Public invited to comment on special fishing regulations

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News Releases
Public invited to comment on special fishing regulations
(Released August 30, 2010)


Reviews of existing or newly proposed regulations on 12 bodies of water to help manage sunfish, northern pike, walleye or brook trout populations will be the subject of 10 public meetings scheduled by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The goal of experimental regulations on individual waters is to produce a quality fish population that can sustain increasing angling pressure and improved angler efficiency. During the past 20 years, fisheries managers have monitored a variety of regulations across Minnesota.

“Much has been learned from our efforts to improve fish populations with length and bag limits,” said Al Stevens, DNR fisheries program consultant. “If experimental regulations are successful, regulations can be replicated on similar waters where fisheries managers and anglers agree they would help improve or maintain quality fishing.”

Experimental regulations are in effect for a specific period of time, typically 10 years. Before the regulation ends, fish managers must evaluate the regulation and gather input from public meetings to help determine whether to extend, modify or drop the existing experimental regulations.

“Fisheries managers welcome the opportunity to hear opinions from anglers,” Stevens said. “Public participation is critical in determining whether proposed and existing regulations are meeting angler expectations.”

Waters that will be evaluated this year were posted at public access points this spring. Public notices for each meeting will be published in local newspapers. For more information about a specific meeting, contact a local DNR Fisheries office.

Written or verbal comments also will be accepted at local fisheries offices up to 10 days following a local meeting. Telephone numbers and addresses of local fisheries offices can be found on page 78 of the 2010 Fishing Regulations or online.

For those unable to attend a local meeting, there will be an open house at the St. Paul DNR Headquarters, 500 Lafayette Road, on from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 29. Staff will be available to take comments on any proposal.

Comments may also be submitted until Monday, Oct. 11, by e-mail to al.stevens@state.mn.us or by calling 651-259-5239.

Upcoming meetings include:

Aitkin County: Farm Island (review existing regulation for walleye); Big Sandy and connecting waters (review new regulation proposals for sunfish and walleye). Aug. 27, 6-9 p.m., Hazelton Town Hall, 24248 Highway 169, Hazelton.
Becker County: Sallie, Melissa (review existing regulation for northern pike); Aug. 26, 7-9 p.m., Minnesota State Community Technical College, 900 Highway 34 East, Detroit Lakes.
Beltrami County: Upper Red Lake (review existing regulation for northern pike); Oct. 7, 7 p.m., North Beltrami Community Center, Kelliher.
Cass County: Leech Lake (review existing regulation for walleye); Oct. 13, 6-9 p.m., Walker-Hackensack-Akeley School, Walker.
Hubbard County: 5th, 6th Crow Wing Lakes (review existing regulation for northern pike); Sept. 17, 7 p.m., Northwoods Bank Community Meeting Room, 1200 East 1 St., Park Rapids. Kabekona River (review new regulation proposal for brook trout); Sept. 20, 7 p.m., LaPorte public school meeting room, 315 Main St. West, LaPorte.
Itasca County: Lake Winnibigoshish (review existing regulation for walleye); Oct. 11, 6-8 p.m., Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School, Bena, and Oct. 12, 6-8 p.m., Minnesota Interagency Fire Center, Grand Rapids.
Todd County: Osakis, Little Osakis Lakes (review existing regulation for walleye); Sept. 30, 5-7 p.m., Pollard Community Center, 18 Nokomis St, Osakis.
Washington County: Clear Lake (review new regulation proposal for walleye); Oct. 21, 7-8 p.m., Forest Lake City Hall, Forest Lake.