Anglers reminded to check new regulations before 2003 fishing opener
Anglers asked to report tagged Mille Lacs gamefish
Pheasants Forever to take the lead in corridors project
Anglers
reminded to check new regulations before 2003 fishing opener
New
statewide bag limits on crappie, sunfish, lake trout and catfish officially
begin May 10
DNR Reports
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds anglers to take a moment
to review the 2003 Fishing Regulations before the inland fishing season opens
on May 10.
Regulations booklets include special and experimental regulations, regulations
changes, and new information about exotic species, catch and release, and fish
identification.
“We made a number of changes this year and anglers need to make sure they
are aware of the regulations before they fish,” said Linda Erickson-Eastwood,
program manager for the DNR Division of Fisheries.
“Besides that, the regulation book contains excellent information to help
anglers protect their resource and enjoy their time on the water.”
New statewide bag limits on crappie, sunfish, lake trout and catfish officially
begin May 10.
The lake trout bag limit change does not apply to Lake Superior and its tributaries
up to the posted boundary.
However, the crappie and lake trout bag limit changes do apply to the Canadian
border waters. The changes are in response to extensive biological analysis
and public input on the state’s game fish limits.
Most Minnesota gamefish limits have remained unchanged for the last 40 to 70
years, yet fishing pressure and technology have increased dramatically during
that time.
Special or experimental regulations new this year include Annie Battle Lake
(Otter Tail County), Bass Lake (Todd County), Cedar Lake (Morrison County),
Mink Lake (Wright County), Pimushe Lake (Beltrami County), Big and Little Pine
(Otter Tail County), Somers Lake (Wright County), Steiger Lake (Carver County)
and Zumbro River (Wabasha County).
In addition, new northern pike regulations are in effect on 66 lakes and one
stream. Special and experimental regulations are summarized on pages 27-42 in
the regulations booklet.
New regulations are signified with a pointing finger. Unless specifically mentioned,
all other general regulations, seasons, limits, border water regulations, possession
and transportation regulations apply to waters with special and experimental
regulations.
Statewide regulations will now apply for Bavaria Lake (Carver County), where
special regulations governed largemouth bass and Platte Lake (Crow Wing/Morrison
counties) where special regulations governed northern pike. Statewide regulations
are found beginning on page 17 of the fishing regulations booklet.
Anglers should also note the special regulations affecting treaty lakes and
Mille Lacs Lake, which are not listed in the 2003 regulations booklet.
These regulations will be announced in the media, posted on the DNR Web site,
and posted at public access sites on the affected lakes. A list of counties
where waters might be posted with treaty regulations can be found beginning
on page 25 of the fishing regulations booklet.
The summer catch-and-release trout regulation for the 3.3-mile posted section
of the Middle Branch of the Whitewater (Winona/Olmsted counties one-quarter
mile upstream of County Road 107 bridge to the source) is still in effect. It
was accidentally left out of the 2003 synopsis.
Additional changes and new regulations are listed on page 5 of the 2003 Fishing
regulations booklet, available wherever fishing licenses are sold.
Fishing licenses valid for 2003 are on sale now at any of the 1,850 Electronic License System agents located throughout the state.
Anglers
asked to report tagged Mille Lacs gamefish
DNR Reports
Anglers who catch one of the more than 40,000 Mille Lacs Lake walleye marked
with a numbered, plastic tag are asked to report their catch to the Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources.
The tags, which resemble a short length of coated electrical wire,
are anchored under the dorsal fin on a walleye. Anglers are also asked to report
catches of tagged muskies or northern pike.
With information gathered from reported tags and other sources,
DNR researchers use a mathematical formula to estimate how many walleye live
in the 132,000-acre lake.
This data provides more precise information for use in assessment
models that determine the safe harvest level for the coming fishing year. The
tagging project began last year. Preliminary results are available annually,
with a final report due in 2005.
Anglers who plan to release a tagged fish should write down the
tag number without removing the tag. If a tagged fish is harvested, anglers
are asked to return the tag to the DNR.
Reports of tagged fish should include the following information:
• tag number and approximately where the fish was caught
in the lake
• length of the fish, the date of the catch, and if the fish
was harvested or released
• whether the fish was caught from a boat, a commercial launch
or from shore
• the angler’s name, address, telephone number and e-mail
address (if available).
Anglers who report catching a tagged fish will receive information
on where and when the fish was tagged and whether the fish had been previously
caught and released.
Reports of tagged fish may be reported electronically to fishtags@dnr.state.mn.us,
by calling DNR Fisheries in Aitkin at (218) 927-3751, by calling the DNR Information
Center toll free 1-888-MINNDNR, or by mailing to DNR Fisheries, PO Box 138,
Aitkin, MN 56431.
Mille Lacs Lake is one of the most popular walleye and perch fishing
destinations in Minnesota.
Anglers spent 3.1 million hours fishing Mille Lacs Lake in 2002. The lake is also managed for trophy northern pike, muskellunge and smallmouth bass.
Pheasants
Forever to take the lead in corridors project
By
Jake Edson
Editor
editor@outdoorsweekly.com
Following the Minnesota Waterfowl Association’s audit and the resulting
feud between that group and the DNR, Pheasants Forever will now be the lead
organization for the Minnesota Corridors project.
The three-year, $20 million habitat project is the largest project that the
Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources has ever funded.
It’s intent is to restore and preserve wildlife habitat on thousands of
acres across the state.
Originally, the MWA lead the group of organizations and agencies working on
the project, but following a legislative audit that criticized the group’s
financial management, the DNR severed all financial ties with the MWA and removed
the group from the corridors project.
As the feud between the DNR and the MWA continues, Pheasants Forever has emerged
as the leader in what was originally the MWA’s most important project.
Established in 1982, Pheasants Forever is a non-profit organization dedicated
to the protection and enhancement of pheasant and other wildlife populations
in North America through habitat improvement, land management, public awareness,
and education.
The group is headquartered in St. Paul and has more than 100,000 members across
the U.S. and Canada.
Whether or not the change will signal a shift in what lands are protected remains to be seen.
© 2003 Outdoor Outlines, Inc.