Steve Johnson from Johnson’s Portside in Isle just reported this. The MLFAC meeting with DNR was tonight and the guess here is this is what was put forth. As with anything surrounding Mille Lacs walleye fishing, things could change next week. But this revelation was not all that unexpected, but who knows. 
Stay tuned…
“Proposed winter reg is 1 walleye 20”-22” or 1 over 26”. This is TENTATIVE!!
But it’s good news for all.”
Not to sound critical but why report anything if it isn’t official? It will just confuse people more then what they already are.
My opinion.
Not to sound critical but why report anything if it isn’t official? It will just confuse people more then what they already are.
My opinion.
Well if you don’t plan to ice fish Mille Lacs…then pay no attention. There aren’t much of any guarantees on anything, are there? Topics can still be newsworthy if still not a guarantee. Historically, the information that I share has better odds that it will or did happen. Nothing guaranteed, but reason for hope.
Again, stay tuned…
I’m surprised to see the 20″-22″ slot. Most of the 2013 females are about that size right now. I thought they were trying to protect that class? 
I’m surprised to see the 20″-22″ slot. Most of the 2013 females are about that size right now. I thought they were trying to protect that class?
The 2013 females shouldn’t be 20″ yet. More like 17″-18″.
While I don’t mind the slot you are still targeting one or two year classes. I feel like it should be a total of one fish, any size.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>IceNEyes1986 wrote:</div>
I’m surprised to see the 20″-22″ slot. Most of the 2013 females are about that size right now. I thought they were trying to protect that class?
The 2013 females shouldn’t be 20″ yet. More like 17″-18″.
While I don’t mind the slot you are still targeting one or two year classes. I feel like it should be a total of one fish, any size.
You may be right. All I know is we caught SO MANY fish in the 16-19″ range last winter that I’m assuming those fish grew a couple inches since I was last on the Ice in February. We caught keepers every weekend last year as well (19″-21″) in the hard house.
I will agree that it should be just a 1 fish limit of any size. I would still like to see a minimum of 15″ or so. But I don’t think that’ll ever happen..
I’m just happy we can punch holes in the Pond this winter.
How many days until the get together? 
How many days until the get together?
Time to set that up soon.
Here is a little more specific regarding the “tentative” part. Looks like the question will be the size on the “one over”…
From Tim Chapman:
Winter walleye regulation has been tentatively set. Anglers will be allowed to keep 1 walleye. Fish must be between 20″ and 22″ the tentative OR is you can keep 1 fish over 26″ or 28”. The one fish over is the tentative part. There are some details that need to be worked out and we should know for sure in a couple weeks what that will be. Although I’m not ready for cold and snow yet, I guess it’s time to say “Bring on the Ice”. #dothelake
I don’t plan to keep any ML walleyes, so I am just happy to hear that we should be able to fish for them.
Dec 1st right?
Can’t wait for Opener #3 2017. 
Yeah, one fish over 28″! Ya can get some good wings off of one of those. 
Minnesota public radio is reporting on this, so I don’t think Andy is too soon by any means. For what it’s worth they are reporting this as “proposed” and the number they used was 26 on the over.
As others have said, I’m just glad we can fish them this winter. As long as the fishing is good or better and the sizes seem to be up and up, that’s the fun and excitement I will go up there for. I’ll get my eaters from all the other lakes I fish.
Oh, and pumped for the get-together! I was bummed that was canceled last season.
As others have said, I’m just glad we can fish them this winter.
I don’t mean to pick on you at all. This is a very common perception amongst most Mille Lacs anglers.
Do not let this become the norm. I am not just happy to have a season. We should not be satisfied with 1 fish limits, catch and release and multiple season closures. There’s a lot of misinformation and bad data being released by the dnr that’s driving these decisions.
Personally I’d be ok with 2 fish limits and partial seasons with catch and release. I enjoy catching walleyes but mid season closures are ridiculous.
Can’t wait for Opener #3 2017
Haha right!?! I hope they keep it at 26″ as I think there are a LOT of those fish, and they need to be thinned out. Typically I would never keep one that big, but might have to break my own rule once or twice this winter.
I’ll start a new thread for the GTG soon, since it’s never too early to start planning lol.
Totally not in favor of one over 26″, I sure hope they don’t do that. That will be bad if you like catching big eyes. You want to catch big fish you need to protect big fish. Mille Lac is too easy to put a beating on that size of fish.
It takes too long to grow to 26″ and replace them. Once dead there gone. The lake is huge there is no such thing as too many fish over 26″. The system is too big. If this happens the catch rate of upper big level fish will decline big time in the future. Boy I hope they don’t do this. Big mistake in my opinion.
Haha right!?! I hope they keep it at 26″ as I think there are a LOT of those fish, and they need to be thinned out. Typically I would never keep one that big, but might have to break my own rule once or twice this winter.
