Through May, walleye harvest, as determined via a Mille Lacs creel survey, was about 2,650 pounds of fish, according to Eric Jensen, large lake specialist in the DNR’s Aitkin office. During the same time period, the harvest of smallies was estimated to be about 1,200 pounds, while that of northern pike was about 3,000 pounds. Hooking mortality was about 150 pounds last year in May, and about 200 pounds this year. 40,250 pounds were still left on our walleye quota as of June 1st.
Jensen stated that kill estimates for the first part of June are 2000 more pounds, with 150 lbs of hooking mortality figured in to that number. The second half of June will be made public soon, but indicators show kill numbers should be close to the first half of the month.
Numbers estimate 36,250 lbs remain for our quota. No regulatory changes are currently being considered.