"The 15" minimum will be effective this year", non-band anglers and resort owners told us this is a regulation we can live with."

In January, Judge Michael Davis approved a Chippewa band harvest at 40,000 pounds for this upcoming season, non-band anglers 280,000 pounds. Although that is less than anglers typically catch, it is more that some years when fishing was slow.

The Minnesota State officials are appealing the court decision. "Our legal options have been exhausted at the District Court level," said Sando. ", Minnesotans must understand that the court-approved treaty harvest will begin soon".

"With this new regulation change in place, we believe we can protect the resource while providing anglers with good fishing, "Sando said.

You may visit the Mille Lacs Fishing Digest for updated reports.

"Secretary Meyer said Staggs had a strong grasp of aquatic ecosystems and an appreciation of the public's desire to actively protect those ecosystems".

Madison, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Secretary George Meyer announced the appointment of Michael D. Staggs, the department's fisheries research chief, as director of the agency's Bureau of Fisheries Management and Habitat Protection.

The Wisconsin fishing community hopes Staggs comes into office with an understanding of the concerns of the of many state anglers, charter captains and business owners " we're giving the state an increase in license fees and we would like to see a positive return on our investment", said one angler.