I’ll start a new thread for the GTG, since it’s never too early to start planning lol.
From what I am understanding, the 20-22″ harvest slot is likely. The debate between the “one over” minimum at either 26″ or 28″ is what is still being argued.
I will be heading up there shortly for the weekend and hope to talk to Steve Kulifaj at Red Door about the GTG. Bigwerm, let’s stay in touch about planning. Would sure like to better our odds of this happening this year even if it means setting a weekend earlier than last year. I know the weekend of January 19-20 would not be good as they are having a tournament there that weekend.
The 2013 class is definitely not 20-22″ yet. 18″ at best.
They’re completely over-thinking it. Mille Lacs should have the world’s simplest regulations. 1 walleye – any size. You can spread out the harvest among multiple year classes. Some may want to harvest a big fish to feel like they’re efforts were worth something more, while others will take a 15″ fish because they’re simply the best tasting.
For those that are angered by the 1 fish…don’t anticipate anything more than that in the foreseeable future. With netting, invasives, forage shortages, rising lake temps, the increasing bass population taking up more of the available biomass, etc it is going to hinder the walleye population (perhaps permanently).
1 walleye 20-22” or 1 over 28”.
Looks official to me……
Looks official to me……
News Release
Mille Lacs winter anglers allowed 1 walleye
November 3, 2017
Annual fall surveys support conservative harvest decision
Mille Lacs Lake walleye fishing will open on Friday, Dec. 1, with no bait restrictions and a limit of one walleye 20-22 inches or one longer than 28 inches.
“We’re glad results of fall population survey show Mille Lacs anglers will be able to keep some walleye during the winter walleye season,” said Don Pereira, fisheries section chief for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “We know this is important to resorts and businesses because the ice fishing season contributes a lot to the local economy.”
The DNR selected the size regulations to protect Mille Lacs’ walleye spawning population, which is largely comprised of walleyes hatched in 2013 (also known as a year class). Those fish currently range from 15 to 19 inches in length and represented about 40 percent of the walleyes sampled during this fall’s population survey.
Since the 2013 year class now is nearly fully mature, the DNR determined anglers could keep older and larger fish, something some anglers have been suggesting and requesting. In recent years, conservative regulations on Mille Lacs have protected the younger spawners to-be so they can replace the older spawners, which is necessary to sustain the population.
The DNR and members of the Mille Lacs Fisheries Advisory Committee did discuss setting the large fish limit at 26 inches. But feedback suggested that keeping those fish in the lake was preferred because the possibility of catching walleye 26 to 28 inches makes Mille Lacs an attractive destination. There also was concern that a 26-inch limit could result in a higher harvest level that would count against the 2018 allocation.
Insights from annual fall surveys
Mille Lacs fall walleye population survey, known as an “assessment,” showed that the 2013 year class continues to dominate the population. The catch of walleye hatched in 2014, 2015 and 2016 was below average. Fish hatched this spring were caught in good numbers but it’s uncertain if those numbers will remain as the 2017 year class progresses through its first, second and third years.
“During the past 15 years, our studies show fewer and fewer young walleye surviving to their third year,” Pereira said. “Young fish not surviving has put Mille Lacs’ walleye population in the unfortunate situation it is now. Whatever is causing that mortality is the root problem.”
The assessment also looks at food abundance and walleye health. Perch 1-2 years old were caught in low numbers and the number of young-of-year perch was above average. The number of young-of-year tullibee caught was near average.
Perch and tullibee are the primary food source for Mille Lacs’ walleye, which are showing negative effects from a lack of adequate food. That shortage may be driving the hot walleye bite anglers have experienced on Mille Lacs.
Complete winter regulation information for Mille Lacs Lake is available on the DNR website at mndnr.gov/millelacslake.
Hard to get horned up as an outsider.
Too drive 5 hours and be allowed to keep one walleye? Are there any other fish, to fish for through the ice? If we were to stay at a resort and fish, is it only 1 walleye and We are done? Ya catch all day and through gets old.
Never fished it but drove past it many times.
riverruns – Come on up to the GT you’ll, see what we’re talking about.
FYI – I get more horned up tippin a big eye back into the hole than I do putting it in a fry pan.
riverruns – Come on up to the GT you’ll, see what we’re talking about.
FYI – I get more horned up tippin a big eye back into the hole than I do putting it in a fry pan.
Completely agree. I would think the number of young of the year perch numbers being up would be a good sign unless they are always high during that stage of life. I’m no expert but I would think if they start working on restoring the perch numbers it would also help the walleye.
is it not possible that the 26″ to 28″ walleye are cannibalizing the smaller walleye because of lack of forage? if they remove numbers of those bigger ones the mortality rate of the smaller walleye will improve? I find the Mille Lacs situation fascinating and frustrating. didn’t harbor much interest until I fished up there for a week right before the live bait ban that started in July. unbelievable fishery. hate to see it go south..
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