Lake Mille Lacs

[JGANDA]

I am becoming very concerned about the future of this great fishery. My concern does not concern the quotas or limits , but the way the lake is being managed. I am reading that the forage base is declining greatly. That means the walleyes will turn on them selves to eat or become to easy to catch and numbers will be greatly reduced. I am also seeing many more musky on the lake and wonder if they are taking too many walleyes.

The DNR seems only their way is best come ##### or high water they are not going to change. Other then going to the meetings and the DNR only hearing what they want too any body have an thoughts on the future.

[Beckman]

Future seems great to me. I think that there are too many armchair biologist fisherman out there overanalyzing the management of this great lake. The fact is that the fishing has been world class the last couple years, most of the fish are fat and healthy. Muskie fishing is awesome on Mille Lacs too. I think its funny how people can complain about great fishing. I haven't seen a Mille Lacs walleye die of starvation yet, and I just don't see it happening in the future either.

[Fish_on]

When you start managing a fishery with politics instead of biology, it's the beginning of the end. Unfortunately, there are some year classes of fish showing up in some areas that are obviously malnourished. This might remain localized or it might be early symptoms of things to come. Yes, fishing is phenomenal now, but the lake simply cannot support huge numbers of large fish because there isn't the forage base available for that many large fish. I hope we are not seeing the typical flare-up before a crash, but it's possible that's what's happening: the predator-prey balance is out of whack and the size structure of walleyes is tilted towards large fish. Great in the short term, bad in the long term. I hope I'm wrong, but I think we are headed for a crash within 3-5 years if some changes are not made.

[Dave in Mpls]

Mille Lacs could be in a world of hurt. There is a rapid documented decline in the baitfish population. Take a look at Dick Sternberg's recent article, the graphs in particular, and tell me that lake is not gonna crash.

http://www.perm.org/articles/treaty2.htm

Man, I hope I'm wrong!

Regards

[Westy]

That is what everyone said about Lake Oahe in SD. The baitfish are supposedly suffering and we have increased our daily limits significantly in hopes of removing the small fish. The theory is to bring the prey/predator balance back in line. The jury is still out on this and it could be years before we truly know what the result of the current management practice will produce.