Time for New Muskie Reg on Mille Lacs?

[Juan Grande]

That would be my fear that if the resorts largely blame the smallies for the walleye decline (and the resulting decline in their business) that they would encourage customers to keep all legal bass they catch. A launch could clean out a small reef of hungry smallies pretty easily.

[CaptainMusky]

I would hate to see stringers of bass as well. I do firmly believe the DNR is taking a "calculated risk" by opening up the limits on smallmouth. Hopefully that doesnt mean a huge harvest of those fish. They are fun to catch.

[delcecchi]

I would hate to see stringers of bass as well. I do firmly believe the DNR is taking a "calculated risk" by opening up the limits on smallmouth. Hopefully that doesnt mean a huge harvest of those fish. They are fun to catch.

So the only game fish folks are comfortable with harvesting are little northerns and any legal walleye?

[Juan Grande]

No, I'm fine with people harvesting bass. As long as they're keeping them to eat and not just to get them out of the lake.

The slot protects the larger fish which is good, but an overharvest of the juvenile smallies could lead to the same problem they have with walleyes on Mille Lacs. Lots of large fish and no smaller fish behind them. Not likely to happen to that extent because far fewer people harvest smallies than walleye, however.

Mille Lacs is an elite walleye, smallmouth, muskie and pike fishery (specifically for size on the latter two). Years and years of anglers releasing smallies, muskie and pike have helped Mille Lacs become a trophy fishery for those species. I think anglers (me included) are over protective our species of choice because we want Mille Lacs to stay world class.

[CaptainMusky]

So the only game fish folks are comfortable with harvesting are little northerns and any legal walleye?

Didnt say that. I personally wouldnt eat anything other than walleyes or panfish. Dont like the taste of the others.

I do doubt that limits of smallmouth are going to be pulled from the lake though because of this change, but thats just my

[thatoneguy]

Quote:

I do doubt that limits of smallmouth are going to be pulled from the lake though because of this change, but thats just my

I think you underestimate the manic paranoia of some Mille Lacs walleye nuts.

[Juan Grande]

Speaking of muskies, watch this video if you haven't already. One of the best out there.

http://youtu.be/CBh8LMVgXVw

[CaptainMusky]

Speaking of muskies, watch this video if you haven't already. One of the best out there.

http://youtu.be/CBh8LMVgXVw

thanks for sharing! I hadn't seen that video but saw the pic of that little boy. That is amazing!

[tolle141]

I think that relaxing the regs for smallies on Mille Lacs could be a blessing. Doing so makes the lake more appealing for tournies. Tournies bring money and the attention of the big orgs. Those run youth programs, which creates demand, which drives DNR management efforts. In the long run, making MN a key state for the major tournament organizations could have big payoffs for bass anglers.

MN's musky program is a trophy program (exhibit A - 57"). I think the 48" min is just a stepping stone to 56" which may come very soon on ML and the Big V

[bassfshin24]

It's still going to be hard to have bass tournaments on Mille Lacs with having to release everything between 17-20".

[Search Function]

Also Mille Lacs is a No Culling allowed lake.

[Savage Brewer]

I find it interesting that everyone here is going on about which fish is to blame for certain issues on Mille Lacs but no one has mentioned the actions of the Ojibwe Tribe and their netting practices on that lake.

My personal opinion is the state needs to tell them to go get bent and they need to follow all the same regulations as any other sportsman fishing those waters.

You guys want to start a fight about who is really to blame for messing up that lake, get real its not the fish, its the actions of people and what they are doing to that lake.

[Markula]

Natives net fish out of Mille Lacs??

Never heard of that.

[Dylan33]

I find it interesting that everyone here is going on about which fish is to blame for certain issues on Mille Lacs but no one has mentioned the actions of the Ojibwe Tribe and their netting practices on that lake.

My personal opinion is the state needs to tell them to go get bent and they need to follow all the same regulations as any other sportsman fishing those waters.

