St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News) - Resort owners along Mille Lacs Lake received some disappointing news today.

The Minnesota Department of Natural resources announced that a ban on walleye fishing in Mille Lacs will be extended by two weeks, until August 11th. A statement from the DNR says new fisheries data shows the total safe harvest allocation for walleye on the popular fishing lake has already been exceeded for the season. That harvest allocation was just under 45,000 pounds.

The department says the state will allow for another 11,000 pounds of walleye to be harvested in order to ask them the walleye fishing season through Labor Day. Catch and release walleye fishing will be allowed on Mille Lacs from August 11th through September 4th, and then the walleye fishing will be closed through November 30th.

The Department of Natural Resources stresses that fishing is allowed for all other species in the lake, including bass, muskies and northern pike.

Governor Mark Dayton recently announced the state would be conducting a walleye population survey of the lake in hopes there could be an easing of fishing restrictions. His order came a few days after demonstrators protesting the original three week ban on walleye fishing in Mille Lacs disrupted a scheduled fishing outing by the governor.

 

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