Yesterday afternoon, the winds picked up from the NW, and we received just a snow flurry. Not enough to even cover the ground. This morning, from looking with our zoomable camera (not the webcam), the ice pushed some about two miles out. In close, it seemed stable.  We had a low temperature of 0 this morning, and it’s forecasted to be in the single digits tonight.  Tomorrow I will check ice conditions inside Spider Island to see if we will re-open for portable traffic with ATVs for the weekend for Perch and Northern Pike.  It will be in the report.

I mentioned MNDNR’s proposed regulation change for Mille Lacs this coming season yesterday. I also said I felt that the management policies for the lake have “reversed” over the years, with the reason being treaty management enacted by the Supreme Court in the early 2000s.  I’m not commenting about this to trash the parties involved, just to bring up the changes over the last 50 years I have been involved with the Lake and its fishery.

As an example of some of the changes before the court decision, in 1992 Mille lacs anglers experienced the largest harvest of Walleye ever recorded during that summer.  Anglers took an estimated 1 million plus pounds.  Before that period starting in the 1980’s a group of resorters, business and anglers formed the Mille Lac Lake Advisory Assn.  It had built up a large membership; we had monthly meetings that sometimes had as many as 100 people in attendance. And a large following of Anglers from all over the State. At every meeting, we had DNR personnel from fisheries in attendance. Some of their top brass at the time, even the DNR commissioner himself, showed up at some of them.  We were the first to encourage the catch and release of Walleye in the State (and in the nation).  Proposed and DNR adopted one over 20″ in the bag limit, which was then six—just a few of what we accomplished during that time.

During a meeting that summer of 92, the MLLAA showed concern that so many Walleye were being harvested and wanted their opinion on whether it should be “throttled” back.  At that time, Dennis Schupp was the Large Lake Specialist for Mille Lac’s response was: “Let the fishermen fish.”. He reasoned that the lake was overpopulated and the baitfish supply couldn’t provide enough for the number of Walleye in Mille Lacs that summer. As the Walleye population decreases, the baitfish balance will catch up, and the bite will slow. Also, there was no danger of “fishing” the lake out, as some feared.  It turned out he was right.  The bite tapered off by winter; the following spring, the Walleye had a good spawn and recovered. Did all the conservation promoted by the MLLAA during the 80s contribute to the increase of the Walleye population leading up to the summer of 92?  We’ll never know.

More tomorrow.  Keep a Tight Line!

Eddy

The NW winds have started this morning, and colder weather is coming for the next 36 hours. We will receive gusts up to 30 mph, so we will see how the lake ice reacts. On Thursday, we will decide whether to re-open for ATV/portable traffic for the coming weekend. It will be in the report.

After last fall, population estimates showed a 10% decline in the Walleye Population and a significant increase in the harvest this winter. (Despite the lack of angler hours due to late and poor ice conditions).  The DNR is proposing a slot limit of one between 21″-23″ inches starting on the Walleye Opener.  C/R for the Walleye only through June. A complete closure in the first two weeks of July. Then, re-open after that point. Their reasoning for the change is that the “bite”, angler catch per hour has increased. Because of the lack of baitfish they would typically target. Also in their creel surveys, they noticed the Walleye were not as fat as they had been the last two years. That indicates more competition for the food source, creating a better bite.

I’ve noticed the size change in the Walleye from the beginning of the ice season to now, and yes, they are not as “fat” as they were at the start. But is it cause for alarm?  I’m not sure.  I will be the first to admit I am not a fisheries biologist. But I’ve seen this before and Mille Lacs Lake has had many ups and downs over the years. The MNDNR fisheries management policies have reversed since the 80s and ’90s; the main cause of the reversal, in my opinion, is Treaty Management. The Mille Lacs Fishery isn’t able to take its course because of it.

I’ll share more of my views tomorrow. I’m going to provide a little bit of history.

Keep a Tight LIne!

Eddy

Yesterday, as fishermen left, I saw some pictures of their last weekend on the ice.  There were a lot of Walleye C/R in some areas.  Both deep and shallow.  Friday and Saturday overnight was pretty good fishing for those who stayed out overnight. Their busiest times were reported from 9 pm to 3 am.  Some Northen Pike Anglers went out Sunday, and one group caught C/R’d a 40″  Northern.  I received quite a few pictures, but if you were out there and took some photos of your catch, please text them to me.  The number was on the map we provided you.

Today, we are removing all the road markers and cones and pulling the bridge ramps to shore. We will close our access until Thursday after this warm-up, cool down with snow (?), and the wind is done. Then, I will decide if we will reopen for Perch and Northern Pike fishing for the weekend. With the strong south winds we are receiving today and much stronger NW  winds starting Tuesday evening through Wednesday, I wouldn’t be surprised if the main lake ice starts moving in one direction or another.  With all our temperature changes lately, there has been so much ice movement around the lake that it could happen.  If so, it would be the earliest I’ve seen that happen in my time.

I will keep posting daily and start informing you about the proposed Mille Lacs Regs the MNDNR are presenting over the next few days. (Also giving you my opinion about them too.)  It’s pretty tough to deal with businesses being affected by stricter fishing regulations because the fishing will be too good.  Most of us have had enough of a hard time just dealing with the weather…

Keep a Tight Line!

Eddy