TGB and LCO Fisheries Biologist Issue Statements Regarding Recent Spearing Incidents

Official Release

LCO Tribal Governing Board

Editor's Note: Statements issued following an incident in which tribal members exercising their treaty rights on Lac Courte Oreilles lake had their tires slashed at Anchor Bay Boat Landing while they were on the lake. Several vehicles were targeted. The incident occurred on April 7th.

The Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board (LCO TGB) is deeply concerned by recent acts of vandalism targeting tribal members lawfully exercising their treaty rights.

We condemn these acts of racism and property damage in the strongest terms. Such behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. We will pursue all legal avenues and advocate for the maximum penalties for those responsible.

We call on all community members to reject violence. Instead, record and report any incidents to the proper authorities. Justice must be pursued through lawful and peaceful means.

Education is key to fostering understanding and lasting respect. As LCO Fisheries Biologist Paul Christel explains, the tribe contributes significantly to the health of local fisheries:

“We’ve produced up to 43,000 walleye in one year at our facility. From 2021 to 2024, the LCO Hatchery stocked over 104,000 walleye and 105,000 small fingerlings into Big LCO—some years this is five times more than was harvested. Our efforts directly benefit all anglers through sustained and enhanced fish populations.

“Lac Courte Oreilles has been a positive force for conservation efforts in the whole area for many years and that work will continue. Without tribal involvement, anglers would be bringing in fewer walleye to their boats and onto the ice than they do with the tribe as a conservation partner.”

Together, let us move forward with respect, understanding, and unity.

STATEMENT by Paul Christel, LCO Fisheries Biologist

Fishing is a huge part of the Hayward area culture for just about everyone. The Lac Courte Oreilles Fish Hatchery supports that culture and contributes very significantly to tribal and non-tribal fisheries alike. I wanted to share a little information about what we do, since some people are still unaware the hatchery even exists…. much less how it benefits them personally or the community.

Some of the direct benefits of our stocking efforts include things like mediation of year-class fluctuations, maintaining balance between species, restoring naturally reproducing populations, and maintaining harvestable populations in waters not currently capable of maintaining themselves. We conduct disease screening, which not only ensures that healthy fish are stocked, but also serves to catch any potential disease issues that may be present in area waters.

The positive impact the hatchery has on the local economy is also highly significant. Restaurants, resorts, gas stations, bait shops, boat dealers, hotels, retail stores, bars, grocery stores, etc. receive far more business, due to the draw of fisheries tourism. Other entities benefit directly from things such as equipment and supplies purchased locally. The hatchery provides employment also. The importance of subsistence harvest, which the hatchery supports, cannot be overstated. It is invaluable in terms of food security and maintaining cultural practices.

In terms of stocking, the LCO Hatchery has given particular attention to Big LCO over the years. Taking a closer look at that lake, walleye natural reproduction has dropped off significantly and the lake has become dependent on stocking. This appears to be the result of climate-related factors that are impacting walleye populations across the Midwest. While we’ve been keeping tabs on Big LCO for decades, these rising challenges have more recently made the lake our primary focus for stocking efforts.

It might be surprising to some people that the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe frequently stocks a lot more walleye into LCO than the tribe harvests. We focus on raising extended growth (EG) walleye, which average about 7.5 inches in length. This size advantage makes it far more likely that the fish will survive to maturity. Some years we’ve stocked 5x or more of these EG walleye into LCO than the tribe has harvested.

To put some concrete numbers on this, I’ll share some stocking information from 2021-2024. In that 4-year period, the Lac Courte Oreilles Fish Hatchery stocked 104,234 EG walleye and 105,144 small fingerling walleye into LCO. In financial terms, that represents well over $150,000 in direct contributions to the fishery annually. Without the tribal involvement on LCO, anglers would be bringing fewer walleye into their boats and onto the ice than they do with the tribe as a conservation partner.

This is just an example of one lake over a handful of years. Overall, we’ve produced up to 43,000 EG walleye in a season at the facility. The bigger picture is that the Lac Courte Oreilles Conservation Department has been a positive force for conservation efforts in the whole area for many years and that work will continue. Not just with fish stocking, but through habitat improvement, water quality work, wild rice restoration, erosion control, invasive species management, law enforcement, and other avenues. The work the tribe does benefits our community in numerous ways that I don’t think everyone realizes.

Hope everyone has a safe and productive fishing season!