Walleye Fishing On Lake Mille Lacs Faces Further Uncertainty

MILLE LACS (AP) - Businesses on Lake Mille Lacs are dealing with further uncertainty, now that walleye fishing has been shut down, and prospects for a special legislative session are extremely unlikely.

No one, including fisheries managers with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, can say whether walleye fishing will be allowed on the lake this winter. In July, the agency banned walleye fishing until Dec. 1 due to the species' declining population in the lake.

Gov. Mark Dayton asked state lawmakers to hold a special session to offer interest-free loans to businesses that rely on walleye fishing for income. A bipartisan committee has held several meetings, but co-chairs from both parties have said they want to avoid a special session.