[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n 1837 a treaty was signed for the Native Americans that allowed them to spear and net walleye on Mille Lacs Lake. During this time the food provided by the lake was a major food source. They used canoes and netted fish. Now the netting is unnecessary for the tribes on the lake. In today’s modern society, people can go to the grocery store to get all their food and do not need to fish as their only food source. Also, people now have access to boats and electronics that can pinpoint fish in the lake. If they continue netting then they should use equipment that they used back in 1837 and should not be able to use modern technology. In today’s modern time, the Natives do not have to solely depend on this lake for food.

Tribal Netting 

Ever since 1837 when the treaty for the Native Americans was signed, tribes on Mille Lacs were allowed to net and spear fish. 180 years later, they are still allowed to do this.

During this ban, the tribes that live on Mille Lacs were allowed to spear and net during the ban. The people of the public have a problem with this because people cannot even fish for walleye at all, while the tribes can spear and net. The public blames the tribes for this ban because they think that the only reason that the population is going down is the netting.

In an article by the Pioneer Press, “only nets are being set for “ceremonial harvest” by members of the Mille Lacs Band Of Ojibwe.” Although they have done this, the tribes are still spearing and taking fish from the lake. In a creel report done by the Minnesota DNR on August 25th, the tribes had taken “13,886 of the 19,200 pounds allowed.” Even if they say below the limit, the fish they took could have stayed in the lake and could help the population stay up.

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The ban and why it happened

According to the MN DNR, the Mille Lacs Lake ban happened twice. From May 10th to July 6th, walleye fishing was catch and release only. Then from July 7th to August 10th, walleye could not be targeted.  Also while it was closed there was no live bait allowed. After this period, it was switched back to catch and release only from August 11th to September 4th. After this, the season closed again from September 5th to November 30th where no walleye could be targeted. This was along with the night fishing ban from May 13th to November 30th where only northern pike and muskellunge could be targeted.

Changes in the Lake

There are many new changes that have happened to the lake that has affected the walleye population. The populations of other fish and species are affecting the walleye. One of the main problems is the fish that spawn are eaten by other fish and even other walleye. The northern pike in the lake are eating the smaller walleye. Even the bigger walleye are eating the small walleye because of the lack of food. In an article by the Duluth Star News, cormorants, which are pelican-like birds, are eating the fish which is further hurting the population. The populations of baitfish and other fish walleye eat has decreased, which is directly affecting the walleye population.

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Is the ban helping?

This ban is not doing very much for the population. It might be stopping fishing for a little bit and stopping people from taking fish, but it is doing nothing long term. This is not helping the main problem of the lack of food for the fish. The walleye are not being affected by this ban in a good way at all. This ban is basically useless and does not help the population of fish in Mille Lacs Lake.

Possible solutions

One of the major things that I believe needs to be done is to stop all tribal netting and spearing. In today’s modern age this is not helping anything in the lake. They are netting during the walleye spawn. Although some people have said this has no effect on the population, it is not helping the fish reproduce and grow populations.

Also, there are many other smarter options that the DNR could do. They could stock more tubilee and perch in the lake. This would provide a stable food source for the walleye. This would help because the walleye would stop eating their young and increase the number of fish that can get bigger.

One thing that the DNR is doing right is killing the cormorants to stop them from eating the fish. They are hiring shooters to kill these birds to stop them from eating walleye.

Overall the DNR has not been doing much to help the situation. They could just leave the lake alone for awhile and see what happens. Once there are fewer walleyes then people will stop fishing the lake that much. They will leave and go to better lakes. Once the population comes back, then the people will start to come back. In this case, the best thing the DNR can do is nothing at all.

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