I don't think there will be alot of large concentrations of hungry fish anywhere on Mille Lacs this year as far as angling goes. There's still alot of baitfish keeping 'em real well fed.

They're already hurting the lake's economy bad enough with the latest restrictions, including the night ban.

DNR NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                  April 14, 2014

Minnesota fishing facts

The following information about fishing can be used in stories in preparation for the fishing opener on Saturday, May 10.

Anglers and waters

• About 1.5 million licensed anglers.
• About 500,000 people are expected to fish on opening day of the walleye and northern pike season, Saturday, May 10.
• Minnesota has 11,842 lakes, 5,400 of which are managed by DNR fisheries. There are 18,000 miles of fishable rivers and streams, including 3,600 miles of trout streams.
• Average annual expenditure per angler is about $1,500. 1
• Although not every kind of fish lives everywhere, 162 species of fish can be found in Minnesota waters.

Participation and the economy

• Fishing contributes $2.4 billion to the state's economy in direct retail sales, ranking Minnesota fourth in the nation for angler expenditures. 1
• Fishing supports 35,400 Minnesota jobs. 1
• Minnesota ranks second in resident fishing participation at 32 percent, second only to Alaska. 1
• Minnesota is the third most-popular inland fishing destination in the country. 1
• Minnesota ranks sixth among states with the highest number of anglers. The top three states are Florida, Texas and Michigan. 1

Who goes fishing

• Most resident anglers - 855,000 of them in fact - are from urban areas. The remaining 474,000 resident anglers live in greater Minnesota. 1
• Men account for 66 percent of resident anglers. Women account for 34 percent. 1

Fishing habits

• Significantly more time is spent fishing on lakes rather than rivers and streams. 1
• The average Minnesota angler spends 15 days fishing each year, with 84 percent of resident anglers never fishing anywhere else but Minnesota. 1
• The most sought-after fish species, in order of preference, are crappie, panfish, walleye and northern pike. 1

1 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (www.census.gov/prod/www/fishing.html).

Everybody that visits this website knows what's wrong with Mille Lacs. Remember when they lost all those nets in '08? http://millelacslakefishing.activeboard.com/t17180349/gill-nets/

The DNR knows too.

The only question left is how far we're going to let it go.

I was down to Malmo Public Access today right after the nets were pulled for the morning. Only 5 nets set with a total of 20 fish. The only band netting is the Mille Lacs Band, currently.
Also talked to Steve Lawrance, supervisor of the Creel Crew, who was on hand at the landing, as were GLIFWC C.O.s.
Also had a chance to speak with the MN DNR survey net crew, who were pulling their own survey nets. Although they had lost one net to the ice, which had shifted during the night, they DID retrieve the net with help from Dean Fisher from Fisher's Resort. Of the remaining 4 nets,(there were no fish in the destroyed net) they got a count of 26 fish with only 2 males. 3 of the females were already spawned out.
There is still ALOT of ice on the lake. and it's moving quickly with the higher winds we've been having.