Winter walleye regulations for Mille Lacs, Upper Red Lake

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources released the winter season walleye regulations on Tuesday, for Mille Lacs Lake and Upper Red Lake. Ice anglers will be able to harvest walleye on both lakes this winter season.

Beginning on Monday, November 1, the DNR says a four-walleye bag limit, with one walleye longer than 17 inches will be allowed on Upper Red Lake on Monday, Nov. 1. This is up from the three-fish limit that was in place during the 2020-2021 winter season. Officials say the increase is due to an abundance of mature spawning walleye found in this fall’s walley population assessment.

On Wednesday, Dec. 1, through Sunday, Feb. 27, winter anglers on Mille Lacs may keep one walleye between 21-23 inches or one fish longer than 28 inches.

The DNR says this is the sixth consecutive year of winter walleye harvest on Mille Lacs, where winter regulations are set after completion of the annual fall netting assessment. According to the release, the results from 2021 showed that the walleye population has declined from recent years but remains above population lows seen from 2012 to 2016.

Mille Lacs Lake winter regulations also reduce the possession limit for cisco (tullibee) from 10 to five and forbid the harvest of burbot (eelpout).

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resource’s website offers regulation Information on both lakes – Upper Red Lake and Mille Lacs Lake.