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Posts: 1289
Location: Walker, MN | Todays Star Tribune per MNDNR "The night fishing ban, enforced from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., will begin May 12, and will be extended through Monday, Dec. 1, rather than ending in mid-June."
The Pike spearing ban was also lifted.
http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/252257561.html
Edited by Masqui-ninja 3/25/2014 1:08 PM
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Posts: 315
| Thats a real bummer.........I can handle a night ban even though my favorite time to fish there is at night, but lifting the spearing ban really sux.....  |
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Location: Contrarian Island | what's the reasoning behind banning it for muskies?
Edited by BNelson 3/25/2014 1:51 PM
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Location: Otsego, MN | That lake is an absolute mess due to numerous factors. But NO night fishing that really sucks for Muskie Fisherman. |
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Location: MN | BNelson - 3/25/2014 1:49 PM
what's the reasoning behind banning it for muskies?
This is one of those unintended consequences perhaps. It is not intended to keep you specifically from fishing muskies at night, but unless they change the wording, their previous regulations regarding the night fishing ban meant everyone had to be off the lake (and not start) by a certain time, regardless what species you fish for. Not sure if all "boaters" had to be off too, even if no fishing gear in their boat. |
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Location: Wisconsin | They've had this ban before, I remember it back in the mid 90's. |
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Location: Blaine, MN | I just told my wife last night that I can't wait for Mid July to fish a couple of all nighters while Grandma and Grandpa watch our little ones.... Guess I meant July of 2015, Maybe. The launches and resorts up there are going to take a beating, no?
Edited by short STRIKE 3/25/2014 2:51 PM
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Posts: 833
| The launches and resorts are already taking a beating, this will just make it worse. I know folks who basically only fish that lake that are starting to look for other options. It is BAD and it is going to get worse.
One bit of good news is that the MN DNR was able to turn Red Lake around, so one would think that given time and resources they'll get Mille Lacs right. Unfortunately there is no life line for the businesses that depend on that lake and it's tourism and that is the real tragedy in all of this. |
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Posts: 994
Location: Minnesota: where it's tough to be a sportsfan! | Gov. Dayton appointed this DNR commissioner. Look at the changes that have happened since he took over. Are they good for the Muskie Fisheries in this State? They have by the work of thousands of past M.Inc. Chap members raised MN to the quality to rank at the top with all of North America. It has taken decades to get to this point. How fast can it be destroyed? |
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Posts: 2082
| very silly! Who can't go catch a limit of walleyes from 7pm to 10 pm? Its not hard to regulate size and quantity...telling people when they can and can't fish will do nothing to protect walleyes (seams this is the goal)
Edited by IAJustin 3/25/2014 4:17 PM
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Location: MN | Brad P - 3/25/2014 3:38 PM
One bit of good news is that the MN DNR was able to turn Red Lake around, so one would think that given time and resources they'll get Mille Lacs right.
Comparing Red to Mille Lacs is apples to oranges. White man can only fish about 25% of Red. Red is also very shallow in comparison to Mille Lacs.
What will be the cost to the tax payers to rebuild the Mille Lacs walleye population? And is it worth it?
I feel bad for the resorts who have been depending more and more on the muskie and bass guys to survive. I'm sure this will only make things worse. |
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Posts: 187
Location: West Metro, MN | I agree that the night fishing ban is silly and definitely impacts muskie anglers, but I honestly feel worse for the people around there that survive on the anglers coming to Mille Lacs. Between the combination of the night ban, the 2 walleye limit between 18-20 inches and the fact that the walleye numbers are at historical lows it is going to be really rough on the resorts etc. Relaxing the limits on pike and smallmouth aren't going to appease anglers (which is all they are trying to do). For the most part the guys that have been going up there for years to catch walleyes don't care if they can keep a bunch of pike and smallies now and the draw of keeping 10 pike isn't enough to replace the lost walleye fishermen. What happens if they hit that 41,000 pound walleye quota in mid July and then they have to tell eveyone that walleyes are catch and release for the rest of the year after that or close it altogehter due to fear of increase delayed mortality due to catch and release? The muskie guys are going to have the lake to themselves in the fall (during daylight hours). I haven't worked out the numbers, but they may just be better off closing the lake to walleye fishing for the whole year (tribes included) and paying off the local resorts with the money they would save in not having to try and figure out how to keep people off of a 110,000 acre lake at night all sumer long, but that might make too much sense. |
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Location: Minnesota | The real bad news is they also lifted the spearing ban so now they can spear another musky lake that really sucks |
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| How so it is still illegal to spear muskies? They dnr wants to the pike population reduced they still only allow one over 30" with a higher bag limit to harvest more small fish |
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Location: MN | bigdogg2278 - 3/25/2014 4:56 PM
How so it is still illegal to spear muskies? They dnr wants to the pike population reduced they still only allow one over 30" with a higher bag limit to harvest more small fish
Unfortunately, illegal as it may be to harpoon a muskie, allowing spears on Mille Lacs means some some muskies will get speared. Hard for that to happen when they're not (allowed).
