DNR Fisheries announces 2011 field season plans in the International Falls area

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DNR Fisheries announces 2011 field season plans in the International Falls area
(Released March 29, 2011)


The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is planning lake and stream surveys and fish assessments this year on several lakes in the International Falls area.

The area, which covers Koochiching and Northern St. Louis counties, provides diverse angling opportunities for most of Minnesota’s popular game fish species as well as a chance to catch lake sturgeon, the largest freshwater fish in Minnesota.

The surveys and assessments provide information that fisheries managers use to effectively manage these resources. Assessment results are used to develop and evaluate management efforts such as fish stocking, experimental regulations, and habitat improvement projects for individual water bodies.

The surveys and assessments may involve the use of seines, trap nets, gill nets, and electrofishing gear to assess fish populations. Water transparency will be measured and critical habitat will be surveyed for location of emergent plants.   

The following lakes have assessments planned in 2011:

Crane, Dovre, Johnson, Moose, Namakan, Pelican, Sand Point, Little Vermilion, Echo, Elephant, Kabetogama, and Rainy Lake. The following streams have assessments planned: Dinner Creek, Lost River, Trout Brook and Rat Root River.

Staff at the DNR’s International Falls office is responsible for managing the fisheries on 151 lakes covering 147,000 acres and 220 rivers and streams, including 14 designated trout streams and several large rivers. Thirty-two of these lakes are managed for walleye and eight lakes are managed for lake trout.

All the information collected is available to the public and inquiries are welcome. Reports on these activities will be available by April 1, 2012. 

Anyone with questions or comments can contact Kevin Peterson at 218-286-5220, send an email to kevin.peterson@state.mn.us or stop by the DNR Fisheries office at 392 Highway 11 East, International Falls.