Mille Lacs - 3.2 million lbs caught!

[GlassHalfFull]

Article today in the Minn. Outdoor News says we are over our quota for the year. 3.2 million lbs of walleyes caught before July 1st, 342,000 lbs killed.
We were allowed 300,000. Now what happens?

[DRAGONFISH]

I still don't understand this. I read an article a few weeks ago about how they count all of the dead fish against the sportsman. why not against the nets and spears. some of the fish that they may have returned to the water may have had internal damage that caused them to die at a later period. What about nature, You don't think that any of these dead fish were killed off naturally do you. If what I remember is correct what I read said that it was estimated that 150,000lbs or so was dead on the water floaters. Why is it that if you do a crime you are inocent(spelling bad)until proven guilty but if a fish dies but what ever means all are guilty?

just my 2 cents

[JB]

I agree that you cannot blame all the floating Walleyes on the sport anglers, as many other factors are involved. I will say that I believe sport anglers are to blame for the majority of the dead fish. I don't think you can blame the "netting and spearing" as those fish are obviously not released. Like someone stated in an earlier post, many of the floating Walleyes have been dead for a long time and have only surfaced with the warmer water temps. Becuase of this, I don't know if all the floating fish should be factored into this years harvest.

I would assume that the estimated numbers will be factored into the total annual harvest. The tribes have taken ~60,000 lbs and an additional 342,000 lbs. of angler harvest and slightly above the targeted 400,000 lbs. Keep in mind these are only estimates.

[Fish_on]

As far as I know, no one is counting floaters. Those figures come from creel survey results where a representative of the DNR stands at the boat ramp and asks everyone how many fish they caught as they leave the lake. Hooking mortality is 7% of the total number of fish caught and released. As I have stated before, I think a lot of people inflate the number of fish they say they caught because they did not actually count them. Either way, we (meaning all mille lacs walleye anglers) have released an incredible number of fish this year, and a lot of dead fish should have been put to good use, but weren't.

[Schnauzer]

I don't think it is out of the question to end the year with more than 300,000 pounds of released mortality fish. That doesn't even count the 14-16" keepers. In other words, the sportsman total would be too high even if the lake was catch and release only.

So, how can it be explained that...

"safe allowable harvest" = NO harvest.

This whole situation is soooooo sad. It has been warned that the angler slot would have to be severely shrunk down the road if the quota is exceded. So, that means a 1" slot or catch and release only?

[Dave in Walker]

One thing I know for sure I've made 4 trips this year and counting my trips last year I have NEVER been checked by a creel survey person. I feel these estimates are at best marginal, theres no way they can monitor whats been caught and released, or died from what ever reasons. There must be a better way?

[Schnauzer]

Good point. I've been surveyed by a creel taker once in 10 days on Mille Lacs water this year. All 10 trips have been out of public boat launches. Add that to 0 for 10 (or so) last year and I am hitting about 1 for 20 on creel surveys. On the other hand, I've been checked for illegal fish at least 6 times on the same trips.

[David Anderson]

Ah yes.....another intereting number. The DNR states the total amount of pounds in the lake of fish over 12" is 1.6 million. In theory every fish over 12" has been caught at least twice. Although the mayflies slowed it down alittle last week, we are heading for 4.8 million pounds released. Using the DNR's numbers to date, 50,000 ice fishing, 50,000 Band harvest, 100,000 non band harvest, and Jack Wingates response to I believe REW, 10% of 3.2 mil = 320,000 adds up to 520,000. Add another 120,000 for the rest of the year and bingo, your just about to the 15 year average harvest with no restrictions and prior to 1997. And who said you can't fool mother nature?