Live Bait Allowed on Mille Lacs Lake; Walleye Still Catch-and-Release

The Minnesota DNR will now allow live bait to be used on Mille Lacs Lake when the fishing season opens on Saturday, May 14. 

All other regulations will remain in place, including the provision that requires all walleye caught to be immediately released. 

The new regulations come as the DNR is working to conserve young walleyes so they can mature and become spawners, thus helping the lake’s walleye population to recover. Hooking mortality – an estimate of the number of fish that die after being caught and returned to the water – is a factor in keeping state anglers under this year’s state walleye allotment.

Don Pereira, Fisheries Section Chief for the Minnesota DNR says they are hearing that anglers are accepting the catch-and-release aspect of the walleye season, but had concerns about the live bait restriction, along with the DNR.  

The DNR decided to allow the use of live bait after a productive discussion with committee members on Wednesday. 

Anglers and the Mille Lacs Advisory Committee Members said live bait is an important part of the Mille Lacs fishing experience.   The DNR staff learned that it would be difficult for some anglers to adapt to using only artificial bait, and it could particularly discourage young anglers.