Mille Lacs

[mrklean]

Its my understanding the slot is gone just one over 30" which is the state slot which is not an issue

[jasonmichalski]

we have similar rules in MI with no issues on known hammer handle factories, we can spear 5 a day, no min size, and no more then one over 24", we have a few lakes that are protected slot which is new, and the state standard for 90% is two fish 24" min size, and we can spear on 99% of the lakes, the state wants them all open to spearing and has got a few closed lakes opened in the last few years but the closed ones are local ordnance and only the state congress can throw them out. The few guys that cant follow the rules wouldn't no matter what the laws are they're poachers, so why hurt everyone because of a few poachers that are still going to poach no matter what the laws are, if its open to hook and line fishing there is no reason to not allow spearing.

[Jameson]

Technically, we are allowed to spear "slot" waters, but most spear fisherman won't due to the hard time being 100% accurate on measuring your fish before we catch them. So, generally if an experienced spear-fisherman tries a slot lake they will give the slot a couple extra inches to make sure they don't spear an illegal fish, (and hopefully non-experienced spear-fisherman learn to gauge length on non-slot lakes.)

I too am confused that spearing is being allowed on Mille Lacs. I was ALWAYS told it would NEVER happen due to the treaty with the Natives. I'm not sure what has changed, or if all those people were wrong in the past. Not complaining, just wondering what happened.

[MJ1657]

I'm excited to give some of my money to the struggling resort owners, bait shops and eating/ drinking establishments in the area.

[Jameson]

Technically, we are allowed to spear "slot" waters, but most spear fisherman won't due to the hard time being 100% accurate on measuring your fish before we catch them. So, generally if an experienced spear-fisherman tries a slot lake they will give the slot a couple extra inches to make sure they don't spear an illegal fish, (and hopefully non-experienced spear-fisherman learn to gauge length on non-slot lakes.)

I too am confused that spearing is being allowed on Mille Lacs. I was ALWAYS told it would NEVER happen due to the treaty with the Natives. I'm not sure what has changed, or if all those people were wrong in the past. Not complaining, just wondering what happened.

[mwal]

I think Mille Lacs will make an interesting Get to Gator with on the Ice fish fry to help the fishery. I remember spearing it with my neighbor in the 1970's or early 80's before the ban. We did not see many but they were nice ones. I am sure the night ban affect the muskie guides and launches severely. Hopefully we can get some footage of some giant pike and get some good eaters for the pan and pickling jar. I read some online predation studies of young walleyes done by Ontario and some colleges and they said the worse culprits were walleye canabalizing walleyes then pike

Mwal

[Archerysniper]

I'm excited to give some of my money to the struggling resort owners, bait shops and eating/ drinking establishments in the area.

Me too,they are going to need every dollar we can spend in their area. I would have to think a lot of resorts will be doing Darkhouse rentals this winter and carrying spearing equipment.

[pushbutton]

I too am confused that spearing is being allowed on Mille Lacs. I was ALWAYS told it would NEVER happen due to the treaty with the Natives. I'm not sure what has changed, or if all those people were wrong in the past. Not complaining, just wondering what happened.

The lake always used to be a low density big fish(pike) lake. Theorize since the globalclimateshiftzeebmillfoillrustycrawfishnettingmuskieeatingwalleyeapocolyspe...and the resulting clearer water and weed growth is making way for a lot more smaller fish(pike) to thrive out there....and test nets are showing this. So suppose opening it up to a 10 pack and spearing could help to get rid of some of the smaller fish, which are assuredly impacting the forage base(perch). Is this peeing uphill in the wind though? Cant say. Will for sure be a great opportunity for spearers, especially if some of you guys only got 8 fish all year last year......8 fish... really? you got to pick a different hobby Biggest problem I see with opening it up is that if the smaller pike are not targeted....and only the larger ones....it will probably make the situation worse concerning the size structure of the the pike, hence the forage, and the eyeballs will still have nothing to eat. Well they will, but the bass and hammer handles will win that race every time.

[MJ1657]

Pushbutton,

Some of us only take a handful of fish by choice. I go out there to watch them and be with friends. If I speared everything that came thru i could have taken that number by maybe 10 or 20 ?

I will add I only took one pike over 30" last year. I watched many come through over 30" and have plenty of pics and eyewitnesses to prove it.

[pushbutton]

I put a smiley face behind it....it was a joke And what was said about the stuff about the other stuff, obviously applies to both hook and line as well. It is a real concern......the topic is Milacs. Jameson asked....I responded.

