Area river fishing closed

[Lee Borgersen]

     Area river reaches closed to fishing until May 14 opener.

  ....
BEMIDJI—A number of river reaches in Beltrami and Clearwater counties will be closed to fishing until the 2016 fishing opener May 14, officials said Friday.

All closures will be in effect Monday through May 13 and are necessary to protect concentrations of spawning walleye, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said in a release.The closures are standard each spring and include the following portions of the Mississippi, Tamarac, Clearwater, Turtle and other rivers:

• Blackduck River, Beltrami County—County Road 32 north to Red Lake Reservation boundary.

• Clearwater River, Clearwater County—below Clearwater Lake Dam for 900 feet.

• Mississippi River, Beltrami County—below Otter Tail Power Dam to Big Wolf Lake.

• Shotley Brook, Beltrami County—State Highway 72 to Upper Red Lake.

• Tamarac River, Beltrami County—from Upper Red Lake upstream to Beltrami-Koochiching county line.

• Turtle River, Beltrami County—below Three Island Dam to Turtle River Lake.

No fishing will be allowed during these periods in the specified areas, the DNR said. Signs will be posted at access points within the closed areas.

"The closures are necessary to protect adult walleye that have concentrated around historic spawning sites," Gary Barnard, DNR Bemidji area fisheries supervisor, said in the release. "Due to relatively early spring conditions we do not anticipate having to extend these closures beyond the fishing opener this year."

Although closed to fishing, there are no restrictions on boat travel through these areas.

For more information, contact the Bemidji Area Fisheries office at (218) 308-2332.

[Onin24Eagle]

I've lived up in this area for most of my life and let me tell you, the number of HUGE walleyes at the Clearwater dam during spawning will make your jaw hit the ground.  I've seen walleyes in there that were easily over 35 inches.  It used to be a very popular spot for fishing opener back when I was in high school.  You had to get there early (like 8pm the night before) and claim your spot and just sit there until midnight.  There was always a CO there checking people out but as long as you didn't wet a line until the right time and were otherwise legal they wouldn't give you too much grief.  Lots of big fish but also lots of crossed/tangled lines too.

[Lee Borgersen]

I've lived up in this area for most of my life and let me tell you, the number of HUGE walleyes at the Clearwater dam during spawning will make your jaw hit the ground.  I've seen walleyes in there that were easily over 35 inches.  It used to be a very popular spot for fishing opener back when I was in high school.  You had to get there early (like 8pm the night before) and claim your spot and just sit there until midnight.  There was always a CO there checking people out but as long as you didn't wet a line until the right time and were otherwise legal they wouldn't give you too much grief.  Lots of big fish but also lots of crossed/tangled lines too.

I would assume a few temper flare-ups also!

[glenn57]

Lew us Minnesotans are mild mannered, unlike some of bear fans!