GARRISON — The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has set a walleye harvest for Lake Mille Lacs this winter.
Ice anglers will be able to keep a fish between 21 and 23 inches or one over 28 inches.
The fall net assessment found higher numbers of loons than the 2021 assessment and similar to the 2017-2020 populations. The DNR says the condition of walleye, or “thick,” improved significantly for fish larger than 14 inches, reflecting greater availability of feeder fish.
The greater abundance of food in the lake also likely affected catch rates, which were lower in 2022 than in recent years.
Harvest rules for the 2023 open water season will be announced in the spring.