DNR: Mille Lacs Lake Approaching Walleye Limit
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Officials with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said Tuesday that Mille Lacs Lake is approaching its catch quota for walleye.
Officials said new data shows the lake is approaching the quota of 28,600 pounds due to a strong catch and warm weather conditions. DNR officials said despite the challenges they've had with the lake's walleye population, other fishing on the lake is strong and at record highs.
The data was compiled through a creel survey on walleye harvests, releases and kills on Mille Lacs Lake in the first two weeks of July. It showed that the lake could reach its limit by July 29.
DNR officials said as of July 15, the state was within 3,000 pounds of reaching the annual quota. Officials said it's likely due to high catch rates over the Fourth of July and warm water conditions creating fish kill. The number of fish that die after being released counts toward the state quota.
As a result, anglers headed to fish on Mille Lacs Lake are being encouraged to fish or northern pike and bass. Officials said the regulations for those fish are more liberal.
Gov. Mark Dayton has directed the DNR to wait until the next creel survey is completed at the end of July to see if the most recent numbers are an aberration.