Edited by Propster 3/25/2014 7:51 PM
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| I've contacted the DNR on banning all night fishing, they acknowledged that this is going to be extremely unpopular with Muskie anglers. Lifting the spearing ban could help remove allot of Pike, I haven't seen the latest population size estimates and I'm assuming that 20-30 inch fish are part of the issue. Protecting Muskies to 55 inches is much more important than the spearing ban, if those guys along with anglers remove enough fish and it helps then we can say the DNR were genius. After looking at a spearing forum it sounds like most of them don't take 10 fish a year. We'll see, Mille Lacs has problems and I sure as hell hope they know what they are doing. Like Jerry said I feel bad for the people that try to make a living up there. We have a meeting in a few weeks and we'll learn more and keep you posted.
Edited by Muskiefool 3/25/2014 8:12 PM
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Posts: 70
| If they want to control the walleye catch what does that have to do with night fishing muskies.I think they could figure out were not fishing walleyes with #10 cowgirls!DAAAAAAAA It might take some work like have to check a few boats but they won't have launches to check. This is like getting your car taken away because your neighbors kid got in an accident
I wish they would get it together because i don't do Mille in the daylight!! |
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Location: WI | Wow. For years we here in WI have been saying that our DNR could learn a thing or to from MN. Not so much these days. |
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Posts: 1000
| I'll second muskiefool on the spearing ban not being big concern for us. If you prowl their forums you'll find that they're very adamant about "don't know, don't throw" and if you're an amateur to stay off muskie lakes. They're very concerned that if a couple guys blow it then the muskie community will reinstate the ban indefinitely.
Edited by tolle141 3/25/2014 10:30 PM
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| In the late fall the sun is down by 5pm, the night ban starts at 10pm-6am. Now I'm no mathematician but I think that's close to 5 hours of darkness to fish muskies. Better than not any. |
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Posts: 70
| I just posted on the star tribune blog (thanks for the link and you should all do the same!) Night fishing should not be a one size screw all! Keep it to the night fishing issue and see if we can get some change!
They can't mistake muskie poles for walleye rods!
Squeeky wheels get greased! Also you should contact your legislators because more than 5 e-mails on one subject is a crisis to them! (I know a few) Our lt. Governor is a muskie fisherwoman. Drop some e-mails we preach to the choir here! |
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| It's just getting dark at 10 in July not to mention the cluster it will be at the landings! |
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Location: MN | tolle141 - 3/25/2014 10:28 PM
I'll second muskiefool on the spearing ban not being big concern for us. If you prowl their forums you'll find that they're very adamant about "don't know, don't throw" and if you're an amateur to stay off muskie lakes. They're very concerned that if a couple guys blow it then the muskie community will reinstate the ban indefinitely.
Yea, we'd all like to believe that's the way they all feel. The MDAA admits they're trying to legalize muskie harpooning. John could be right though, might still play out pretty well. Other than the folks trying to make a living in the area. |
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Posts: 70
| They could have spearing regs on the lake nothing over 30inches!
Three problems solved! Close it at night to walleye anglers, no spearing northern over 30inches and walleye limit of two like Ontario 1 over 18 one under and get off the lake!
I new I should have been in charge of the DNR!
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Location: minocqua, wi. | if it saves walleyes in Minnesota, they won't worry about who gets upset about it. same as what happened at Eagle Lake … fishermen adjust and the fishery recovers, not a bad outcome. |
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| Why would it matter what time of day or night someone fishes for walleye? How would not being able to fish at night for walleye have any more impact on the population versus fishing during the day. IMO eliminating night fishing is no different than elimating fishing during the day - what is the difference?
Is is just because the DNR cant see boats out there at night as well. |
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Location: minocqua, wi. | ^ you ever walleye fish? |
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| Sounds like last year the only time a lot of guys were catching eyes up there was night |
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| Propster - 3/25/2014 11:04 PM
tolle141 - 3/25/2014 10:28 PM
I'll second muskiefool on the spearing ban not being big concern for us. If you prowl their forums you'll find that they're very adamant about "don't know, don't throw" and if you're an amateur to stay off muskie lakes. They're very concerned that if a couple guys blow it then the muskie community will reinstate the ban indefinitely.
