This space has not hidden my personal feelings in regard to the Tribal treaty harvest rights issue at Lake Mille Lacs. Although many share my views on this situation, I write on behalf, formally, of no one group.

That said, it's been no secret, via the Internet, that a group of Lake MIlle Lacs business owners, fishing guides and local residents, formally asked our Mn. DNR, in writing, to take action to ultimately end the gill-netting of spawning Lake MIlle Lacs walleyes by Native Americans. They asked the DNR to take the issue back to court in the best interest of the lake and the related economy.

This week, the MN. DNR Commissioner, Tom Landwehr, gave them their answer, in writing. And to say the least, this Lake Mille Lacs fan and Mn. citizen that the Commissioner represents, is confused with and quite frankly, embarrassed by his answer.

In 1999, the Federal Courts ruled that their Lake Mille Lacs treaty harvest ruling can not be objected to or in other words, brought back to court, unless their was grounds for concern regarding "public safety, public health and or CONSERVATION". Yes, that's right. "CONSERVATION"!! (remember the era when the DNR was called the Conservation Department?--hold that memory)

Now, as we read this and digest this answer from the DNR, let's ask the questions like why do we have closed fishing seasons during the spawning season via hook and line anglers throughout MN.? Or why have gill-nets been outlawed for many decades? Or, if lakes in northeastern Mn. are closed to the public for the traditional opener due to late ice outs, for hook and line angling during the spawn, to protect "congregated, vulnerable walleyes", what is so different at Lake Mille Lacs during the walleye spawning period? Are the Lake Mille Lacs walleyes NOT "congregated and vulnerable" , even though 70 tons of them can be killed by Native American gill-nets in less than a two week period of time--during the spawn?

Governor Mark Dayton, on video during his campaign two years ago, said he didn't like the mess going on at Lake Mille Lacs. He said he was for equal rights to all Mn. natural resources, no matter of anyone's race or ethnic origin. Yet, this week, his own appointee is allowed to speak with a forked tongue! In the name of "conservation" preached and enacted for many decades in Mn. , can anyone explain the Commissioner's answer?

What was his answer you ask? "METHODS OR TIMING OF FISH HARVEST ARE NOT A CONSERVATION ISSUE IN AND OF THEMSELVES. TO BE ABLE TO OBJECT TO THIS PRACTICE, THE STATE WOULD HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY MAKE AN ARGUMENT THAT THIS PRACTICE WAS CREATING A CONSERVATION ISSUE FOR THE FISH POPULATIONS OF THE LAKE."

So, do I cry, laugh, get outraged, embarrassed or what by the guy and department that is in place to protect my and your Lake Mille Lacs walleyes--with THAT viewpoint?

I'll take a deep breath if you do and re-read his answer, knowing what the '99 court orders included. But I won't, publicly, describe what I exhale......

I suggest every Mn. citizen and media rep call and email the Commish and ask him to, with a straight face, explain his answer. How about we ask him on TV camera standing on the ice at Lake Mille Lacs, knowing that he is willing to sit back and watch miles of gill-nets set under his feet during the spawn? Ask him to explain why Lake Mille Lacs walleyes are not treated and viewed the same by his department as all other walleyes swimming in Mn. waters. Ask him, in the name of CONSERVATION!!!!! And try not to laugh.......

In the meantime? See ya in court Tom. Bring your dictionary and Mn. fishing laws while you're at it.

contact Steve Fellegy at sf1954@embarqmail.com or 651-270-3383