will the Mille Lacs Res go bye bye?

[JasonMN]

I sure hope so. Old court decision/treaty back at cha!

read all about it here:
http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/1649344.html

[AquaMan]

Interesting. Will have to watch and see how this one rolls out. I wonder what spurred this suit? Missing tax opportunity?

If the Ojibwe Band suggests that the money would be better spent on education, health care and environmental protection why have they not done so already? Or have they?

AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just turning cash into water!

[wallzer]

I just have to get this out right away I am strongly oppossed to the lake being neted or speared because i think that the times have changed. but I do think that the slot limits have helped the lake become the fishery that it is today. I mean where else can a person go for a day catch a bunch of walleyes that average 21 inches. I mean if yuo guys love this sport so much what else can you ask for. if the slots are taken off the fishing on the big pnd will just go back to the way it used to be. DEAD SEA!! So everybody should just relax on this subject and go catch fish. there is plenty of other lakes around that a person can go catch eaters if they want to. Personally I would rather the people who are up there to enjoy a day of fishing than listening to all the people compain that they can't keep anything. it just makes me mad to think that alot of people don't relize fishing isn't about keeping fish. It's about not working, relaxing and having fun. that is just my opininion which i am entitled to so I guess you can bash it if you want.

[terminology]

I thought erie was the big pond and I know you can catch all the 21 inchers you desire there :-)

[JasonMN]

Wallzer,

I agree the fishing is awesome (for now)and like you, I could care less about how many fish I can keep. My problem is with the principal of the issue and the ML Band peeing down are backs. It seems to be give them an inch and they immediatley want another one and so on. Now they want to sell the fish. Where will it stop?

That is my opinion. I am not a racist. I don't hate indians. I just don't agree with the "payback" mindset the ML band of Ojib. (and others) seem to have.

JasonMN
ps. 73 Days till the MN opener!

[Eyecrosser]

Wallzer is right on the money. The people who just want to "freezer fish" can go try another one of the over 10,000 lakes we enjoy here in Minnesota. It really baffles the mind when people complain about this fishery. How can a person complain about catching a walleye that's too big? I know a person can go somewhere like Gull Lake in Brainerd to catch 15"'s all day long, and there is nothing wrong with that if that is what you're looking for. Plus it's only abour 1/2 an hour from Milly. I also agree with Wallzer regarding the netting and spearing. There is nothing wrong with keeping traditions alive, but I have a hard time believing their fore fathers had high powered spot lights big horse-powered boats. What's wrong with birch bark canoes' and torches if you want to keep your haritage and traditions. Just one guys thoughts.

[biofish]

It looks to me like the lawsuit is looking toward dismantling the reservation, which would impact the casino, not the spearing, remember, there is 6 other tribes that have spearing rights.

[Bad Finger]

Don't think for a minute that the current regs are good for the lake. Keep pounding on 14-15 inch fish year after year and you will have another dead sea. The lake was managed properly for a 10 year period (6 fish, 1 over 20 inches) Sure, you had good years and a few bad mixed in. That's the normal up's and down's the lake has trditionally experienced. Lake management should be biological, not political!

For more info on this topic, or to support the worthy cause of getting our (White People) rights back, visit PERM.

www.perm.org

[Lee]

I sure hope this works. Something needs to change for the positive up there or soon everyone of the resorts will be owned by the band. How much influence will we have then. For those that don't know, Izatys sold out just a few months ago. Get the nets and spears off the lake so we can go back to reasonable regs. 2" is not reasonable!

[AquaMan]

Ummm, I'm not sure this current battle has anything to do with the hunting and fishing rights, boys. You have jumped to the conculsion that this issue encompasses the entire Mille Lacs issue. The Hunting and fishing rights were secured by Congress and that will not change for quite some time.

This battle, however, seems to be spun from county taxes that are not currently being paid for lands that were swept into the agreement under questionable terms. Some reservations lands can be expanded under certain agreements and exchange rights, but still fall under taxable property. This might be the case here.

Don't look for changes in the regulations, fishing harvest limits or Indian rights from this one. It is not about fish, but rather $$$$$$. I think the county auditors are looking for a cut of the Casino money....

AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just turning cash into water!

PS: If you get a chance and really want to see how the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe view thier history and relationship with non-indians, check this out: http://www.millelacsojibwe.org

Click on "Brief History". It is disapointing to see what they write as truth and fact. Also check the secion out in 1745-1750. Does that mean the Dakota are the true heirs to this land? SHould they be punished for crimes committed over 150 years ago? :-)

[pa walleye]

what a great fishery. I fished it last year what a great time. Why don't the reservation follow the treaty and do what they did at the time of the treaty. canoes homemade spears. same as 1800 hundreds. need eaters go to south dakota. full of good eaters.