Lake Mille Lacs walleye net catches lower than expected
While the walleye population in Lake Mille Lacs remains healthy, it may
be smaller than expected, according to the Minnesota Department of
Natural Resources.
This fact was discovered during recent routine test netting to monitor
the size and abundance of walleye. The DNR reports near-shore test nets
caught only half as many walleye as the long-term average from
1983-2006. Nets placed in deeper water also caught fewer walleye than
previous years.
“Lake Mille Lacs continues to have a large number of walleye in a
wide range of sizes,” said DNR Fisheries Chief Ron Payer. “That’s
good. And we expected some decline in walleye numbers based on a number
of factors, including a weak 2004-year class of walleye. But the
magnitude of this year’s decline was unanticipated.”
Payer said near-shore net catches this autumn averaged 7.2 walleye per
net. This compares to an average of 15.4 from 1983-2006. Last year’s
catch rate was 20.4 walleye per net. The DNR did not catch as many
medium- and large-sized walleye as expected. He attributed the decline,
in part, to higher than normal mortality due to unusually warm water
temperatures, especially in June. Higher water temperatures stress fish
and hooking mortality increases as water temperature increases.
Payer said anglers should know Mille Lacs continues to hold good
numbers of spawning-sized fish. Still, the new data means the DNR will
need to revisit regulations to ensure the lake’s walleye harvest stays
within the safe harvest level and the state’s allocation. No walleye
harvest overage will be allowed in 2008 due to the lower than
anticipated number of walleye in recent population assessments.
Lake Mille Lacs is managed differently than any other lake in
Minnesota. Its safe harvest level is set following meetings between the
DNR and Chippewa Indian bands that signed the 1837 Treaty. Fisheries
biologists have estimated that 549,000 lbs. of walleye can be safely
harvested from Mille Lacs from Dec. 1, 2006, through Nov. 30, 2007. The
eight bands set their harvest at 100,000 lbs., leaving 449,000 lbs. for
non-band anglers.
The state may take up to 22 percent more than the allocation of 449,000
lbs. Currently, state-licensed anglers have harvested about 470,000
pounds, which is more than the allocation but within the 547,800-pound
cap.
Current regulations on Mille Lacs allow anglers only to keep walleye
between 14 and 16 inches, and not more than one walleye longer than 28
inches. The limit is four. This regulation is more restrictive than the
regulation that was in effect during the early part of the fishing
season because the estimated walleye harvest exceeded 365,000 pounds by
July 1, a threshold that triggered a need for a regulation change to
stay within the harvest cap. That regulation is scheduled to expire on
Nov. 30 and a 20- to 28-inch protected slot would go into effect on Dec.
1.
Payer said DNR Fisheries managers recently met with the Lake Mille Lacs
Advisory Group to discuss fishing options for this winter. No decisions
were made at that meeting though participants attending the meeting
favored retaining the 20- to 28-inch protected slot starting Dec. 1.
This regulation would include a bag limit of four and only one walleye
28 inches or larger.
A final decision on winter regulations will be made next week.
Regulations for the 2008 open water season will be established in
February 2008 and go into effect with the walleye opener on May 12.
“We heard what people preferred,” said Payer. “We want to support
the local Mille Lacs fishing interests as much as possible and their
preferences will be part of our thinking as we review regulation options
within the context of our management options.”
