Walleye catch limit increased to 2 on Mille Lacs Lake

An ordinance that goes into effect at the end of this month will change how many walleye anglers can catch in the fall at Mille Lacs Lake.

Starting Aug. 16 and running through Nov. 30, anglers will be allowed to catch up to two walleyes on Mille Lacs Lake. Both fish can be 18-20 inches long, or one can be 18-20 inches long and the other must be longer than 28 inches.

The originally planned regulation, which would go into effect Aug. 16, would have allowed anglers to retain one fish between 21 and 23 inches long or longer than 28 inches.

The situation has changed because of windy and rainy weather in the state, according to Brad Parsons, fisheries section manager for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

“Due to the high catch rates last fall, we decided to establish conservative fishing regulations this season because we expected the high catch rates to continue,” Parsons explained. “Indeed, fishing was great for the first two months of the season. However, due to catch-and-release regulations and windy, rainy conditions, Mille Lacs has seen significantly fewer fish than expected this season, which has created room for larger catches.”

State-licensed anglers caught about 26% of the allowable walleye catch, according to Minnesota DNR data as of July 15.

Population studies suggest that Mille Lacs currently has a relatively high number of 18- to 20-inch walleye. Parson hopes Angler will benefit from the easing of restrictions.

“We hope anglers come out and take advantage of this opportunity to catch walleye on Mille Lacs,” Parsons said. “Anglers have been calling for the regulations on walleye to be relaxed to increase fishing opportunities when conditions allow, and this is one of those times.”

Complete regulations regarding fishing restrictions for Millie Lacs Lake can be found on the Minnesota DNR website.