Dayton Worries Early Closing for Walleye Opener Could be Blow to Economy

The decision was made Friday shortly before Gov. Mark Dayton held a town meeting in Isle over concerns about the lake’s declining walleye population.

With the possibility of the state shutting down Mille Lacs walleye fishing in midseason perhaps days away, Dayton visited the shores of Mille Lacs, whose fishing-based economy sits, in his words, “on the brink of disaster”.

Up for debate in the special session legwork is whether lawmakers should mandate restocking Mille Lacs, as they did at Leech Lake.

“I’d like to do it as soon as possible”, he said.

Resorts and other businesses around Mille Lacs Lake thrive off anglers traveling to the state’s marquee destination for walleye fishing.

An early end to the walleye season could be dire to area resorts that depend on fishing expeditions to stay afloat. “They want walleye and the big walleye”, said Christianson.

“In our little two mile stretch in St. Alban’s bay we’ve seen seven businesses close in the last five years”, Linda Eno of Twin Pines Resort in Garrison told KARE. “Maybe we don’t need to do that”.

Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) set a 40,000-pound catch limit on walleye this fishing season on the popular lake, of which 11,600 pounds was earmarked for eight Indian tribes in Minnesota and Wisconsin – including the Mille Lacs Band – under treaty rights established 178 years ago. The DNR adds that lakes go through cycles of having a lot and fewer fish.

The DNR says a variety of factors are devastating the walleye population. The state’s share amounts to more than 28,000 pounds. Bakk disagrees with the notion that state government should not help area businesses.

“This is the largest natural walleye factory in the world, and you can have all kinds of reasons and explanations, but the fact is we are where we are today. There’s a process, through the Legislative Coordinating Commission, where a business can come and look for relief in those kind of situations, and they do”.

The Governor and his staff have been working over the past week to design a financial aid package, which could consist of zero interest loans, property tax abatements, and additional tourism advertising and promotion funds. A recent economic survey of Mille Lacs County showed that 22 percent of the workforce is in the leisure and tourism industry.