Mille Lacs winter fishing limits: one walleye, five pike
Fishing on Mille Lacs | Fox 9 file photo
(KMSP) - Anglers on Mille Lacs will be limited to one walleye during the winter fishing season. The DNR announced the winter walleye regulation will allow anglers to keep one walleye between 19 and 21 inches or one longer than 28 inches.
Winter walleye season starts on Dec. 1 and will go through Feb. 26, 2017.
The walleye season on Mille Lacs closed on Sept. 6 following concerns about the population from eight Chippewa bands. RELATED: Mille Lacs walleye season to close Sept. 6
Tribal and DNR biologists met on Nov. 1 to evaluate the status of the walleye population following the 2015-2016 fishing season.
"The winter season regulation enables Mille Lacs anglers to catch and keep walleye while providing necessary fish conservation and support to the Mille Lacs area economy," said Don Pereira, DNR fisheries chief.
Winter regulations for northern pike will stay the same as last winter, with five allowed per angler, but in order to keep one longer than 30 inches – anglers must have caught two pike shorter than 30 inches.
Pike regulation starts on Dec. 1 and goes through March 26 for angling and Feb. 26 for spearing.