UPDATED 7/21/17 -- The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has announced that it is extending the Walleye closure on Mille Lacs Lake. The shutdown originally scheduled to end on July 27th, will now extend until August 11th.


7/5/17 -- The Minnesota DNR is set to impose more restrictions on what many consider to be Minnesota's premiere walleye fishery.

Walleye anglers on Mille Lacs Lake have been under catch-and-release regulations since the season opened in May. Now, all walleye fishing on Mille Lacs will be prohibited for the next several weeks.

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The moratorium begins Thursday night at 10:00 p.m. and will last until 6:00 a.m. Friday, July 28th.

DNR officials say the moratorium is necessary to help protect the fish when they are most vulnerable to hook mortality. The warmer water and high fishing pressure can lead to fish dying easier after being released.

However, you can still fish all other species but only with artificial bait or sucker minnows longer than eight inches.

Following the July closure, catch-and-release walleye regulations will continue through Labor Day.

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