This evening the Mille Lacs Input meeting was held. The MN DNR was there and ready to present their plan of what they felt what needed to be done and why.  It was an agenda full  of plans and options based on their studies. But the audience attending had one thing in mind.  The majority wanted the harvest of Walleyes during the spawning season stopped and all wanted something to be done to get the dark cloud negativity surrounding “treaty management” eliminated.  There was no opposition to treaty rights, just not to harm the fish during the spawning season.  In my opinion their was nothing wrong with any of that.

It definitely sounded like the MN DNR’s hand were tied when it came to that and every effort to sidestep it when it arose and their only defense was that their studies showed that reproduction rates have remained the same despite the springtime spawning harvest by the Bands.  I think it is time to take that issue to the AG’s office and higher levels of State Government.  The State of Minnesota must stand up to it’s sovereign right as a State and demand control of it’s resources regardless of treaties.

One thing that did come out of it is that they are thinking of options never thought of before and they definitely realized that the Mille Lacs Fishery is more than just fish.  It’s the people that live and work the lake to provide services for fishermen from all over the State and the country, the economy around it’s shores and the effects of what has happened since “treaty management” has caused to it and the will ripple up the line to St.Paul I’m sure.  It is going to be some very hard times up here for many of us the next couple years until some of this works out.  But i do know it will get better, it’s going to take some time, but there is some signs that the lake is already starting to and I think we will see some evidence of that over this next year.

Now the rest of the citizens in this State that care about Mille Lacs need to step up and start calling and e-mailing their representatives in the House and Senate and especially the Governor.  With this being an election year NOW is the time!   Spread the word as much as you can..tell them that if they want your vote they need to do something about this! It is an opportune time!  The other thing that need to be done is to start talking about and showing the harvesting during the spawning season to the general public via media. Along with that  express to everyone that it goes against everything that sportsmen have always respected in this State.

Keep a Tight LIne!

Eddy

Today it was warm……. above zero in the am. and warmed up to the teens.  After what we’ve been thru this winter it was a heat wave….lol.

Still no fishermen showed up to try to see what is going on out there. Maybe as the weather warms we will see some.

This Thursday evening the MN DNR is hosting the annual or semi annual Mille Lacs Input group meeting, (depending on what works for them) so they can say the Mille Lacs Input Group put a rubber stamp on “their” options of management of Mille Lacs.

Because of the tensions surrounding the predicament of one of Minnesota’s biggest’s fisheries (closest to the most people that could enjoy it) the MN DNR’s “political” ways of managing Mille Lacs Lake since the “treaty management” brought on by the court’s decision and the MN DNR’s and GLIFWC’s influence, (GLIFWC is a federally funded organization paid with “your” taxes, hired by the Bands). Our State of Minnesota and it’s government’s bodies have thrown away the resource to be “Minnesota Nice” and disregard what has been really happening to the “majority of it’s citizens” concern’s. They have even hired outside “experts” to explain other reasons why this has happened. While avoiding what has obviously happened in front of their and everyone’s eyes.

The bottom line to me is get this lake on track again for the “majority of the tax paying” citizens of Minnesota. Treaty rights or not, the State of Minnesota should be ashamed to have let this happen and go as far as it has.  Now people’s livelihoods are at stake and still they still don’t get it.  It’s time for Minnesota’s government and it’s DNR to wake up!!

When the lake is in trouble, which obviously it is, you cannot disturb it’s spawning season in any way. You do not have to be fisheries biologist to know that.  The MN DNR says the reproduction rates are “sufficient”.  That is bogus in my opinion. They don’t even know what is “sufficient” because there are no “studies” proving that…..everything is just a number to them…….including us….. After the last 15 years of trying to tell them what is going on plus the 25 years prior to  that helping them sustain this fishery and the people involved in it is time to stand up and tell the State of Minnesota that what they are doing is not working for the lake and the citizens of the State of Minnesota!!   Your voice is needed now more than ever….if you care……

Keep a Tight Line!

Eddy

Yes I still have a road to the “Tullibee Hole” and the “Bowl”.  Since the storm a week ago with the cold weather we had only 6 customers out there trying. 5 of the 6 did not stop and give us a report, good or bad.  One couple spend last night in their new wheel house in the “Tullibee Hole” checking it out. They caught one Tullibee and one Walleye which they released.  They were marking lots of fish overnight which probably were Tulllibees, but like they said, the trip was more for checking out the new house instead of fishing.

Sounds like the cold is finally going to break and signs of warmer weather are approaching.  I’m hoping the break in weather will trigger something to go out there.  It would be nice to end the season on a more positive note.

Weather wise this year a lot of resorts got to see what used to be the “norm” 35 years ago. .  Only a few of us out there now were and I’m sure we were all hoping not to see one again, but we did this year.  Lets hope next year is better.

Keep a Tight Line!

Eddy