May 4, 2007 - TOP STORIES
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Low water level in Lake Superior spells trouble for boaters
Canada-Minnesota lake sturgeon action heating up
Kamloops rainbows scarce on North Shore
DNR proposes stream trout designation for Lawndale Creek
Outlook for anglers heading south this fishing season
Low water level in Lake Superior spells trouble for boaters
Trouble for Lake Superior boaters
DULUTH, Minn. (AP) – The lowest water levels in Lake Superior in more than 80 years are causing trouble for boaters.
The levels are restricting access for big recreational boats – especially sailboats with 6- to 8-foot keels – from Grand Marais to the Twin Ports and on to Ashland and Bayfield, Wis.
“We’re getting them into the water, but I’m not sure they can all get into their slips,” said Joel Johnson, co-owner of Lakehead Boat Basin marina here. “It’s low. I’d say it’s 5 inches lower than last fall when we were taking them out.”
Officially, the lake is about 18 inches below normal, and more than a foot below the level at this time last spring. In March, the lake came within a few inches of reaching the all-time record low set in 1926.
As it does every April, the lake level is moving up. But it’s not going up as much as usual. It’s possible the lake could set monthly low records this summer if rainfall across the lake’s watershed doesn’t increase.
Johnson said he’s got 6 to 7 feet of clearance, enough for most sailboats. He said the marina may be forced to dredge some spots, but has to wait until June because of regulations aimed at protecting spawning fish.
On Park Point in Duluth, the problem is worse. Residents there are accustomed to tying up their boats at private docks on the bay side. But as the water drops, it also moves farther from shore, leaving some docks with just a few inches of water below them.
On the lake side of Park Point, low water has exposed wider sand beaches. On the bay side, in the Twin Ports harbor, sand bars and mud flats have been exposed for the first time in recent memory. It’s so shallow where the Duluth Rowing Club holds its races that their oars may hit bottom.
Meanwhile, the lakers and salties are leaving the Twin Ports with lighter loads, as well. That means more trips, more fuel and more boats to haul the same loads. For every inch below full draft that the lake drops, the boats lose between 50 tons and 270 tons of capacity, depending on the size of the vessel.
Fred Shusterich, president of Midwest Energy in Superior, Wis., said 1,000-footers are leaving his dock with about 59,000 tons of coal, down even from last year’s low average of 62,000 tons and way down from high-water loads of 68,000 tons. Dredging channels would help, but those programs have diminished with funding cuts.
Canada-Minnesota lake sturgeon action heating up
See our Events page for details on the 1st Annual C&R Sturgeon Contest to be held May 4-5 at Sportsman's Lodges
Open water in northern Minnesota once again is providing anglers with a chance to pursue the state’s largest freshwater fish, the lake sturgeon. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds anglers that a $5 sturgeon tag is required to harvest and possess a lake sturgeon regardless of their Minnesota license status.
The lake sturgeon harvest tags, which can be purchased at any Electronic Licensing System agent, help the DNR gain better information on total lake sturgeon harvest statewide. The lake sturgeon tag allows an angler to harvest one lake sturgeon per license year under the existing seasons.
Anglers may catch and release lake sturgeon from May 8 through May 15, and Oct. 1, through April 23, 2008. The 2007 spring harvest season runs from April 24 through May 7. The lake sturgeon season is closed on the Minnesota-Canada border waters from midnight May 16 through June 30 to all sturgeon angling.
People should become familiar with these requirements and the specific regulations regarding seasons and size limits on the particular body of water they intend to fish.
For information about the Minnesota lake sturgeon, visit the DNR Web site at www.dnr.state.mn.us
The following requirements apply to anglers wishing to harvest a lake sturgeon in 2007:
• lake sturgeon may not be possessed or transported without a tag; validate and attach the tag immediately upon reducing the fish to possession
• tag must be attached to the narrow portion of the body in front of the tail fin
• tags must be attached so they cannot be easily removed
• tags must be purchased in advance, are not transferable, and no duplicate tags will be issued
• registration cards must be completed and mailed within 48 hours after harvesting a fish
• lake sturgeon must be transported intact (gills and internal organs may be removed)
• members of a fishing party may not take sturgeon for other anglers limits.
• no harvest tag is necessary for anglers not intending to harvest a lake sturgeon; anglers may “catch and release” sturgeon with their Minnesota fishing license.
Kamloops rainbows scarce on North Shore
Streams running low and cold - neither condition fosters strong runs of rainbows
By Sam Cook
Duluth News Tribune
FRENCH RIVER, Minn. (AP) – A father and his young son stood near the mouth of the French River facing the rising sun. A long graphite fishing rod stood in a rod holder on the cobbled beach.
“This is my fourth day in a row,” said Mark Anderson of Cloquet. “I haven’t got anything yet.”
Anderson and a couple of dozen other anglers lined the shore near the French River last week, prospecting Lake Superior’s shallows for Kamloops rainbow trout. The fish are supposed to be here, staging offshore and making their spawning runs up North Shore streams.
Steelhead – Lake Superior’s “wild” rainbow trout – should be making their spawning runs up streams, too. But action has been light for both steelhead and Kamloops rainbows.
“We need wind. We need rain,” said Duluth’s Rich Breden, fishing just down the shore from the Andersons on Tuesday, March 17.
Streams had been running low and cold, and neither condition fosters strong runs of rainbows.
“The (French) river has been hanging around 35, 36 (degrees),” Breden said. “We need it to warm up. That’s all.”
The lack of action wasn’t discouraging to young Tanner Anderson. The 6-year-old clomped around at the water’s edge in his rubber boots, inspecting rocks. He has caught fish himself, he said.
“Tell him about your walleye,” his dad said.
