds this year without hurting the spawning stock biomass we would have.”
Rep. Sondra Erickson interrupted asking if Tribal members would be allowed to keep more fish than non tribal members when angling. “I get calls from constituents all the time,” Erickson said. “That is just not right.”
Charlie Rasmussen of GLIFWC clarified the Tribal regulation in a follow up call from the Messenger stating: “on Mille Lacs in 2016 Tribal members may keep 10 fish any size for northerns, smallmouth, largemouth and walleye. Tribal angling is low participation, low exploitation. There’s just not a lot of people doing it.
Discussion only
The DNR will set the 2016 regulations within the first part of March, Pereira said. Hopefully before the annual Midwest Sportsman show (March 30-April 3 at the Minneapolis Convention Center) so business owners will be able to answer questions and encourage new customers.
Considerations for the open-water season
Some of the options being considered for the walleye season that opens on Saturday, May 14, are:
• Allow walleye fishing within the harvest slot the entire season.
• Catch and release in May and June; one walleye harvest slot effective Friday, July 1.
• Harvest slot effective in May, June, September, October and November; walleye fishing closed in July and August.
• Harvest slot effective in May; catch and release from June to November.
• Catch and release from May to November.
Because the computer models generated by the DNR indicated a decrease in hooking mortality by 20 to 50 percent if artificial lures were used there was also discussion on the following options:
• Artificial lures only.
• Artificial lures for anglers, jigs and bait for launches.
• Circle hooks.
• Various combinations of all of the above with artificial lures.

Your thoughts Will?

Personally I would prefer a catch and release season for the whole year this year, along with Tribal take only allowed via hook and line or spear.

Also, I understand the DNR has studies supporting their artificial lure vs live bait mortality percentages. However, in my experience pulling small cranks on the flats is the most damaging to the fish, smaller eye’s in particular. This winter was very encouraging, imo, for the future of Mille Lacs, but the next couple years will really dictate whether it will continue. .02

The first step is getting accurate data and personally I have very little confidence that the harvest numbers are accurate based on the current system.

My plan would actually be to create a system to gather better data for tracking the actual harvest. Scorecards would be available at every resort, bait shop, and gas station that anglers would voluntarily track their catch much more rigorously than current very inaccurate creel surveys. This would include the method for which each fish was caught which would allow for data that covers not just size and how many fish were caught, but how are they caught. This would allow for using the reduced hooking mortality numbers based on angling method.

This would also require to have some type of volunteer system to better estimate the angler hours spent the lake which may require resorts to track boaters through their resorts and possibly/probably having someone making a drive around the lake to count the number of trailers present at every public access multiple times a day.

And lastly I would want an independent 3rd party present to count every single fish that is netted in the Spring.

Out of the current options on the table I would vote for a catch and release season only during the hottest months of the summer with a contingency plan in place to avoid full closure based on what happens early in the year.

Will

Will, has there been any indication that GLIFWC plans to net Mille Lacs again this spring? It was said the Mille Lacs Band won’t but no report from GLIFWC that I have seen.

The Mille Lacs Band said they would not net this spring ,but they plan to spear this spring and take their allowance!!! The other bands had not given or shared their plan as of two weeks ago. It was asked at the last meeting with the DNR

Bob ya got that drone ready to shoot some footage when those nets come in?

As Bob said the Mille Lacs band will not be netting. I’ve heard that Mille Lacs band has either hinted or flat out asked the others not to come but I would put my money that they do come just to prove a point.

There is. I way to accurately keep track of fish caught released or kept. It is impossible. As for wills idea of anglers keeping track voluntarily still not gonna happen. Fish tails either more caught or not report just to keep lake open. Pounds of fish is a crappy way to figure fish anyway. Based on actual number of fish seems more realistic for population. First of all the slot needs to go away or be one under 18 and one over 23. So we are. It killing the best breeder fish. Mille lacs in is best years was not a trophy lake it was full of mid size fish prior to e netting. Since netting began is when these issue started but to continue to take same age structure and not harvest the larger less fertile fish that eat much more it will take along time to stabilize. Funny the years where there was little netting pressure there seems to be a great year class of fish? Wonder why? And netting doesn’t hurt a lake? I guess they all forgot about RED LAKE!

