Mille Lacs walleye quota raised

There's good news for Lake Mille Lacs walleye anglers.

Because of improving walleye numbers helped by a low harvest last year, the safe walleye harvest for Mille Lacs this year is being boosted to 541,000 pounds, up from 430,000 pounds last season.

That means the 2009 open water walleye regulations likely will remain the same as last year: An 18- to 28-inch protected slot (fish in that range must be released), and a four-fish bag limit, with one trophy fish over 28 inches.

The Department of Natural Resources won't set the 2009 regulations until later this month after it meets with the Mille Lacs Fisheries Input Group, but the agency will recommend that the regulations remain the same as last year, said Ron Payer, DNR fisheries chief.

"The group has said it wants regulation stability," Payer said.

The state's allocation of the safe walleye harvest is 414,500 pounds, up from 307,500 last year. Indian bands that signed the 1837 Treaty will be allocated 126,500 pounds of walleye this season, up from 122,500 last year.

Officials still have to evaluate the winter walleye harvest, but that likely won't be a large factor. Anglers harvested only about 1,200 pounds in December and about 10,000 pounds in January, Payer said.

Total walleye angling harvest was 76,000 pounds in 2008. The safe harvest level was increased from last year because of low total harvest in 2008.

Meanwhile, the yellow perch and northern pike safe harvest levels are the same as last year. The yellow perch level is 270,000 pounds; the northern pike level is 25,000 pounds. The state's allocation is 135,000 pounds of yellow perch and 12,500 pounds of northern pike.