[MJ1657]

I put a smiley face behind it....it was a joke And what was said about the stuff about the other stuff, obviously applies to both hook and line as well. It is a real concern......the topic is Milacs. Jameson asked....I responded.

I know I probably came off as overly defensive. I'm just to used to having to defend our position. I hope no offense was taken.

[Neighbor_guy]

If you go by time, the lake I spent much of my season on is the same distance as millacs... I will likely try it once just to give her a go. The question would be does a guy run a tip-up as a second line or keep a rod in the house for perch?

It will be interesting to see how the resort owners handle it. I expect to see houses in Vineland Bay, (a lot if them), I would also figure there will be plenty in Wakon bay due to ease of access, and if the McResort in isle bay misses this cash cow I will be shocked as well.

Another thing to consider is this lake has potential to be hard on equipment. Do you stay on the south and west sides and spear rock and gravel? Bring a file and the b-squad spear. Or do you run up to the north side and fish the sand flats by red door?

We may need to get a friendly wager on the largest carp too! Some big'uns in that fish bowl.

Like others have said, there are a lot of people who like to come in here and stir the pot and cry that the sky is falling. It's not.

I watch a heck of a lot more fish than I ever toss a spear at. I know very few spear fisherman who are out for a limit every time, or any time for that matter. Will some big pike be taken? Sure, but likely no more than would succumb to a deep hook due to a tip up, a long battle with a walleye fisherman in August on light line, or regular fishing pressure. Spearing is the only true "selective harvest" because we don't have the luxury of catch and release so most are very picky about what is taken and what is watched. The adrenaline rush you get from a 36"er starring down a decoy and trying to get video and not even picking up a spear is as good or better than deer hunting.

I don't know if I will add this lake to my regular rotation. I have had a bad experience with this lake in the winter that happened 10years ago but still has me spooked. But I hope to try it once at least. And by a burger or steak and a beverage as well as some bait fuel and the like. Those folks need it.

PS. I never took a fish over 30" came close at 29.5" but never 30. Plenty over 30 on camera though. Way funner (not a word) to watch than to chew.

[smurfy]

Its my understanding the slot is gone just one over 30" which is the state slot which is not an issue

that's how I read it you can have one over 30.

[Jameson]

what was the old slot on pike?

[mwal]

2013 it was must release 33 to 40 one over 40

2012 it was must release 27 to 40 one over 40

Before that I think it was 27 to 36 one over

3 fish only one can be over. Last time I speared Mille Lacs I think it was still any size and 5 or 6 can't remember late 70's early 80 ,81

Mwal

[Bambito]

ArcherySniper..... You talking about me?

[Archerysniper]

ArcherySniper..... You talking about me?

I don't see a post on this thread that you have made except for this so????????

[Bambito]

Oh ok.... U talked about some people who just want to stir the pot and even mentioned one guys name. It's ok to disagree. It opens up all new conversation. Not trying to change topic at all or stir the pot just saying that it seems like if they don't agree with "someone's" opinion then all of a sudden there stirring the pot. Anywho....not much of a fan of northerns. Do ya'll eat them?

[mwal]

Yes I fillet them boneless or pickle them. They are are a high quality fish for eating as good as walleye.

Mwal

[Mike89]

Yes I fillet them boneless or pickle them. They are are a high quality fish for eating as good as walleye.

Mwal

better than walleye in my book.

[shamalex72]

better than walleye in my book.

I agree. I like walleye too, but just think northern taste better.

[mwal]

MY family agree's but we like fish that have a taste like sunfish, trout, salmon, tuna. Walleye taste like whatever they are breaded or marinated with. We are also big fans of smaller channel cats in the summer. They don't get a pass in my boat unless over 5 lbs. I have had great fun on Candien shore lunches preparing the fish for the group. They can't fillet walleye much less a pike. So they let me do all the work. In my boat I keep pike and save walleye to take home for my mom. So i clean all the fish each lunch and cut them in to identical size pieces flour and fry them up and they devour them like starving mad men. They rave about how great fresh caught walleye is and how its so superior than the slimy inedible pike. Then I take great pleasure in telling them it was half pike half walleye. Next shore lunch I had volunteers watching me clean fish. Now others Keep the nicest walleyes to take home and only eat pike for shore lunch or jig up some white fish from the depths another under appreciated fish.

Mwal