Should hear what the 2016 regs are soon:

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says it will announce the 2016 fishing regulations for Lake Mille Lacs Monday.

The announcement is planned for 11 a.m.

The regulations will govern the open water fishing season that starts May 14.

Members of the DNR’s Citizen Advisory Committee told 5 EYEWITNESS News Sunday that the regulations were coming Monday.

The issue is of great concern to anglers and resort owners along Mille Lacs after the walleye season was shut down early in 2015 because of a decline in numbers.

For the winter season, the DNR is only allowing one walleye per angler that is between 18 and 20 inches or one that is more than 28 inches.

From the MN DNR Website:

2016 Mille Lacs regulations designed to keep walleye fishing open

(Released March 21, 2016)

Regulations designed to protect the fish needed to rebuild Mille Lacs Lake’s walleye population will require that walleye anglers use only artificial bait and immediately release all walleye when Minnesota’s 2016 fishing season opens Saturday, May 14.

“A catch-and-release walleye season allows us to protect future spawners yet acknowledges the desire that fishing remain open,” said Don Pereira, fisheries chief for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “Not allowing harvest is a difficult decision but it provides our best option.”

From May 14 to Thursday, Dec. 1, anglers targeting walleye must use artificial bait and immediately release all walleye caught. Anglers targeting northern pike and muskellunge may possess and use sucker minnows longer than 8 inches but all other anglers must not possess any other bait that is live, dead, frozen or processed.

Other changed regulations for the 2016 season on Mille Lacs include:

Walleye: Night closure beginning Monday, May 16, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and continuing through Dec. 1. Muskellunge anglers may fish at night but all baits, live or artificial, in possession must be at least 8 inches long.
Northern pike: Five fish with only one longer than 40 inches. All northern 30-40 inches long must be immediately released.
Bass: Four fish with only one longer than 21 inches. All fish 17-21 inches long must be immediately released.

“These new regulations reflect the DNR’s commitment to continue providing world-class fishing at one of Minnesota’s premier vacation destinations,” Pereira said.

Last year on Mille Lacs, walleye anglers could use live bait and keep one walleye 19-21 inches long or longer than 28 inches. Walleye fishing closed in August when fishing pressure, the number of fish caught and temperatures combined to push the state over its 28,600 pound walleye limit. Fishing re-opened on Dec. 1, 2015, with a walleye limit of one 18-20 inches or one longer than 28 inches.

This year’s safe walleye harvest level established by the DNR and Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission remains at 40,000 pounds, with 28,600 allocated to state anglers and 11,400 to tribal anglers. Allowing fishing beyond those limits puts the walleye population at risk and a federal court decision requires that walleye fishing be suspended.

“The possibility of closing Mille Lacs to walleye fishing is greater this year than it was last,” Pereira said. “Even with our catch-and-release approach, the risk remains considerable.”

Concern stems from the additional pressure that hooking mortality – an estimate of the number of fish that die after being caught and returned to the water – has on walleye harvest. Hooking mortality rates also increase as water temperatures warm. Both factors are at play in Mille Lacs this year.

The DNR expects more small- and intermediate-sized fish to be caught, including fish hatched in 2013 that biologists are counting on to rebuild Mille Lacs’ walleye population. These immature fish, which are approaching a more catchable but comparatively small size of 14 inches and longer, need to be protected so they can spawn. Ice is opening on lakes earlier this year, increasing the likelihood that water temperatures will warm faster and sooner.

“A low level of allowed harvest doesn’t necessarily mean slow walleye fishing,” Pereira said. “As we saw last year, factors can combine to alter estimates and require adjustments. We believe that allowing no walleye harvest through catch-and-release is a reasonable yet cautious response based on in-depth analysis and citizen input from the Mille Lacs advisory committee.”

