Open water update… KSTP

http://kstp.com/news/lake-mille-lacs-walleye-fishing-summer-season-catch-release/4402892/

Forgive me for steering this post away from it’s intent but I find the following to be hilarious…..

Many anglers and businesses have been unhappy with the tight restrictions because they say walleye fishing is what drives people to Mille Lacs. However, the tribes say it’s necessary to protect the declining walleye population.

Yes GLIFWC is concerned about the Walleye population, not concerned enough to stop netting but concerned enough to get a good chuckle at the expense of our DNR.

Did I understand it right? They are saying the spiny water flee is to blame for the declining walleye population in Mille Lacs?

Where did you see the spiny water flea referenced?

Eelpoutguy wrote:

Did I understand it right? They are saying the spiny water flee is to blame for the declining walleye population in Mille Lacs?

mojo – they have a video with the article.
Unfortunately kstp’s website stinks and its difficult to locate. I tried to cut and paste it, but it only will paste the written article and won’t link the video.

Too many people telling the DNR to gut be AIS budget and use it to help with the license fees.

Of course it “might be” caused by the Spiny Water Flea or the next AIS that comes through the Great Lakes.

What timing.

We are coming up to Mille Lacs in June for a week. Does this mean we can target Walleye but have to throw them back? Or Can’t even target them and if we catch one by accident we have to throw it back?

Dillon Sanders wrote:

Does this mean we can target Walleye but have to throw them back?

It’s not official yet (that I have seen), but it sounds like it will be catch and release only. IMO really not much difference from the 1 fish limit of a nearly non-existent year class. No word on if the tribe is concerned enough about the declining population to not net this spring… Still plenty of picture fish though! I’ll be making plenty of trips to the pond this summer, regardless of the regs.

Assuming they allow C&R, we’ll be taking a day off in May to to pound on some fish and probably one more in June. Would be nice to keep one to eat but I can go elsewhere for that, not many other places where you can get the numbers and size that ML will give up this year.