Yea, we'd all like to believe that's the way they all feel. The MDAA admits they're trying to legalize muskie harpooning. John could be right though, might still play out pretty well. Other than the folks trying to make a living in the area.
Propster, Who in the MDAA admitted that they are trying to legalize muskie spearing?
I know some of the board members and have never heard any of them say that. |
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Location: The desert | Slow Rollin - 3/26/2014 6:17 AM
Why would it matter what time of day or night someone fishes for walleye? How would not being able to fish at night for walleye have any more impact on the population versus fishing during the day. IMO eliminating night fishing is no different than elimating fishing during the day - what is the difference?
Is is just because the DNR cant see boats out there at night as well.
You're joking right? |
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Location: Okoboji | wouldnt it be easier to just put a bounty on the pike? |
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| If they did that I see lots of dead pike that get tossed and wasted |
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Location: minocqua, wi. | will the musky and pike alliance step in to save the pike? |
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Location: Minnetonka | The night ban is to POSSIBLY protect vulnerable fish from being harmed so that the spawning population gets stronger. The same thing will POSSIBLY happen for the muskies. They won’t be running around inhaling Cowgirls to their b-holes for an entire year. I say GOOD. Nothing has changed, so I don’t know why people are going so berserk about this supposed “issue” when it could POSSIBLY be helping the fish. If there's a possibility that this night ban will help strengthen a severely waning Mille Lacs muskie population, I think I would support that. Am I the only one who feels this way??
Edited by Hammskie 3/26/2014 9:44 AM
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Location: minocqua, wi. | Hammskie - 3/26/2014 9:42 AM
The night ban is to POSSIBLY protect vulnerable fish from being harmed so that the spawning population gets stronger. The same thing will POSSIBLY happen for the muskies. They won’t be running around inhaling Cowgirls to their b-holes for an entire year. I say GOOD. Nothing has changed, so I don’t know why people are going so berserk about this supposed “issue” when it could POSSIBLY be helping the fish. If there's a possibility that this night ban will help strengthen a severely waning Mille Lacs muskie population, I think I would support that. Am I the only one who feels this way??
Totally Agree!! |
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| Why would not being able to fish walleye at night improve the walleye fishery? What is the issue w/ fishing at night?
Why would night fishing have anymore effect vs Day fishing? |
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Location: Michigan | Slow Rollin - 3/26/2014 10:57 AM
Why would not being able to fish walleye at night improve the walleye fishery? What is the issue w/ fishing at night?
Why would night fishing have anymore effect vs Day fishing?
Eagle lake has the same night fishing ban and the idea around it is walleye are much more active at night and it is much easier for people to catch a limit of walleyes at night. |
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| The night ban is in place to limit walleye harvest. The DNR is concerned about exceeding the 60,000 pound safe harvest quota, which includes both native and non-native harvest. If they go over the safe harvest quota, they will more than likely have to go to catch and release only or shut the lake down completely. Night fishing for walleyes is not any better than day fishing on ML. Typically, the sunset and 30 minutes after dark is really good and then slows way down. The whole idea in this is that by not letting anglers fish 24/7, it will take longer to reach 60,000 pounds of fish.
Edited by Baby Mallard 3/26/2014 11:06 AM
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Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | jasonvkop - 3/26/2014 10:04 AM
Slow Rollin - 3/26/2014 10:57 AM
Why would not being able to fish walleye at night improve the walleye fishery? What is the issue w/ fishing at night?
Why would night fishing have anymore effect vs Day fishing?
Eagle lake has the same night fishing ban and the idea around it is walleye are much more active at night and it is much easier for people to catch a limit of walleyes at night.
that might be true...to an extent. Resort owners had a lot of say in that change. I have spoken to one from the East end of the lake who said himself, and 1 or 2 others, pushed for the ban because a certain famous reef named after a mediocre NFL team turned into a drunk fest after night and intoxicated resort guests would show up to the lodge banging on doors at 2 Am asking for fish to be cleaned....and they didn't want to deal with it anymore. I think presuming the ban on night fishing on Eagle turned the lake around is a stretch, had much more to do with changing the dynamics of the possession limits, imo...
Edited by Musky Brian 3/26/2014 11:12 AM
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Location: Michigan | Musky Brian - 3/26/2014 12:10 PM
I think presuming the ban on night fishing on Eagle turned the lake around is a stretch, had much more to do with changing the dynamics of the possession limits, imo...
Never said anything about that being the reason for the lake turnaround, just said Eagle has the night fishing ban as well. |
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Location: minocqua, wi. | hope the lighted bobber stock isn't in any of my mutual funds ... |
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Location: Smith Creek | Why don't they just make Mille Lacs motor trolling only? |
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Location: Minnetonka | Baby Mallard - 3/26/2014 11:03 AM
The whole idea in this is that by not letting anglers fish 24/7, it will take longer to reach 60,000 pounds of fish.
