While driving down the road earlier today, (Monday March 28th), I tuned into KKIN radio out of Aitkin Minnesota. My timing fell into the tail end of a call-in show with Minnesota DNR reps on hand to answer listener questions. By the time I tuned in, the host never did identify the DNR reps so I have no idea who did the call-in answering.

Interestingly, the first caller I heard asked, in so many words...... "why is the gill-netting of walleyes allowed on Mille Lacs during the spawn?" Amazingly, the DNR answer was, basically,,......" no big deal as it doesn't matter if you take a walleye in February or April". He added in so many words, "this type of fishing is done in many other areas without a problem."

Last summer, I heard the same answer from DNR fisheries managers while in a meeting with Mn. Legislators and Tribal reps. "No difference between taking a fish during the spawn or whenever."

FYI: The Supreme Court did NOT affirm that the use of gill-nets during the spawn to excercise Tribal treaty rights was okay. The court ordered that Mn. DNR and Tribal DNR negotiate the "how and when" part of these rights, and the harvest "allocation" between State and Tribal amounts as well, in a fashion that will be safe for the resource and done in an equitable fashion.

I tried to make a follow up question to the show but they never gave out the number again before the DNR reps left the air.

So I ask the question,now, in this bigger forum.

WHY then do we have a "closed" walleye season in Minnesota? WHY in some springs, when ice out is late in some far northern walleye waters, is the open angling season delayed (as it might be this spring)? WHY is there a potential of being cited, if you are NOT Tribal, for taking a walleye during a "closed season" , if it "makes no difference?" And as long we are on the subject, WHERE is there gill-netting of walleye allowed, during the spawn, in ANY U.S. water, with the exception of Lake Mille Lacs? And lastly, WHY are gill-nets illegal to harvest walleyes if the Tribal harvest done with gill-nets is no big deal? "Makes no difference."

Please Mn. DNR, come to the local press, state anglers and maybe the courts too, and clarify your walleye fishery management past and present day philosophy, geared toward the hook and line angler, regarding open and closed seasons, and method of harvest.

I and the listeners will await the DNR answers and reasoning behind their statements on the KKIN airwaves, made today. contact Steve Fellegy at 651-270-3383 or sf1954@embarqmail.com