I heard fom a very good source just this morning that it will go to 20 as of the 15th of July. Might have to take that day off work, sounds like it will be a lot fun. Almost like doing the opener over again.
DNR to relax Lake Mille Lacs walleye regulation July 15 (Released July 8, 2010)
Anglers who fish for walleye on Lake Mille Lacs will be able to keep larger walleye effective July 15 when a new mid-season regulation takes effect, according to the Minnesota Department of the Natural Resources (DNR).
The new regulation will require anglers to immediately release all walleye 20-28 inches in length. Currently, anglers must immediately release all walleye 18-28 inches in length.
Mille Lacs’ four-walleye limit remains in place. Only one of the four walleye an angler may keep can be longer than 28 inches.
The DNR broadened the harvest opportunity because angler harvest and hooking mortality is below the threshold necessary to maintain the current and more protective slot limit.
As of June 30, angler harvest of walleyes was less than half of the state’s annual allocation of 411,500 pounds.
This year, the DNR instituted a policy on a trial basis that calls for relaxing the walleye regulation when harvest and hooking mortality is low, restricting the regulation when the harvest and hooking mortality is high, and keeping the regulation the same when the harvest is not significantly high or low.
“This new change addresses the request of the Mille Lacs Lake Fisheries Input Group,” said Dirk Peterson, DNR fisheries section chief. “It provides a good balance of resource protection and angler opportunity, while at the same time pursuing the need for consistency in regulations from year to year.”
The walleye size limit will revert back to the 18-28 inch protected slot limit on Wednesday, Dec. 1, for the winter angling season. The possession limit will remain at four fish.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank all my fellow anglers for the care you've all taken this year on successfully returning all the fish you've had to release. The mortality rate is the lowest on record for percentage caught.
That is what the sport is all about. Kids pick up on that and I think we're seeing a trend toward a great class of fishermen that are treating our precious resources on this crazy rock with respect.
As a result, we're goin' with a two inch increase on our slot. That's all thanks to each and every one of you that have had to release fish, but have taken the time to do it responsibly. Good work!!!
GreaT NEWS and great update Jon. Way to go men. I am on Cape Cod and we are ging to the Lobster store today for a a clam bake and lobster cook out. I need you and Bobber here to ear some of these lobsters. I will have some cold ones ya know? Great job on clean successful releases. The relaxed 20 inch slot is wonderful news. Take care, Malmo Mike (Lobster Man)
take it from a musky fisherman we let all muskys go. the only time ive heard of any one keeping one is when it died and would not swim away. ive heard of a guy catching the state record taking a pic and letting it go. fish for the sport if you want to eat fish go to the store its cheaper that way
I hope not, no catch and release there.....