There it is. |
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| kodiak - 3/26/2014 9:00 AM
wouldnt it be easier to just put a bounty on the pike?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HbehN1LET8
It was too easy.... |
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Location: minocqua, wi. | Maybe MN should employ a citizen's legislature … like a, a, a … Conservation Congress? yah, that would be cool. then the fishermen could tell the DNR what to do, since the MN DNR can't build a fishery. wait, i thought MN DNR was the epitome of what should happen to build a fishery?
i'm confused :/ |
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| Baby Mallard - 3/26/2014 11:03 AM
The night ban is in place to limit walleye harvest. The DNR is concerned about exceeding the 60,000 pound safe harvest quota, which includes both native and non-native harvest. If they go over the safe harvest quota, they will more than likely have to go to catch and release only or shut the lake down completely. Night fishing for walleyes is not any better than day fishing on ML. Typically, the sunset and 30 minutes after dark is really good and then slows way down. The whole idea in this is that by not letting anglers fish 24/7, it will take longer to reach 60,000 pounds of fish.
+1
We're overthinking this people. |
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Location: Waconia, MN | Hammskie - 3/26/2014 9:42 AM
The night ban is to POSSIBLY protect vulnerable fish from being harmed so that the spawning population gets stronger. The same thing will POSSIBLY happen for the muskies. They won’t be running around inhaling Cowgirls to their b-holes for an entire year. I say GOOD. Nothing has changed, so I don’t know why people are going so berserk about this supposed “issue” when it could POSSIBLY be helping the fish. If there's a possibility that this night ban will help strengthen a severely waning Mille Lacs muskie population, I think I would support that. Am I the only one who feels this way??
Agreed! |
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| Night ban in an attempt to protect struggling fish populations I get. I'm slightly concerned with lifting the spearing ban on pike however. The lake has a nice size structure right now. If you could get spear fisherman to target only 30" or smaller fish then that's great (however highly unlikely). Minnesota history has already showed us what removing the top end pike from a lake will cause. I'd be much less concerned about the night ban as I would decimating the quality pike size structure, the end result also being bad for the walleye population and even natural recruitment of muskies.
Edited by musky-skunk 3/26/2014 4:32 PM
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| I just received this from the fisheries chief. It takes a little to get through, there is allot of info. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/millelacslake/index.html |
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Location: deephaven mn | The night ban is minimal compared to a complete lake shut down that I thought might happen.
Maybe shutting the lake down to anglers and letting it recover is a good strategy. I would support this. There are lots of other lakes to fish. Of course the resorts would take a hit, they've taken several already. Maybe there should be a program where resorts are compensated during shut down years. Fisherman should realize how serious this matter is and not be so selfish. |
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Posts: 51
| I'm still not sure how banning night fishing is necessarily a bad thing. In the short term it may impact the local economy, but in the long term it will help the walleye and musky populations and bring people back to help the local economy. The Ontario MNR banned night fishing on Eagle Lake and look how that helped turn the lake around for both walleye and musky populations.
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| We should start a pool and bet on when they shut the lake down to walleye fishing this summer. My bet is the 60,000 pound quota is met by the end of June, if not earlier. |
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Location: Chisholm, MN | Ok, you can't blame the DNR as a whole. The two guys behind this are out of line, but all the fisheries guys in my office are as dumbfounded as we are.
One thing to note is that the area supervisor in my office stated that there is evidence to show that walleye harvest at night is more than you would think. Of course, this doesn't explain why muskie fishing is banned at night.
Also, one of these guys legitimately apologized to me for this decision.
As for the pike limit, pike are at a high population compared to normal for the lake, but are still low compared to statewide averages.
As for the economy, I don't really care about it. I would rather see a lake become healthy than see some resorts flourish. The lake was here long before men, and will be long after men. In my opinion, it's more important to protect the lake itself. |
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Location: Walker, MN | I agree that being good stewards of our lakes and streams should be our #1 priority. People's interests should come second. |
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Location: Chisholm, MN | I shouldn't say I don't care about the economy, but the natural world should come first IMO. |
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Location: Albertville, Minnesota | Shouldn't you care for the economy? |
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Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Serpant - 3/27/2014 8:50 AM
Shouldn't you care for the economy?
Not if your a State or Federal Government employee.
The night ban will only be good for the fishery.... Period.