You guys want to start a fight about who is really to blame for messing up that lake, get real its not the fish, its the actions of people and what they are doing to that lake.

Have you been on this site before??...There are multiple threads going on right now that are blaming the netting for the downfall of the lake.. . Let's not turn this thread into one of bashing the nets.

[walleye18]

dylan33...there is no doubt that the netting of the lake is one factor in its ' troubles. That cannot be denied!

All the issues with the lake and management there of - started when the netting began.

[Dylan33]

First off- the lake has had many ups and downs over the past 30+ years.

Secondly, there are many other factors at play, other than netting,

and

Third- I am not arguing that netting has not impacted the lake...I am saying that that is not what THIS thread is about. This is a musky regs thread. If you want to complain about netting, do it on one of the many other threads that are currently running.

[Savage Brewer]

dylan33...there is no doubt that the netting of the lake is one factor in its ' troubles. That cannot be denied!

All the issues with the lake and management there of - started when the netting began.

Agreed.

And yeah Dylan33, I have been around this site for over 10 years but under a different name.

This thread started with one individual saying basically Muskies are to blame for the walleye problems, and another saying smallies are the reason for the walleye issues...

I am saying neither is to blame, the reason the lake is having these issues is the 100,000 plus pounds of fish harvested by gill nets before the spawn. It doesn't take a doctorates degree to see what the tribes are doing here.

Heck I am more upset about the crazy number of perch that get caught up in the gill nets also.

Netting needs to go, period.

If the tribe wants to harvest 100,000 pounds of walleyes per year, they should have to follow the same rules as everyone, and catch them with hook, line and sinker after the opener.

They should be required to get licenses and have possession limits too.

Their actions show that they do not care about conservation or the future of that fishery.

[Juan Grande]

Yes, let's get back on topic please which is muskie fishing.......in a bass forum

[RumRiverRat]

So Savage Brewer what was your other screen name?

Did that account get banned?

[Savage Brewer]

No it didn't get banned, just it was in reference to a professional sports team that most people in MN don't care for, and I wanted something new. (Making fun of Vikings fans isn't a good way to get honest advice here in MN )

I moved to Savage, MN last fall and brew beer and am getting more into winemaking and mead, so Savage Brewer it became.

More or less a new name for a new chapter in my life.

I enjoy fishing for just about every type of fish, I would not consider myself a great fisherman, still alot to learn but I have fun anyways.

The fact that this was a Muskie thread in the bass forum probably is what caught my attention also Juan.

I will let it go, it just gets under my skin what they are doing up there.

[Mike #1]

I can count on one hand the smallies brought in by the launchs, the customers want to catch walleyes and that is what they fish for.

A Muskie thread in the bass forum. Why are we still on topic? I think the packers suck.

[thatoneguy]

Quote:

I am saying neither is to blame, the reason the lake is having these issues is the 100,000 plus pounds of fish harvested by gill nets before the spawn. It doesn't take a doctorates degree to see what the tribes are doing here.

How many pounds per year do hook and line anglers harvest from Mille Lacs - is it more or less than the netting quota? I'm just curious, because those fish don't ever spawn again either. I honestly don't know the answer off the top of my head.

edit: found it - it's 187,500 lbs for hook and line, less than 75,000 lbs for the netting quota.

[Savage Brewer]

Heres my last bit on this.

If there is going to be a season specified for which a person can keep or actively target a species of fish on a body of water.

That season should apply to EVERYONE.

I don't care what your sex, race, religion, political affiliation or anything else is, it should have no say in a federal or state regulation.

If you truly want what is right, that would be that EVERYONE has the same rules.

If group A can fish before spawn, then everyone should be allowed to fish before spawn.

[thatoneguy]

I'm all in favor of that, SB. Just convince the government to return the land to the tribes that was ceded as part of the treaty, and we can all start fresh. Easy!