Mille Lacs walleye limit stays at 3 for May 9 opener

Anglers heading to Mille Lacs Lake for the sportfishing opener volition beryllium allowed to support 3 walleyes per day, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced up of the sportfishing opener.

The three-walleye bounds takes effect with the unfastened h2o play opener connected May 9. Harvested walleyes indispensable beryllium astatine slightest 17 inches, and lone 1 food implicit 20 inches whitethorn beryllium kept. The regularisation runs done Nov. 30.

"We are pleased to support the three-walleye bounds for the unfastened h2o play that was successful spot precocious past summertime done the crystal sportfishing season," said Brad Parsons, the DNR's fisheries conception manager. "We person heard from anglers that they privation the accidental to harvest walleye connected Mille Lacs erstwhile the colonisation allows, particularly aboriginal successful the open-water season. The lake's continued wellness volition connection that again this season."

State-licensed anglers stock the Mille Lacs harvest with Ojibwe Tribes that clasp pact sportfishing rights. Each year, the authorities and Tribal Nations negociate an yearly harvest level, with each enactment mounting its ain regulations to enactment wrong its share.

This year's harvest level reflects a flimsy diminution successful the big walleye colonisation recorded during past fall's appraisal netting. The state's stock is acceptable astatine 105,300 pounds, down from 113,600 pounds successful 2025. Tribal sportfishing is allocated 79,700 pounds.

The DNR said it volition set regulations mid-season if needed, including moving to catch-and-release lone for a information of the season, to forestall harvest from importantly exceeding the limit.

The DNR reminded anglers to cleanable and drain watercraft and instrumentality earlier leaving the water and to dispose of unwanted bait successful the trash. 

John Lauritsen contributed to this report.

In:

• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources