DNR Shutting Down Walleye Fishing On Mille Lacs
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - The Department of Natural Resources will shut down walleye fishing on Lake Mille Lacs at 10 p.m. Monday because anglers already reached a quota set by the state.
Now, it says it needs to protect the remaining walleye.
"Today's a dark day for Minnesota fishing," said Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton.
Dayton, a Democrat, said lawmakers urgently need to pass disaster assistance for an area that depends on walleye fishing tourism to survive.
"There's no way to sugar coat this," he said. "This is a very, very difficult situation."
The Department of Natural Resources said the walleye decline is not because of Indian netting or too many hooks and lines. The DNR attributes the decline to environmental lake changes, invasive species and a sudden, rapid decline of male walleye.
"The small fish are not turning into big fish," said DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr, "and there's a predator-prey imbalance that is resulting in those small fish -- call them fingerlings; they're the size of your finger-- being eaten by bigger fish."
Dayton is proposing an aid package for struggling businesses that includes no-interest loans and property tax abatements.
Without it, resorts say there's a ripple effect on other local businesses.
"It's the grocery store," said Joel Carlson, of the Congress of Minnesota Resorts. "It's the local cafe. It's the bait store. It's all of that spin-off spending that these local lodging places provide, and that's why it is so important that they do something."
Despite a walleye shortage, state officials say Mille Lacs is teeming with small mouth bass and muskie.
Dayton said today he'll be fishing Mille Lacs on Saturday, and he's inviting legislative leaders to join him.
