Meeting on Mille Lacs Walleyes Draws Big Crowd

GARRISON (AP) - One of Minnesota's most popular fishing lakes is likely to see tight restrictions this summer to help its walleye population recover.

Officials from the Department of Natural Resources presented options to a packed meeting Wednesday night of residents and business owners in the Mille Lacs Lake area.

Tom Jones, the DNR's treaties manager, told them anglers likely will only be able to keep a narrow size range of walleyes they catch from Mille Lacs, perhaps only walleyes between 18 and 20 inches long. And the limit may drop to two.

But Jones says the DNR will probably liberalize regulations to promote fishing for smallmouth bass and northern pike, which prey on young walleyes.

Other options discussed included a possible ban on night fishing, which drew strong opposition from resort owners.