State tourism officials were thrilled by the announcement last week that Mille Lacs now ranks as the crown jewel of all bass-fishing destinations in the United States.

Alabama-based Bassmaster Magazine selected the big pond in central Minnesota No. 1 overall in its annual ranking of the 100 best bass lakes, up from sixth place in 2016. Mille Lacs dethroned Toledo Bend Reservoir, holder of the top spot for the past two years.

"This is a fantastic and well-deserved recognition for Lake Mille Lacs and Minnesota's growing reputation as a bass-fishing destination," said John Edman, director of Explore Minnesota.

Over the past three years, state taxpayers have invested $4 million in economic development and tourism promotion in the Mille Lacs area, some of it carrying the message that the lake is world-class for bass. The campaign, which included Gov. Mark Dayton taking part in this year's official bass season opener on Mille Lacs, is aimed at pumping new blood into a local economy upended by heavy state restrictions against walleye harvest.

In fact, Friday (July 7) begins a three-week shutdown of any type of walleye fishing on the lake to protect its walleye spawning mass. For the past two summers, as biologists have continued to study a steep decline in the lake's naturally reproducing walleye population, anglers have been limited to catch-and-release.

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is aware that some bass anglers prefer a seasonlong catch-and-release restriction to protect the abundance and size of their favorite fish. The agency has said it's being cautious with management of Mille Lacs bass, "while also recognizing that some anglers may expect the occasional fish dinner."

As part of the agency's heightened awareness over new pressure on the lake's bass population, the DNR is doing fieldwork this summer to conduct a smallmouth population estimate.

Bassmaster Magazine said Mille Lacs surged to the pinnacle in part for the smallmouth bass production achieved by professional anglers in last September's Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship. Judges weighed nearly 100 five-fish limits of smallmouth that topped the 20-pound mark. The three-day event was won by Seth Feider of Bloomington, the only Minnesotan on the circuit. The tournament returns to Mille Lacs this fall.

"Had that been a four-day event … Feider may have topped the 100-pound mark with smallmouth, a feat that has never, ever happened before," said James Hall, the magazine's editor.