Meeting Being Held to Discuss Mille Lacs Walleye Management

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (AP) - Stakeholders will meet with fisheries managers Thursday to discuss how to regulate the hook-and-line harvest of walleyes on Mille Lacs Lake, where officials have slashed the quota to the lowest level ever.

The Department of Natural Resources announced in January that the lake's safe walleye harvest level will be 60,000 pounds, compared with 250,000 pounds last year. Sport anglers are allowed 42,900 pounds while eight Chippewa bands with treaty rights get 17,100 pounds.

Reports say that in a letter to Mille Lacs Fishery Input Group members, fisheries supervisor Rick Bruesewitz says it's a challenging time at Mille Lacs. The lake hasn't produced a strong year class of walleye since 2008

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at the Hazelton Town Hall. It's open to the public.