Made me sick to see!

[leech~~]

I was at a new meat market up in the Brainard lakes area looking around when this lady with an English accent said, Oh look at those Walleye's! I looked up to see some of the largest Walleye fillets I have ever seen. They had to have come from 7-9lbs fish. The Walleye fillets were $22.99 a pack, and right next to them were Salmon fillet about the same size for only $12.99 a pack. After the lady left I asked the three guys working there are those from Canada? They said "No Red Lake!" I'm sure they were not the owner of the store and all expressed how they felt about the Tax payers restocking Red lake just so some one else can sell off all the big breeding size fish! Made me sick to see!

[delcecchi]

As I understand it, the recovery of Red lake was a joint effort between the band, the feds, and the state. Since the band owns most of the two red lakes they are entitled to a good chunk of the harvest, which is now done by hook and line and marketed through the band.

So long as the fish are taken subject to their regulations and marketed through the proper channels (They have poachers too) what is your objection? That they marketed big fish? That they marketed walleye? That was even part of the agreement in the recovery plan.

It is their lake and their fish.

[Savage Brewer]

From PERM:

Who owns Red Lake?

Supreme Court affirmed State's ownership of Red Lake

With more attention given to the poaching case in Northern Minnesota involving members from several Indian Tribes, "Sale of contraband walleyes from Red Lake, Leech Lake persists" it's again clear that one major point is missing.

All press accounts I have read imply that all of Lower and about half of Upper Red Lake are controlled by the Red Lake Band of Chippewa. This is an assumption PERM has questioned for years. In fact, it is directly contradicted by the U.S. Supreme Court's 1926 U.S. v. Holt State Bank decision.

In that decision, the Supreme Court ruled that Red Lake was not made part of the Red Lake reservation, so there was no "exclusion of others from the use of navigable waters." They added that in the creation of the Red Lake reservation "There was nothing in this which even approaches a grant of rights in lands underlying navigable water..."

The court affirmed that the Indians were to have access to the lake, and to be entitled to "use them in accustomed ways; but these were common rights vouchsafed to all, whether white or Indian..." The Court added that these waters "shall be common highways, and forever free, as well to the inhabitants of said State as to all other citizens of the United States." Finally, the Supreme Court concluded, "...the State on its admission into the Union became the owner of the bed of the lake..."

In a televised interview with then DNR Commissioner Gene Merriam, I brought this to his attention. He answered, "We know of that decision, but we plan to deal with the Red Lake Band the way we have for the past 75 years."

Since Holt has never been overturned, does that not put our state in violation of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling? The Governor, DNR Commissioner, Attorney General, and all members of our legislature have been notified of this various times. Ignoring this should put them all in violation of their oath of office, to uphold the law of the land.

Also:

Star Tibune - Red Lake Walleyes

That link is from May of this year

So, I don't know all the laws, but wouldn't the sale of fish taken from Red Lake technically be illegal? Or I may be way off on that.

[leech~~]

As I understand it, the recovery of Red lake was a joint effort between the band, the feds, and the state. Since the band owns most of the two red lakes they are entitled to a good chunk of the harvest, which is now done by hook and line and marketed through the band.

So long as the fish are taken subject to their regulations and marketed through the proper channels (They have poachers too) what is your objection? That they marketed big fish? That they marketed walleye? That was even part of the agreement in the recovery plan.

It is their lake and their fish.

Just hate to see the resource wasted and brought back to where it was a few years ago. If they are taking with hook and line then set a size limit, if gill netting, set the net size smaller to take smaller fish. No reason to pull all the large breeding fish out and start all over again! Respect mother earth and she will keep providing!

[JP Z]

You sure they weren't just Zander? I've heard of them being substituted for Eyes'

[Sonicrunch]

So what you are saying is that there are 7-9 lb walleye in red lake. NICE!!!

IMO, this US vs THEM does NOBODY any good.

[Ufatz]

I truly understand how some of these things can really upset a guy but trust me fellas, this one you are not going to win. Avert your eyes; cover your ears; think of pleasant days on the water and do not wallow in a painful swamp over which you have no contol.

Been there-watched it all.

[leech~~]

You sure they weren't just Zander? I've heard of them being substituted for Eyes'

That's a good question? They did have a Foley meat locker tag on them. Do you think the good folks in Foley would be involved in something like that?

[CANOPY SAM]

I'd be very surprised if walleye fillets of that size came from Lower Red Lake. The fish are getting there, but there are VERY few walleyes in either lake right now that are pushing 6+ lbs.

It is much more likely these huge fillets came from Lake Winnipeg, or somewhere in Canada. It is also a near certainty they were harvested legally, and certified by the FDA somewhere along the line.

