The goal is to provide information and incentives necessary to preserve and improve the fisheries habitat and appropriate balance of desirable species in Lake Miltona.
Committee Members
Jerry Fulton, chair - jjfulton@gctel.com
Gene Benting – gbntng@gmail.com
Fish Management Objectives
Lake Miltona Association will work with the DNR to preserve the fishery of the lake for appropriate game fish.
Status and Accomplishments
2010: Several volunteers got together to make, then post the lake management committee suggested' walleye size' limit signs. As shown below they are: Steve Russell and Don Schaefer and Don again at the Tip Top Cove Resort. Below them are Gene Benting and Dwight Droen at the Viking Bay Resort and Jerry Fulton at the West public landing.
2009: Jerry Fulton, chair of the fisheries sub-committee, and Gene Benting reported on the 2009 walleye stocking. In 2009, 14,000 walleye fingerlings were stocked in Lake Miltona through participation in the Vikings Sportsmen’s matching program. 
The low cost of this program, $2,000 for 14,000 fingerlings, was deemed the most effective approach by most of the directors and approved by the Minnesota DNR. The annual walleye shock-survey conducted by the DNR in late August yielded 128 small walleyes per hour, a very high rate compared to previous years. The DNR guidelines provide for some walleye stocking when the shock-survey yields less than 24 walleyes per hour. No walleye fry were stocked by the association in 2009.
The report also included recommendations set forth in the Lake Management Plan which were e-mailed to all directors with copies distributed at the meeting.
1) Develop a Comprehensive Fisheries Management Plan.
A) Review information released by the Minnesota DNR
i. Lake Miltona Surveys by DNR
ii. Articles and publications regarding Minnesota and regional lake fishery research and findings.
iii. Results from netting and electro-shocking activities.
iv. Laws, regulations and guidelines for anglers
B) Review information published by other fishery experts
i. Technological advances for monitoring and improving fisheries
ii. Best practices engaged by other similar lakes and species.
iii. Surveys and statistics for establishing fish count per angling hour for desirable species
C) Publish a written plan
i. Short-term urgent issues (current year)
ii. Long-term comprehensive issues (5 years)
iii. Update the plan annually
2) Volunteer Walleye Slot Limits
A) Releasing walleyes less than a minimum and over a maximum length.
i. Research slot limit best practices in the 4 state region
ii. Isolate characteristics that make efforts successful
iii. Discuss strategy with the MN DNR
iv. Communicate the recommendations to anglers
v. Place signs/posters on docks, bait shops, public accesses, resorts
B) Survey Lake Miltona area anglers
i. Design a non-complicated survey
ii. Distribute annually to area anglers
iii. Analyze survey responses and develop recommendations
iv. Publish results and recommendations
C) Funding for fisheries management plan/program
i. Signage and installation $250
ii. Conducting (mailing) surveys $300
iii. Distributing survey results $300
iv. Travel to MN DNR $40
v. Printing, copying, processing $90
vi. Total monetary resources needed $980
IDEAS:
AquaView (underwater camera) observations
Walleye spawning activities/observations
University fisheries studies
Annual climate variations (rainfall, water temperature, snow cover)
Funding sources: http://www.minnesotawaters.org/
Helpful websights:
http://www.minnesotawaters.org/
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