Edited by Top H2O 3/27/2014 9:45 AM
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Posts: 897
| When I fished Mille Lacs for walleye I wouldn't get on the lake until an hour or so before dark. The fishing is absolutely that much better on Mille Lacs after dark. That said, even when night fishing is open the vast majority of folks leave the lake before dark. I'd say maybe 5% stay out after dark on opening weekend. |
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Location: Hastings, mn, 55033 | There is another "pair of eyes" to look at the way this will affect the resorts and how one feels about it. Its a tough deal as no one likes to see good hard working people struggle or lose what they've worked for.
...BUT many of those same resorts have used their combined "lobbying" power with local and state legislators to fight DNR efforts in the past to address what many knew would eventually come. They were afraid, and probably rightly so, they would suffer a loss of revenue if limits were lowered, slots restricted etc. Most folks can understand and recognize that when a new harvest input is added to the equation, i.e. native netting during the spawn, that something else is going to have to change to offset that. If not inevitably there will be trouble. So what happened is the issue was kicked down the road in favor of revenue NOW. The inevitable was delayed by some phenomenal year classes and above average recruitment during the late 90's mid 2000's. Folks were happy to keep limits and brag about releasing 100 fish off the deep mud in mid July! Resorts were full, all was good....but it wasnt.
Now the bell has tolled and the resorters, walleye anglers etc all want others to feel for them. Perhaps they should spend just a little time looking inward and asking how they contributed to the current situation and how they can play a part in changing it for the better moving forward.
Then again I feel that way in general, but doesnt seem to be a popular view to have. If we all spent half as much time looking at ourselves and ways we could improve the world around us instead of how we can place blame on others for problems we see things may actually get better. |
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Location: The Yahara Chain | Wouldn't a better solution to protect the walleyes be to not allow any walleye harvest?
The limit is only two per day, people can surely catch their two walleyes during the day. |
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Location: minocqua, wi. | ^ Hall of Fame Post … Castmaster!
Troy … go catch 2 non slot-fish in Mille Lacs and report back how easy it was ...
Edited by jonnysled 3/27/2014 11:17 AM
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Location: Oconto Falls, WI | Masqui-ninja - 3/27/2014 8:44 AM
I agree that being good stewards of our lakes and streams should be our #1 priority. People's interests should come second.
Yep! |
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| They finalized this FAQ page this morning, I'm not sure if the other link will still work for long. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/millelacslake/index.html |
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Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | "Propster, Who in the MDAA admitted that they are trying to legalize muskie spearing?
I know some of the board members and have never heard any of them say that."
Roger Geshal (sp?).
Edited by Muskie Treats 3/27/2014 2:06 PM
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Location: The desert | Castmaster with a towering blast......way back....way back....get up, get outta here, gone!
One of the best posts I've read in some time.
Excluding my own of course 
(The last comment is heavy in sarcasm, for those of you that struggle with it) |
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Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | Concerning the pike issue: While I am for large pike and quality pike management, I think anyone who's been fishing that lake has seen a change in the esocide populations over the past 10-15 years. I think we can all say that muskies (and walleye) peaked around 2005-2007ish. If you look at the pike population from 2007 on, you'll notice how much more robust their numbers and size has become and the DNR numbers confirm this. Add the additional biomass of bass and you can see a defiant shift in the predator base of the lake.
Now, will these changes turn "The Pond" back into a walleye/muskie factory? Maybe. Should we do something to get things back to the way "we" want them? Yes.
N |
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Location: MN | Kirby Budrow - 3/27/2014 8:24 AM
As for the economy, I don't really care about it. I would rather see a lake become healthy than see some resorts flourish. The lake was here long before men, and will be long after men. In my opinion, it's more important to protect the lake itself.
Were muskies in Mille Lacs before man?
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Location: Chisholm, MN | Nershi - 3/27/2014 3:03 PM
Kirby Budrow - 3/27/2014 8:24 AM
As for the economy, I don't really care about it. I would rather see a lake become healthy than see some resorts flourish. The lake was here long before men, and will be long after men. In my opinion, it's more important to protect the lake itself.
Were muskies in Mille Lacs before man?
Good point |
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| According to Larry Ramsell there has always been a small population of muskies in Mille Lacs. He has some early pictures. |
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| So the DNR is trying to solves the walleye problem by eliminating night fishing and getting rid of Pike and Bass. Perhaps the netting of 600,000 lbs of walleye a year had something to do with the problem??? lol |
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Location: Hastings, mn, 55033 | mbuck - 3/29/2014 10:49 AM
So the DNR is trying to solves the walleye problem by eliminating night fishing and getting rid of Pike and Bass. Perhaps the netting of 600,000 lbs of walleye a year had something to do with the problem??? lol
600,000 lbs a year eh?? This is exactly the kind of nonsense that drives me nuts!!
