MN/Can border reg changes?

[Lee Borgersen]

DNR seeks public input on possible Minnesota-Canada border water regulation changes
(Released January 11, 2013)

Interested citizens have until Monday, Feb. 11, to comment on Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) considerations to bring border water angling regulations in-line with the state’s inland regulations. Lakes along the Minnesota-Canada border that could be affected by the change in regulations include Basswood, Crooked, Lac La Croix, Iron, Loon, Knife, Ottertrack, Gunflint and others.
The DNR is considering extending the inland regulation of one walleye more than 20 inches to all Ontario border waters that currently don’t have special regulations. The move is aimed at standardizing regulations for all border water lakes to eliminate situations where border lakes are left less protected than inland waters.

Currently, the inland regulation for walleye is a six fish limit, only one of which can be more than 20 inches. Some fish populations along the border are left without such protection.

“Lakes like Saganaga or Rainy are already protected by special regulations that only allowed one large fish over a certain size,” said Edie Evarts, Tower area fisheries supervisor. “Other border lakes don’t have that restriction.”

“With the late closure of the season, spawning fish can be vulnerable in certain years,” Evarts said. “Border regulations currently don’t restrict the size of the fish you can take in your six fish limit. Under Canadian border regulations, anglers can keep a limit of big, mature fish.”

DNR is seeking initial public comments on these ideas until Feb. 11, so that those comments can be considered as fisheries staff develops a recommendation.

Comments, questions and requests for more information should be directed to Linda Erickson-Eastwood at 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4020, linda.erickson-eastwood@state.mn.us, or by calling 651-259-5206.

Complete information about the DNR’s comment process is available online at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/input/rules/fisheries/se-mn-trout.html and http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/input/rules/rulemaking/rulemaking_overview.pdf.