Mille Lacs Walleye Limit is 1 in 2015
The changes have been made by the Minnesota DNR “…[a]s part of a plan to increase angling opportunity, improve walleye numbers and stay within the state’s 1837 Treaty safe harvest allocation.
”When fishing opens in one month, on May 9, 2015, the 1 walleye limit is in effect.
We wrote about the tight restrictions on some of Minnesota’s premier walleye fishing lakes before.
And this move by the MN DNR was something where the writing was on the wall.
Mille Lacs Lake
Mille Lacs is Minnesota’s second-largest inland lake, at just over 132 thousand acres. It gets a lot of attention and significant interest for fishing.
Winter fishing and summer fishing.
The lake continues to work to overcome tight restrictions and a declining walleye fishery. Population levels remain at the lowest point in 40 years.
Because of the low walleye levels, the Mille Lacs walleye limit has been lowered to 1 walleye.
The Mille Lacs 2015 walleye safe harvest level was reduced from 60,000 to 40,000 pounds so more fish potentially survive and spawn to improve the walleye population, the DNR said.
State anglers can harvest up to 28,600 pounds of walleye.
Eight Chippewa bands can harvest up to 11,400 pounds of walleye.
According to the MN DNR fisheries chief, Don Pereira: “This set of regulations is designed to minimize the likelihood that a catch-and-release only walleye fishing regulation would be needed later in the season to stay within the state’s safe harvest allocation.”
The realism of a declining fishery on Mille Lacs is starting to take hold. For the first time ever, anglers are restricted to a single walleye due to the record low walleye population.
The MN DNR has also taken other steps with other species to help slow the decline and preserve the fishery.
Walleye Limit: 1 fish 19- to 21-inches long…or…longer than 28 inches
Northern: Limit of 10. One longer than 30 inches if two fish < 30 inches are in possession
Bass: Limit of 6 smallmouth and largemouth in combination. 1 smallmouth > 18 inches.
In addition, a Night Fishing Ban will be enforced from 10pm – 6am starting May 11, 2015.
All of this will be a tough pill to swallow for many. Including the anglers, the resort owners and local economy around the lake.
There still is a great opportunity to fish, catch and release on the lake.
But with this current walleye limit reduction, the cost/benefit to choose Mille Lacs for a walleye fishing outing will become tougher to stomach when 2 fillets are the most you can bring in.
Mille Lacs Lake Walleye Limit | Reduced to 1 Walleye 19-21 Inches