Lets see for 2014, the TOTAL take of SIXTY THOUSAND POUNDS is split as such...just over 42,000 lbs to the "state" and just over 17,000 lbs to natives. So for 2014, the TOTAL take is 1/10 what you claim netting is taking EACH year, while the actual netting take is less than 3% of your claim.
I can only remember a single season where the TOTAL safe allowable harvest was 600,000 lbs let alone the native take. That was 2006. I was there and I remember very few of us that voluntarily released the majority of our fish, and chose NOT to fish in times where even C&R would lead to high mortality. Funny thing is its the same folks at the resort who were keeping limits for the boat every chance they had in good years biatching loudest now that they cant do it, or that a measely 2 fish limit makes it "not worth it". Unfortunately IMO when it comes to walleye anglers that type far outnumbers the other.
Heck we have whats probably the BEST trophy walleye fishery in a metropolitan area in the entire US here in the Twin Cities in Pool 2 of the Mississippi River. BUT its a total C&R pool. No game fish can be harvested period. No one trophy for the wall, no couple eaters for the pan. Because of that one can often fish prime spots, at prime times, any day of the week and be the only boat on em. I guess most arent really in it for the experience and enjoyment of being on the water, but rather to fill a cooler. At least from my observations over the years.
Now, seems to me the DNR has offered proposals and attempted various changes going all the way back to the time leading up to the first nets ever being set. Most if not all of the proposals that would have led to a reduction in allowed harvest by the regular joe was fought by the resort lobby and various special interest groups that didnt want their "members" to feel any sort of pain to offset the new harvest input. Nope, keep a 6 fish limit. Keep taking limits because ya might as well keep em all before the nets get em right? Keep fishing 30' of water in mid July, with live bait rigs yet to boot, and bragging how you released 80-100 fish. The fact most of them ended up feeding for the gulls surely played zero part in any of this. |
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | http://www.startribune.com/sports/outdoors/149383675.html
'The bands' quota this year -- the last in a five-year agreement reached with the state in 2007 -- is 142,500 pounds, up from 122,500 pounds in 2008, the first year of that agreement.'
That's been adjusted as mentioned above, I believe. |
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Location: Hastings, mn, 55033 | I should add that the netting harvest during that 2006 season was 60,000 or 70,000 lbs and if I remember right that was the highest netting take on record.
Id also say the numbers we see on the netting take are far more accurate than angler take based on creel surveys!
So even in the highest take years the netting total is at most 10-12% of total harvest? But the full blame lies solely on them??? |
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Location: The desert | castmaster - 3/29/2014 12:02 PM
I should add that the netting harvest during that 2006 season was 60,000 or 70,000 lbs and if I remember right that was the highest netting take on record.
Id also say the numbers we see on the netting take are far more accurate than angler take based on creel surveys!
So even in the highest take years the netting total is at most 10-12% of total harvest? But the full blame lies solely on them???
You're asking some guys to think logically. Unfortunately, not going to happen.
You're on fire in this thread. |
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| Good points, guys!
I run into "walleye" guys on Vermilion, and surrounding lakes, that always good guy about how the muskies are eating "their" walleyes. That's why they aren't catching as many walleyes, anymore.
How they hate the slot limit.
Also, while I'm bass fishing, I hear, the bass are taking over, and when they catch a bass, they slit their bellies, and throw em back.
I always tell them, look in the mirror, and you will see part of the problem. Most of the walleye guys are meat hunters. Go catch some bluegills, or perch, if you feel the need to fill your freezer!!! |
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| Go catch some bluegills, or perch, if you feel the need to fill your freezer!!!
But wait....classic commet from "boat landing guy"- 'Before they stocked muskies in here Fritzzy and I used to be able to come catch a limit of (bluegills, crappies, perch-chose one at random) when they were spawning before lunch and come back and get another limit in the afternoon. But now the muskies have them all gone!!" |
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Location: Garrison, Mn | How many of us have seen those old black and white photos of the big stringer? No Joke, I'm taking my 3 boys out and my neighbor will come out with his 2 boys. We are going for the 70 fish stringer, not every time but at least once. I'll do my part to save the walleye. I think a couple 10' 2x4's and 75 nails will do the job. I'll post a picture if we can pull it off. It will make an awesome photo for the cabin. Just once...just saying |
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| Where did the other mille lacs thread go ? |
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Location: new richmond, wi. & isle, mn | It was terminated. |
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Location: oswego, il | jchiggins - 3/29/2014 8:54 PM
It was terminated.
I liked that horse! |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | Having to leave for work at 4 am every day for 35 years when I was still working meant I was never big on crack of dawn fishing. I know nothing about this lake but I would think loosing the period of first light from predawn till 6am would be as big an issue as the period past 10 pm. |
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Location: north central wisconsin | figuree - 3/29/2014 6:30 PM
Go catch some bluegills, or perch, if you feel the need to fill your freezer!!!