As part of a more comprehensive study to better understand and estimate hooking mortality, the DNR will collect a variety of fishing information on Mille Lacs this summer. Temperature sensors will be placed in different parts of the lake at different depths to more accurately record temperatures where walleye congregate. Information on fishing methods and catches will be collected, too. Part of the information collection aspect of the research program will allow Mille Lacs’ fishing launches to be exempt from the live bait restriction.

“Anglers fish close together on launches, making it extremely difficult to safely cast artificial lures rather than dropping baited lines into the water,” Pereira said. “Since the DNR needs more data to refine its hooking mortality standards, asking launches to provide this data will allow a traditional, popular and enjoyable method of fishing on Mille Lacs to continue.”

Launch operators receiving a permit can use live bait provided they agree to participate in efforts to collect data from fishing trips, launch customers and cooperate with the hooking mortality study. Their permits would be suspended if walleye fishing on Mille Lacs has to be closed.

Bass regulations compromise

Anglers can keep four bass in any combination of largemouth and smallmouth, down from last year’s limit of six fish. The new regulations add a requirement that all fish 17-21 inches be immediately released, and the length restriction for the largest fish an angler may keep increased from 18 to 21 inches.

The early harvest offered on Mille Lacs also was eliminated, requiring that – like the rest of the state – all bass caught during the first two weeks of the season be immediately released.

Mille Lacs’ exemption to the statewide fall closure of the smallmouth bass season remains, meaning that anglers may keep smallmouth bass they catch on Mille Lacs through Feb. 28, 2017.

DNR changed the regulation to balance bass angling groups’ call for stricter regulations to protect Mille Lacs Lake’s world-class smallmouth fishery with the desire and need to provide anglers opportunities to harvest fish.

“Bass regulations are a compromise,” Pereira said. “Last year’s regulations were biologically sound but it was important that DNR also factor in the emerging social aspects in this year’s regulations.”

The ability to exempt large bass tournaments from the size regulation and bag limits remains.

Northern pike regulations change

Mille Lacs anglers can keep five northern pike, only one of which can be longer than 40 inches. All fish 30-40 inches must be immediately released.

The five-fish limit was initially enacted last December. The protected slot limit replaces the provision that allowed anglers to keep only one fish longer than 30 inches.

The earn-a-trophy provision that required anglers to harvest two smaller pike before one larger one was eliminated for the 2016 open water season.

More information about Mille Lacs is available on the DNR website.

About as expected…unfortunately no walleye harvest at all.

The Opening Weekend Night Fishing is appreciated, however no Fall Night Fishing is a loss for the resorts and anglers that have pursued it for years.

and native fish taken do not hurt the lake….

I like the C and R, and understand the no live bait. Disappointed in the night fishing ban though.

I hope they keep these regs for 5 years and see that it doesn’t help…. then they will look at the other methods of fishing that are the root of the problem. (ya right)

Well, we can say good bye to all the baits shops still open on the lake I am afraid.

I have no problem with C and R if that will help. Be nice if everyone was required to C and R, but I guess that is difficult with a spear.

So the 28,600lbs is to cover floaters and the 11,400 is for the Indians tummies? Something is outa’ whack here for sure…RR

Anyone have knowledge to or would guess the harvest #’s for all the launches, and the mortality rates associated with those compared to regular anglers?

So no live bait for crappies or sunfish, perch or bass? Correct? Not even worms or waxies?

I’m being selfish here, but I am disappointed with the live bait part of this. Last year I was able to take my 5 year old daughter and 2 year old son out and bobber fish the rock piles and get them on some eye’s, granted they were fairly small but it was exiting for them. It makes it a little tougher to have a place up there knowing that it may be more difficult to get my kids on fish.
I guess I will have to see how artificial leeches work this year.

Jon Jordan wrote:

anglers targeting walleye must use artificial bait and immediately release all walleye caught.

Just says no live bait while “targeting” walleye. If you are not fishing walleye, should be good to go.

