A floating protest plans to be within sight of Governor Mark Dayton as he wets a line on Lake Mille Lacs today to promote bass fishing. Doug Meyenburg with the group PERM says he has no problem with that, but walleye fishing on Mille Lacs needs to be “straightened out” and the problem is tribal fishing. Meyenburg says, “You cannot be out there gill-netting fish — pregnant fish — during the spawn.” Officials with the Mille Lacs Band weren’t available for comment.
Governor Dayton says despite Mille Lacs number-one national ranking for bass, that doesn’t replace walleye fishing. He says the current situation with the walleye population on Mille Lacs is “very debilitating and damaging for people whose lives and occupations are affected by this serious problem.” The DNR has named a fresh panel of experts to try to come up with solutions.