Monthly Archives: April 2015

April 14th, 2015

25243_105914699446571_5028809_n  This will be my last post here for the summer,  I will start up again late this fall as winter approaches.  With the marine business going in the summer my focus is elsewhere and I’m not on the lake as I am in the winter to give accurate fishing reports. I am looking forward to a good winter season this coming year, and the lake and it’s fishery will come back again.

However, I do want say something about how I feel about all of the controversy surrounding Mille Lacs the last few years…  I think the time has come for all people in this State and Country for that matter, to abide by the same rules when it comes to natural resources.  It includes the same management philosophy, and the same harvest procedures.  I believe traditions need to be honored for preserving a tradition, but not to the point of contributing to the loss of a resource.  And I’m afraid that if the current path we are on continues there will be not much left for anyone, regardless of what nationality anyone is.

Everyone in the United States immigrated from somewhere at some time in history.  That’s why all of us are who we are.  Everyone’s nationality and their history has had traditions and beliefs that they still celebrate and remember as to pass on to future generations. Which is important and good for everyone. I respect that, and always will. Things will get better at Mille Lacs as long as everyone works towards the same goal, which is to protect and enjoy the resources it provides all of us.

But to go to extremes just because you can in this day in age isn’t good for anyone’s history……..and history will tell the story long after we are  gone…….

Keep a Tight Line!

Eddy

 

April 9th,2015

Well the news is out for the Opener.  1 Walleye 19-21″ or over 28″ ,season long night ban. It pretty much insures Opening at Mille Lacs will not be much of one if you are a Walleye fisherman.  But on the positive side, they will be biting and the cold water will minimize mortality. And with the Bass season opening also there will be plenty of fish to catch for those that like to enjoy a good fight on the end of the line.

The lake is showing signs of recovery after what anglers seen out there last winter, So I know things will get better in the future, but what I think everyone needs to insure it will never happen again by voting this next year for someone that will stand up and not take lobbying monies and do something to change all of this. Before it happens to the big lakes in the entire State. It is possible to change alot of this mess, but it will have to be done on that level and by negotiation.  It all boils down to money and that is what will change this. Whether it’s payoffs, or threats of competition for the gambling dollars by the State. that is going to change it.  Fishermen have a year and a half to get organized and I suggest get going now!!

Keep a Tight Line!

Eddy

April 2nd,2015

Today I thought with the strong NW winds the ice was going to move.  But from what I seen it didn’t move much so it will be awhile yet.  Our access is closed for the year obviously and we are getting things ready at the rental house for the Opener.

The DNR hasn’t released the regs for the upcoming season at Mille Lacs yet, and if I were them I would be ashamed to.  It is very upsetting to see the premier Walleye Lake in this State run to the ground so to speak in the last 15 years, and to have a State government and it’s Governor Dayton turn into spineless politicians and let this resource be practically destroyed.  Everyone knows what is going on here and why it happened. And they can’t say that because the source of the lobby money they receive will be cut off. Yet what happened in Wisconsin’s Lakes , Upper and Lower Red lake, or the comeback of Lake of the Woods when the “netters” were bought out isn’t good enough evidence for our DNR biologists. They search for every other reason possible to avoid the obvious, and keep their jobs……Even the big Twin Cities journalists won’t talk about that because guess who spends major money advertising in their papers….

Well, it just won’t be Mille Lacs much longer.  Rumors are that Lake Vermillion will be netted next because they can’t get enough Walleyes from Mille Lacs.  Another treaty will be tested and our State of Minnesota and it’s government more than likely will stand aside and let that happen.  Maybe some day after all the big Walleye lakes are wiped out, people in this State will wake up and see what they let happen to our great fisheries and vote for someone that will do something about it.

I’m not arguing against treaty rights or the right to harvest.  I’m saying leave the fish alone when they are spawning……period!!  And if our DNR says it doesn’t make a difference on the spawning outcome with what the Bands do during the spawning time, open it up for angling and quit having a closing and opening of Walleye season statewide!

Fishing will improve on Mille Lacs in the coming years and hopefully get back to some degree of what it once was.  But if the State lets the Bands harvest in the spring as it does now… I honestly believe this will happen again…and not just on Mille Lacs……

Something has got to change……     Keep a Tight Line!!

Eddy