Following public input, DNR to implement revised regulations on Leech Lake (2005-01-04)

After receiving strong support during a public comment period that ended Dec. 27, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced that it will implement size and bag limit regulation changes for walleye on Leech Lake.

The experimental regulation is designed to protect walleye brood stock in the lake, which DNR biologists and anglers are concerned about due to weak year classes since 1997.

As of the walleye opener, scheduled for May 14, 2005, the new regulations on Leech Lake will allow total possession of four walleye, only one of which can exceed 26 inches. Walleye in a protective slot of 18 inches to 26 inches must be returned to the water.

The DNR decided to narrow the protected slot limit based on comments from the public, according to Henry Drewes, DNR northwest regional fisheries manager.

"The original proposal was an 18-28 inch protected slot," said Drewes. "After the angling community expressed interest in keeping a few more larger fish, we took another look at our population models and determined that we could still accomplish our goal of protecting a significant amount of brood stock if we modified the slot on the upper end to 26 inches."

The DNR received more than 270 comments related to the walleye regulation proposal, of which about 81 percent were in favor of the protected slot, reduced daily possession limits and the one-over limit, according to Harlan Fierstine, Walker area fisheries supervisor. In addition, more than 400 Walker-area residents purchased space in the local newspaper to express their support for the regulations.

"We got the message loud and clear that people want to see a proactive, holistic management plan for improving the walleye fishery on the lake," said Fierstine. "And the plan people want to see in place this spring includes walleye regulations, proactive cormorant management, experimental walleye fry stocking and habitat protection. We've responded with a five-year plan to address all of those issues, and there is solid public acceptance and support for the plan."

The effectiveness of the new regulations will be evaluated over the next five years through annual walleye population monitoring and angler surveys. The DNR will consider a different regulation suite in five years if biologists find evidence of improved walleye year class production.

In addition to the walleye regulations, the DNR is working with the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services program to initiate stepped-up control measures for the rapidly expanding cormorant colony on the lake. DNR staff is also finalizing the details of a plan to stock the lake with five million marked walleye fry during each of the next three years and developing short-and long-term fish habitat goals with the Leech Lake Association, local units of government and others.

"By addressing the problem on multiple fronts, we are improving our chances of success," said Drewes. "The four-part plan is all about reducing risk. If one element of our plan doesn't have the desired result or isn't improving the fishery as fast as we'd like, we'll already have the other elements in place to help us achieve our goals. Approval of the regulations is the first piece of the plan we've put in place. With regulations in place to protect brood stock, we can focus on pulling together the other pieces of our management plan."

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