A prize Angus Beef Cow is hard to see butchered as well, but ultimately that's what they are for, and by gosh they sure are tasty on the grill! New York Strips, not 8 lb. walleyes.

[BobT]

Are walleye fillets at the grocery even wild to begin with? I always figured they were likely pond raised.

[Jmnhunter]

i w bet JPZ is right, Zander

[jerkbait]

As I understand it, the recovery of Red lake was a joint effort between the bandtax payer, the fedstax payer, and the statetax payer. Since the band owns most of the two red lakes they are entitled to a good chunk of the harvest, which is now done by hook and line and marketed through the band.

So long as the fish are taken subject to their regulations and marketed through the proper channels (They have poachers too) what is your objection? That they marketed big fish? That they marketed walleye? That was even part of the agreement in the recovery plan.

It is their lake and their fish.

I fixed it for ya. Like Leech said the tax payer.

[Comit 2]

Let's hope they are Zander. No cattle man in his right mind would send his breeding stock to slaughter.

[CaptainMusky]

Well if they truly came from Foley locker, I checked their HSOforum and they list "Walleye Fillets" but no Zander. Sooo, if it isnt walleye, it shouldnt be sold and advertised as such. I am not saying that Foley Locker is at fault here, maybe up the stream somewhere IF it actually isnt as advertised.

[Kyhl]

A correction to the hook and line only information.

Red Lake has been commercially netted since late summer 2009 per an MPR story.

[raymondk]

I don't see a problem with them netting red I would complain if it was a different lakes but only the natives can fish most of them anyhow I don't see it hurting the areas we can fish. If it can the area for jobs and support the area more power to them.I don't think they will drain it like last time.

[DTro]

FYI, there is a "Red Lake" in Canada that a LOT of our restaurant and meat market walleyes come from.

[JohnMickish]

I am guessing that these fish came from Red Lake in Canada and that the store clerks did not know that there is a red lake in Canada. For what it is worth this particular Lake is where the a lot of the walleye fillets sold in the United States come from. The box was probably labeled red lake walleyes and someone got confused.

[leech~~]

FYI, there is a "Red Lake" in Canada that a LOT of our restaurant and meat market walleyes come from.

Well, read the OP I asked that question and their comments stated MN Red Lake.

[Brad B]

as far as the walleye at Foley locker. I haven't asked Kelly the owner yet but I believe they are obtained from commercial fish farms and not from the lakes in this state. I have some family friends that at one time ran a commercial fish farm and they raised and sold walleyes as part of their business. I haven't seen them in years so I don't even know if they are still commercially fish farming. they were out of Kimball, MN. if they came from a commercial fish farm I could see that size fillets. it's no different then say commercially raised chickens. they are given stuff to make them larger faster so I don't see why commercial fish farms wouldn't do the same with fish. get all the facts before you complain.

[laportian]

The Red Lake Fisheries will only accept walleyes up to 22 inches for processing at the plant. They sell four sizes 2 to 4oz, 4 to 6oz, 6 to 8oz, and 8 to 10oz.

The only way to tell where they come from is to ask for the box and receipt. I get boxes of fish from there all the time and you cannot posses that much fish unless you have the box and receipt. The box has specific info on it.

[leech~~]

as far as the walleye at Foley locker. I haven't asked Kelly the owner yet but I believe they are obtained from commercial fish farms and not from the lakes in this state. I have some family friends that at one time ran a commercial fish farm and they raised and sold walleyes as part of their business. I haven't seen them in years so I don't even know if they are still commercially fish farming. they were out of Kimball, MN. if they came from a commercial fish farm I could see that size fillets. it's no different then say commercially raised chickens. they are given stuff to make them larger faster so I don't see why commercial fish farms wouldn't do the same with fish. get all the facts before you complain.

Brad, didn't see where I complained in the OP? Just reported what I had seen and heard. Sorry if I touched a sore spot with your family friends in Foley! But, do let us know if you get the facts from them! Thanks.

[JakeJ_Mn]

Since I don't agree with anything that goes on at Red Lake, Mn. I don't fish there. You may chose to do the same.

Last I checked, I am American and a resident of Minnesota. I don't believe anyone on any of our reservations is different. So much for equal rights. Just my opinion.

[pikerliker]

There actually is a Red Lake in Canada that is a walleye fishery destination. The worker at the shop may not have been aware of that so the fillet's may very well have come from Red Lake in Cananda.

[leech~~]

There actually is a Red Lake in Canada that is a walleye fishery destination. The worker at the shop may not have been aware of that so the fillet's may very well have come from Red Lake in Cananda.

Ya, lets just say their from Canada and call it good!