Lake Mille Lacs retains two-walleye limit this winter, with four-walleye limit on Upper Red

St. Paul — Given positive trends for walleye populations on Lake Mille Lacs and Upper Red Lake, the Minnesota DNR extended current walleye limits on both water bodies for the winter season at two and four, respectively.

The DNR approved a two-walleye limit on Mille Lacs for the upcoming winter season, as it was discussed during the mid-October Mille Lacs Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting.

Once solid ice forms for the season, anglers may keep two Mille Lacs walleyes between 18 and 20 inches long or one in that range plus one walleye longer than 28 inches, from Dec. 1 through Feb. 23.

MORE ICE FISHING COVERAGE FROM OUTDOOR NEWS:

Comfort, mobility, efficiency: Top ice-fishing gear for 2024-25

Catch more, rebait less: Soft plastics are redefining ice angling

From gel cells to lithium batteries, keep your modern ice electronics working

After the MLFAC meeting on Oct. 15, the DNR believed it would go ahead with a two-walleye limit winter slot. The agency is sticking with the same regulation it implemented on Friday, Aug. 16, after catch-and-release-only walleye angling earlier in the open-water season.

As of Sept. 30, state-licensed anglers had harvested 29,891 of the 91,550 pounds of walleyes they were allocated for the 2024 fishing season.

The confidence in allowing a two-fish limit is a result of the fall gill-net study that showed high forage in the lake and a positive walleye population trend.

That high forage that made the DNR confident in the decision could make the bite a bit more challenging for anglers on Mille Lacs this ice-fishing season.

Upper Red Lake’s gill-netting results showed Tony Kennedy, the Bemidji-area large lake specialist, that there was a surplus of walleyes, thus boosting the DNR’s confidence in extending its summer limit of four walleyes.

“I like to see young fish because then we know we have fish for the next several years,” Kennedy said.

Anglers who plan to hit the ice may keep four walleyes, one of which may be larger than 17 inches.

The past fishing season on Upper Red Lake had a three-fish limit from opener to June 14, then the DNR upped it to four June 15. Kennedy said that Upper Red was slightly over its anticipated winter catch, which prompted the limit reduction.

He said he doesn’t anticipate a similar trend by starting with four in the winter because the max poundage that anglers may take through the year is more than 300,000 pounds – a jump from last year’s limit.

“There’s lots of fish out there.

Everything looks really good. … We’re in surplus condition this year,” Kennedy said.

He said he expects the bite to be relatively good this season, like it normally is, primarily being driven by angler pressure.

“People always ask where to fish on Red… I think the answer is as far away from the next party as you can,” Kennedy said, laughing.

Leech Lake’s regulations will also continue as they have since 2019, with a limit of four walleyes including one allowed over 20 inches.

“We’ve got a real strong 2021 year-class coming up that are just perfect, catchable sizes right now. You know, that preferred size for anglers from 15- to 18-inch fish, so there’s bunch of those fish out there right now,” said Carl Pedersen, the Walker-area large lake specialist.

It was difficult to definitively say whether the bite will be good this season or not as the creel survey showed a lot of forage in the lake, which could challenge the bite. However, the forage could also provide an opportunity for anglers, too.

“We saw some pretty decent catches of bigger-sized perch as well. So, mixed in with a pretty good walleye bag there’s a chance for getting some of those nice jumbos,” Pedersen said.

Lake of the Woods’ winter walleye/sauger limit will remain at six, but limited to four walleyes smaller than 19.5 inches with one larger than 28 inches allowed.

Fisheries managers there are working on a new management plan for Lake of the Woods which could mean changes, but Region 1 Fisheries Manager Marc Bacigalupi doesn’t anticipate a major re-adjustment.

“We don’t have major reg changes planned, so that slot size is working well in the limits,” Bacigalupi said.