Lake Mille Lacs Open To Walleye This Winter

(KNSI) – Ice anglers on Lake Mille Lacs and Upper Red Lake can keep walleyes this season. Starting December 1st, anglers will be able to keep one walleye between 21-23 inches or one fish longer than 28 inches on Mille Lacs.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says this is the sixth consecutive year with special winter regulations on Mille Lacs. The DNR says it sets fishing numbers based on the annual fall netting assessment. Conservation officers say the results from 2021 showed that the walleye population has declined in recent years but remains above population lows between 2012 and 2016.

Mille Lacs Lake winter regulations also reduce the possession limit for cisco (tullibee) from 10 to five and prohibit keeping burbot (eelpout).

On Monday, a four-walleye bag limit, with only one walleye longer than 17 inches, went into effect on Upper Red Lake. The new regulation on Upper Red increases the possession limit from the three-fish limit that was in place during the 2020-2021 winter season and 2021 open water season. The DNR says this fall’s walleye assessment showed a wide range of sizes with an abundance of mature spawning walleye, which allowed for larger bag limits.

For more on Mille Lacs and Red Lake special regulations, click here.

___