That being said, I see a lot of tickets getting handed out this year….

-J.

Jon Jordan wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Jon Jordan wrote:</div>
anglers targeting walleye must use artificial bait and immediately release all walleye caught.

Just says no live bait while “targeting” walleye. If you are not fishing walleye, should be good to go.

That being said, I see a lot of tickets getting handed out this year….

-J.

I agree Jon. A leech under a bobber is a good presentation for small mouth

“Officer I was targeting perch and that’s why I’m using leeches/worms/fatheads on my slip bobber rig! “

Jon Jordan wrote:

Just says no live bait while “targeting” walleye. If you are not fishing walleye, should be good to go.

Doesn’t the next line mean that nobody can use live bait except for suckers?

From May 14 to Thursday, Dec. 1, anglers targeting walleye must use artificial bait and immediately release all walleye caught. Anglers targeting northern pike and muskellunge may possess and use sucker minnows longer than 8 inches but all other anglers must not possess any other bait that is live, dead, frozen or processed.

mnfish wrote:

So no live bait for crappies or sunfish, perch or bass? Correct? Not even worms or waxies?

My interpretation of the following paragraph is that the only natural bait allowed while on the lake is suckers over 8″…… It seems black and white to me.

From May 14 to Thursday, Dec. 1, anglers targeting walleye must use artificial bait and immediately release all walleye caught. Anglers targeting northern pike and muskellunge may possess and use sucker minnows longer than 8 inches but all other anglers must not possess any other bait that is live, dead, frozen or processed.

Reef W wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Jon Jordan wrote:</div>
Just says no live bait while “targeting” walleye. If you are not fishing walleye, should be good to go.

Doesn’t the next line mean that nobody can use live bait except for suckers?

From May 14 to Thursday, Dec. 1, anglers targeting walleye must use artificial bait and immediately release all walleye caught. Anglers targeting <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>northern pike and muskellunge may possess and use sucker minnows longer than 8 inches but all other anglers must not possess any other bait that is live, dead, frozen or processed.

Yea, I saw that. The DNR is always trying to make the new rules read as confusing as possible. The first time I read that, I thought they were talking about pike bait. They should be more clear on the rules!

-J.

So how does one become a “launch operator”?

I am really disappointed that they are making rules based on type of boat. A launch can bobber fish live bait but screw anyone else? I get that without this exclusion the launches will be finished.

So they are suggesting that even with a normal catch and release season the quota would be met, so they feel the need to add a no live bait clause?

self edit: removed a section.

Throw in that they are continuing to protect large fish by expanding protected slots makes me shake my head.

Yes by all means keep the predators getting bigger. Anyone want to buy a baitshop?
Done going there

Mwal

They should just make it easy and say no live bait – period. Throw in exceptions and that causes confusion. There are not a ton of guys fishing pike with 8+ inch sucker minnows anyway.

I would have liked to see a barbless rule on the artificials only. Oh well…

This will not affect me again this year. I’ll be fishing smallies with tube baits when I hit the lake. I’ll go fish walleyes somewhere else.

-J.

….and the story continues. Figure they would have everyone on the same page before an official announcement.

Updated: 03/21/2016 1:31 PM
Created: 03/21/2016 12:18 PM

A Minnesota legislator says he’ll introduce a bill to override the state’s decision to allow no walleyes to be kept this year on Mille Lacs Lake.

Sen. Dave Brown, a Republican from Becker, says he thinks the Department of Natural Resources is “doing everything they possibly can to destroy the economy” around the lake. Brown says he wants a 2-fish limit and live bait.

The DNR announced Monday that only artificial bait can be used on the lake, and all walleyes must be released.

A top official says it was a tough decision but called it the best option as the state seeks to rebuild walleye stocks.

Anglers last year were allowed to keep one walleye and the season closed early after the state went over the lake’s harvest limit.

(Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Sen. Dave Brown of Becker
Photo: Minnesota State Senate

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posturing for sure…