The number of lakes is up a little bit, but nothing major,'' said Doug Beard, treaty fisheries coordinator for the state Department of Natural Resources. Spearfishing may start this weekend, but it probably won't be widespread until late next week, Beard said.
Some northern lakes remain locked in ice.
A year ago, the Chippewa speared a record 30,367 walleyes, in part because ice melted early, then the weather cooled and the spawning season was lengthened, Beard said. In 1999, spearers took 26,294 walleyes. Last year after spearfishing concluded, daily bag limits on 79 lakes were raised after the Chippewa speared fewer walleyes than requested, the DNR said. Any re-evaluations done this year will be announced in May, the agency said. Other Chippewa bands with spearfishers are the Lac du Flambeau, Mole Lake, Red Cliff and St. Croix.