Fond du Lac Band names 13 northeastern lakes where it will spear walleyes

The Fond du Lac Band of Chippewa has revealed the 13 northeastern Minnesota lakes where members will exercise their treaty rights to spear walleyes this spring.

It's the first time the tribe has speared fish in the northeast since it began reasserting its treaty rights.

The selected lakes are smaller ones, and all are in Cook, Lake and St. Louis counties. The band intends to take up to 1,949 walleyes, according to the band's website. The band worked with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to set quotes and select the lakes.

The quotas range from 304 walleyes from Tait Lake north of Lutsen in Cook County to 59 for Cadotte Lake southeast of Hoyt Lakes in St. Louis County.

The lakes and the quotas:

• Cook County: Ball Club (120), Caribou (144), Cascade (168), Elbow (82), Fourmile (119), Pike (163), Tait (304) and Tom (81).

• Lake County: Dumbbell (81), Silver Island (270), Wilson (130).

With Minnesota's fishing opener just four weeks away, anglers still are ice fishing across much of northern Minnesota. They are driving trucks on lakes near Bemidji, where 36 inches of ice still covers lakes. Officials say rain and warm temperatures are needed to melt the ice.

"Area lakes are still in great shape with plenty of folks out trying their luck with panfish over the weekend,'' reported DNR conservation officer Don Murray of Two Harbors.

• DNR conservation officer Marty Stage of Ely said he found dead deer "in a lot of places throughout the week'' as the long winter continues to take its toll on whitetails.

• A black Lab was attacked by four wolves in the Pequot Lakes area; the dog survived but received stitches.

• Officials are investigating a report of livestock depredation, possibly involving a mountain lion, near Lyle, south of Rochester.