But wait....classic commet from "boat landing guy"- 'Before they stocked muskies in here Fritzzy and I used to be able to come catch a limit of (bluegills, crappies, perch-chose one at random ) when they were spawning before lunch and come back and get another limit in the afternoon. But now the muskies have them all gone!!"
There's no boundary to Fritzzy's resource management, especially when he's on the drink.
Edited by Reef Hawg 3/30/2014 7:06 AM
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| castmaster - 3/29/2014 1:02 PM
I should add that the netting harvest during that 2006 season was 60,000 or 70,000 lbs and if I remember right that was the highest netting take on record.
Id also say the numbers we see on the netting take are far more accurate than angler take based on creel surveys!
So even in the highest take years the netting total is at most 10-12% of total harvest? But the full blame lies solely on them???
What percentage of the mille lacs fishing population is that 10 to 12% of the harvest going to? If it was any normal licensed angler we would call them a meat hog and be breaking out the pitch forks and torches. |
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Location: Hastings, mn, 55033 | northernmn - 3/30/2014 11:10 AM
castmaster - 3/29/2014 1:02 PM
I should add that the netting harvest during that 2006 season was 60,000 or 70,000 lbs and if I remember right that was the highest netting take on record.
Id also say the numbers we see on the netting take are far more accurate than angler take based on creel surveys!
So even in the highest take years the netting total is at most 10-12% of total harvest? But the full blame lies solely on them???
What percentage of the mille lacs fishing population is that 10 to 12% of the harvest going to? If it was any normal licensed angler we would call them a meat hog and be breaking out the pitch forks and torches.
So instead should break out the pitch forks and torches because of what exactly? We should completely ignore the ways WE have contributed to this and focus solely on one group?
If that harvest was removed you believe the lake would be just fine, or did the other 80-90% of the harvest play into that as well? Does hooking mortality of released fish, especially off deep water in summer heat play a part in it? Does the advancement in equipment play a part in it? Heck I remember the days heading out to the mud was akin to Columbus sailing the ocean blue. Back then if you had a 18' with a 40hp you were like todays Ranger crowd. Most fished out of 14' and a few ran 16's. No GPS graph to get you right to the "spot on the spot". ETc Etc Etc....bit naaa none of that has anything to do with anything.....its ALL because of those darned nets.
I have said this a thousand times....maybe if WE as sportsmen cleaned up our own backyard we'd have more of a leg to stand on when asking the bands to reconsider netting in general and especially during the spawn.
Without doing so WE just look like a group of impetulant children who feel entitled to get exactly what WE want, i.e the full take of fish from the lake. WE look like a group that doesnt really give a shat about the lake, rather who is getting to harvest from it. Continue to take ZERO responsibility for the problem and just point fingers at another group, be it natives, bass/musky/pike guys, the kid that struck you out in little league 35 years ago.....but certainly dont ask yourself how you contributed to the problem because you didnt. It was everyone else.
(I use "WE and "YOU" in the generic sense) |
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Location: Hastings, mn, 55033 | I am going to bow out at this time. Just repeating the same things.
Lets all help in the ways we can to improve those things in life we believe need it. |
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| Castmaster you obviously missed my point. What I was saying was I don't care who is doing it if someone is taking what would amount to gross over limit people should have a problem with it. Forget that they have a different ethnicity. |
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Location: Forest Lake Minnesota | castmaster - 3/29/2014 1:02 PM
I should add that the netting harvest during that 2006 season was 60,000 or 70,000 lbs and if I remember right that was the highest netting take on record.
Id also say the numbers we see on the netting take are far more accurate than angler take based on creel surveys!
So even in the highest take years the netting total is at most 10-12% of total harvest? But the full blame lies solely on them???
http://www.startribune.com/sports/outdoors/149383675.html
From sworrall link
In some years, neither the bands nor the state reaches its Mille Lacs walleye quota. The closest the bands came in the past five years was in 2010, when they netted 124,000 pounds out of a quota of 132,500 pounds.
This information is readily available if one wants to look for it. Not pointing fingers just posting information. |
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| You are right there has not been 600,000lbs netted in one year. Perhaps I have read to many PERM articles in my life. But they have been predicting exactly what has happened for the last 15 years. All the netting is done in the spring and mostly only one sex is caught. Compound that with bad slot limits and bad things happen. I wonder what the total pounds of fish netted in the last ten years is?
