Outdoors Weekly News Archive

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Red Lake Nation, and Bureau of Indian Affairs have signed a new five-year agreement that outlines how the parties will work together to maintain the health of the Upper and Lower Red lakes fishery.

The new memorandum of understanding closely parallels a 1999-2009 agreement that helped restore high-quality walleye fishing to Minnesota’s largest inland body of water. The agreement, among other things, states each entity will support the Red Lake Fisheries Technical Committee, a joint panel of experts that recommends policies and practices to maintain a healthy fishery.

“We’ve come a long way in the past decade,” said DNR Commissioner Mark Holsten, noting that anglers have caught more than 1.1 million pounds of walleye since the lake was reopened to fishing in 2006. “By renewing this agreement, we are reaffirming our commitment to a process that has delivered results.”

“Red Lake Band members are pleased that our walleye have come back and our fishing community is revitalized,” said Floyd Jourdain Jr., chairman of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians. “We are committed to ensuring that Red Lake walleye are managed sustainably in the future. Renewing this agreement will enable the Fisheries Technical Committee to continue its work to help protect this valuable resource.”

The agreement was signed today during a brief ceremony in Red Lake. Historically, Upper and Lower Red lakes were outstanding walleye fisheries, but they collapsed in the mid-1990s due to over harvest. The Red Lake Fisheries Technical Committee was formed in 1998. Since then, the regulations, policies and other actions this joint body has recommended have led to a healthy walleye population and a resurgent walleye fishing economy.

For many Minnesotans there is nothing like walking on a frozen lake, carving a hole and pulling up an elusive fish from the depths below. When word gets out that there’s a good fish bite on a lake, ice anglers descend on the spot. Often that pristine environment becomes littered with bottles, cans, cigarette butts, or worse.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conservation officers say the biggest problem is identifying the perpetrators.

“Lakes are normally ringed by fish houses this time of year so conservation officers find it challenging to identify who is leaving trash on a lake,” said Capt. Ken Soring, DNR Enforcement northeast regional manager in Grand Rapids. “Another factor is the wind, which makes it difficult to prove where the trash came from. And we just don’t have enough conservation officers to thoroughly enforce litter laws.”

Conservation officers also have Solid Waste Civil Citation authority. These civil citations are “by the pound” or “by the cubic foot” penalties, and since they are not criminal charges, they don’t require proof beyond a reasonable doubt. The person suspected of littering must pay the penalty and clean up the mess.

Conservation officers on Lake Mille Lacs utilize a blaze orange “notice” door tag with a label pasted on the back that essentially asks people to take their litter and blocking materials with them. Officers place the tag on fish houses, especially those that have litter around them. The tag also mentions the statute and potential penalty for violating the law.

“Officers will be documenting houses that have litter around them or look like they may be abandoned,” said Lt. Rita Frenzel, Lake Mille Lacs District Enforcement supervisor. “Given the size of Mille Lacs and the number of houses, this may be somewhat hit and miss. But we will be diligent in pursuing litter cases.” She noted officers will also be talking to resort owners about removing blocking material and remnants of ice bridges discarded on lakes.

Brainerd, MN–Early estimates indicate that over 11,000 anglers were on Gull Lake’s Hole in the Day Bay north of Brainerd today. 843 fish were registered in the 20th Annual Ice Fishing Extravaganza hosted by the Brainerd Jaycees. The line for the weigh-in tent was one hundred yards long within minutes of the event start at 12:00pm. As it turns out, the winning fish was caught within the first few minutes of the contest beginning, and it was a 6.26 pound walleye caught by Curtis Yess of Waseca, MN. Yess is a past President of the Waseca-area Jaycees and he was excited to catch the winning fish. “We never ran anything like this when I was a Jaycee,” said Yess, “this is incredible.” Yess took home a brand new GMC Pick-up Truck – new this year was the winner’s choice between a GMC or a Ford F-150 Pick-up.

The walleye is the winningest fish species in the history of the Extravaganza. Yess caught his fish in 61 feet of water with a glow hook and a shiner minnow. In 100th place, winning a Suzuki KingQaud 400 ATV was Greg Steffel of Olivia, MN. He caught a 0.70 pound walleye. In last place (150th) was Dylan Kloek of Royalton, MN. He landed on the prize board with a 0.63 pound perch.

More than 10,000 volunteer hours go into planning the world’s largest charitable ice fishing tournament. Among the 450 volunteers is Brent Morris, the chairman of the contest this year. He said, “I’m excited that we had such a great turn-out and the event went off without a hitch. That’s a tribute to our volunteers and the great planning and history this event has developed over its 20-year history.”

Angler Travis Nelson competed in his 15th Extravaganza and even though he didn’t catch a fish he was happy to support the event, “It’s all for a good cause,” said Nelson. He’s referring to the fact that 100% of the proceeds are donated to area 501c3 organizations with the largest beneficiary being Confidence Learning Center – a facility for people with developmental disabilities. “We think the fact that it’s a charitable event contributes greatly to its success,” said Morris.

All of the official event information can be found online at www.icefishing.org including a complete winner’s list. Next year’s event will be held on Saturday, January 22, 2011.