x
Breaking News
More () »

Mille Lacs walleye season catch-and-release again

The DNR says the decision to make 2018 Mille Lacs walleye fishing catch-and-release only was made to "maximize fishing opportunities for anglers while protecting the health and sustainability of Mille Lacs' improving walleye population."
Credit: MN DNR
Nearly 300 spawning females were netted and milked of their eggs and released back into Mille Lacs Lake.

MILLE LACS, Minn. - While asserting that the walleye population of Minnesota's best-known fishing destination is improving, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has declared catch-and-release only walleye fishing on Lake Mille Lacs for the third consecutive year.

The agency made the announcement Monday, saying the decision was made to "maximize fishing opportunities for anglers while protecting the health and sustainability of Mille Lacs’ improving walleye population." Because the lake’s spawning walleye population has improved from last year, no mid-season closures are planned at this point.

The fishing opener is May 12.

“Improving the walleye population on Mille Lacs is a top priority for the DNR,” said Tom Landwehr, DNR commissioner. “We want to see as much walleye fishing on Mille Lacs as possible this year. Anglers have had a very good winter walleye season on the lake and we will be able to continue that trend into the open-water season with no mid-season closure planned.”

As in the summers of 2016 and 2017, walleye fishing season will be closed between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. beginning Monday, May 14. The night walleye closure remains in effect throughout the entire open-water season, which ends Nov. 30.

The decision to not let anglers keep at least one walleye has been extremely unpopular with many area resorts and businesses, who believe the policy keeps tourists from visiting.

While the catch-and-release decision has been made, state and tribal leaders have not yet established a safe harvest level for tribal members in 2018.

The DNR reminds anglers that Mille Lacs remains a premiere lake for both bass and muskie. The following are 2018 limits for those fish and northern pike.

  • Bass season opens Saturday, May 12, but is catch-and-release only through Friday, May 25. Beginning on Saturday, May 26, Mille Lacs’ bag limit will be four bass per angler. All smallmouth and largemouth bass between 17 and 21 inches must be immediately released. Anglers may keep only one bass over 21 inches.
  • Lake Mille Lacs has special regulations that exempt it from the new statewide northern pike zone regulations. The northern pike season opens May 12 and anglers may keep up to five fish. All pike between 30 and 40 inches must be immediately released. Only one northern over 40 inches may be included in the bag limit of five.
  • For muskellunge, the season opens on Saturday, June 2, with the statewide rules of a one fish bag and a minimum length of 54 inches.

For more on 2018 Mille Lacs Lake regulations, check out the DNR website.

Before You Leave, Check This Out