Also I do not fish Mille Lacs and I don't fish for walleye. I haven't kept a fish of any kind in probably ten years but I certainly don't begrudge anybody who does. I always get a laugh though when someone starts complaining to me how the muskies have eaten all the bait fish on his favorite lake. I usually try to ask them how many fish they kept last year and just get an angry growl.
Just curious, do we know that the lbs of fish netted are accurate? |
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| The lake changed, water clarity, weed locations, climate is changing. Things change, would be great to the lake back to healthy, but do the biologist feel it is possible to turn it back into a walleye factory? Or are those days gone? |
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Location: minocqua, wi. | mbuck - 4/1/2014 11:11 AM
You are right there has not been 600,000lbs netted in one year. Perhaps I have read to many PERM articles in my life. But they have been predicting exactly what has happened for the last 15 years. All the netting is done in the spring and mostly only one sex is caught. Compound that with bad slot limits and bad things happen. I wonder what the total pounds of fish netted in the last ten years is?
Also I do not fish Mille Lacs and I don't fish for walleye. I haven't kept a fish of any kind in probably ten years but I certainly don't begrudge anybody who does. I always get a laugh though when someone starts complaining to me how the muskies have eaten all the bait fish on his favorite lake. I usually try to ask them how many fish they kept last year and just get an angry growl.
Just curious, do we know that the lbs of fish netted are accurate?
if you keep reading, investigating you will find that it's not a spawning, reproduction problem but a problem of hatch growing the first 2 years due to habitat change triggered by water clarity, change in balance and predation.
or keep with the inaccurate information supported by a guy who has doesn't fish Mille Lacs.
it's not hard for castmaster to be "right", it comes from him being informed.
if you look for the information and read it, you could be informed too. |
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Location: minocqua, wi. | BenR - 4/1/2014 11:18 AM
The lake changed, water clarity, weed locations, climate is changing. Things change, would be great to the lake back to healthy, but do the biologist feel it is possible to turn it back into a walleye factory? Or are those days gone?
best question i've read on the subject yet … |
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Location: The desert | jonnysled - 4/1/2014 10:20 AM
BenR - 4/1/2014 11:18 AM
The lake changed, water clarity, weed locations, climate is changing. Things change, would be great to the lake back to healthy, but do the biologist feel it is possible to turn it back into a walleye factory? Or are those days gone?
best question i've read on the subject yet …
Nonsense. Ben lives in Colorado and can't possibly know anything about the lake, because he doesn't fish it. We all know you have to fish the lake to comment on it......or do it seems.
(It is a good question to ask) |
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| jonnysled what caused the problem of hatch growing the first 2 years due to habitat change triggered by water clarity, change in balance and predation? |
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Location: The desert | mbuck - 4/1/2014 11:19 AM
jonnysled what caused the problem of hatch growing the first 2 years due to habitat change triggered by water clarity, change in balance and predation?
What exactly are you asking here? It sounds like you're answering your question within your question. |
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| Apparently young walleyes are leaving the shallow shoreline areas sooner than they used to due to clearer water. If they do that they are swimming into the waiting jaws of a lot of bigger walleye. I wouldn't doubt it has more to do with cannibalism than pike, muskie or smallmouth predation. |
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Location: minocqua, wi. | mbuck - 4/1/2014 12:19 PM
jonnysled what caused the problem of hatch growing the first 2 years due to habitat change triggered by water clarity, change in balance and predation?
i'll bump the link to the presentation. it's the best place to answer your questions. muskyfool put it up but it might have been lost a couple pages back and hard to find. copy and paste this link and then hover over the guys face and click, it will take you to the MNDNR presentation of data and statement of the problem and their plan.
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/millelacslake/index.html |
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| Thanks
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| Thanks for getting that back to the top Sled. |
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Location: oswego, il | jonnysled - 4/1/2014 2:46 PM
mbuck - 4/1/2014 12:19 PM
jonnysled what caused the problem of hatch growing the first 2 years due to habitat change triggered by water clarity, change in balance and predation?
i'll bump the link to the presentation. it's the best place to answer your questions. muskyfool put it up but it might have been lost a couple pages back and hard to find. copy and paste this link and then hover over the guys face and click, it will take you to the MNDNR presentation of data and statement of the problem and their plan.
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/millelacslake/index.html
it's really hard to point fingers when your posting crap like this.;-) |
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| Will this give the tribes special rights to harpoon musky like they do on Deer, Bone and others they have wrecked in Wisconsin?
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| hunter - 4/3/2014 1:41 AM
Will this give the tribes special rights to harpoon musky like they do on Deer, Bone and others they have wrecked in Wisconsin?
Probably similar to hunting wolves and building large mining operations:-) |
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Mille Lacs night fishing-a thing of the past?