“It was this wide,” Tanner said, holding his arms about 18 inches apart.
“Bigger,” his dad said.
Tanner opened his well-insulated arms wider.
“That’s right,” Mark Anderson said. “It was 21 inches long.”
It must have been family day at the French. Breden had brought along his nephew, Kevin Breden of Duluth.
“I thought I’d see if we could get him a fish before he goes back to Iraq,” Rich Breden said.
Kevin had been in Iraq with a National Guard unit out of the Twin Cities since last September. He was home on a two-week leave. He had seen temperatures up to 140 degrees, he said.
“It’s cooler here,” Kevin remarked.
Still his uncle didn’t hold out much hope of catching a rainbow. Kamloops rainbows were rolling just under the surface out near anglers’ bobbers. But the fish didn’t seem interested in night crawlers or spawn bags or waxworms or ‘looper bugs.
Rich Breden had caught one the day before near the French. But Kamloops rainbows have been scarce almost all winter and spring.
“I just don’t think there are a lot of fish around,” he said. “I’ve been fishing down here since January, and I’ve been getting fish, but not like before. And the fish we are getting seem to be a little smaller.”
Fisheries officials attribute the ‘looper shortage to a cold spring when the fish were stocked three years ago. With cooler water in the lake that spring, lake trout probably were hanging closer to shore, feeding on the young hatchery rainbows as they were stocked, biologists say.
At the Sucker River on the morning of Monday, March 16, four anglers worked the stream near its mouth. The water was low. One angler said a few fish had been rolling out in the lake, but nothing was happening in the stream.
At Bluebird Landing, a lone angler watched two rods, one baited with spawn and another with a night crawler. The lake was flat. Loons called offshore. Canada geese winged over. But fishing was slow.
Near the French River that day, Randy Morgel of Hermantown was watching two rods. He had caught a steelhead between 4 and 5 pounds. The previous Friday, he had taken three steelhead and one Kamloops rainbow.
Morgel had heard about fishermen getting some fish farther up the shore, which initiated a discussion about whether the report was reliable. Morgel conceded that some angling reports can be exaggerated.
“That’s why I question my belief in Jesus,” Morgel offered. “All of his miracles were witnessed by 12 fishermen.”
DNR proposes stream trout designation for Lawndale Creek
The public is invited to comment on a proposal by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to designate part of Lawndale Creek in Wilkin County as designated trout waters.
Five miles of Lawndale Creek was designated in 1981. This new designation would add portions of stream in Sections 22, 27, 34, 35 of Wilkin County. Lawndale Creek was last surveyed in 2004 and brook trout were captured in the section of the stream proposed for designation.
Designation of a stream means:
• anglers who fish there must possess a trout stamp in addition to a regular fishing license and can fish the water only during the stream trout season
• only one line is allowed
• angling for any species during the closed trout season is prohibited
• taking minnows or leeches is prohibited except under special permit
• rough fish may not be taken by spear, harpoon, archery or dip
• designation of this reach of Lawndale Creek will reclassify this water as a public watercourse subject to DNR water permit authority. Filling, excavating, bank grading or shaping, or crossing of Lawndale Creek will require a Public Waters Work Permit from the DNR.
Designation also results in more stringent water quality standards. There might be additional restrictions on development on or near waters depending on local land-use ordinances.
The public may send comments on the proposal to designate Lawndale Creek by Aug 1, 2007 to: DNR Fisheries, 1509 First Ave. N., Fergus Falls, MN 56537.
Outlook for anglers heading south this fishing season
Opener Options for Southern Minnesota
DNR Reports
Hutchinson Area
General Outlook for Hutchinson Area: Ice-out occurred in early April on area lakes and walleye could be ravenous by the opener, despite cold temperatures. Anglers can expect good walleye and northern pike fishing on several area lakes, which can be attributed to both natural reproduction and stocking successes. Area lake levels may be somewhat low for the opener, but heavy snowfall and moderate rainfall during the month of March have improved the situation.
Hanska Lake (1773 acres) is located in Brown County and has a maximum depth of 16 feet. This lake was netted in 2006 and walleye were abundant (47.0/net). Walleye averaged 13.7 inches and 0.90 pounds. The majority of the walleye that were aged came from the 2003 and 2005 year-classes, corresponding to fry stocked years. Low numbers of northern pike were netted, but fish up to 37 inches were sampled. Fair numbers of bluegill and black crappie were also captured. Curly-leaf pondweed, an invasive aquatic plant, is present and boaters are reminded to clear their trailers before leaving the access. A fishing pier is located on the east end of the lake at the county park. Hanska has three public accesses.
Marion Lake (594 acres) is located in McLeod County and has a maximum depth of 12 feet. The lake was gill netted in 2005 and moderate numbers of walleye were sampled (12.8/net). Walleye averaged 15.7 inches in length and 1.9 pounds. Fall electrofishing efforts for young-of-the-year walleye in 2005 yielded an all time high catch rate of 87.5/hour and those fish should be around 11 inches by the 2007 opener. Good populations of bluegill, black crappie, channel catfish, and northern pike are also present. A fishing pier is available at the county park on the east side of the lake and a shore fishing area is located along State Highway 15. The public access is on the east shore.
Ortonville Area
General Outlook for Ortonville Area: Several opportunities exist for anglers to catch a wide range of species in the Ortonville Area. Three of our largest lakes are Big Stone, Lac Qui Parle, and Traverse. Despite the size of these lakes, a variety of boat ramp locations offer an opportunity for one to get out and fish. Lac Qui Parle is located about 10 miles SW of Appleton and contains a good population of walleye, northern pike, and channel catfish. The southern end of Big Stone Lake is located in the town of Ortonville. The major game fish species present are walleye, yellow perch, and white bass. However, in the past few years, bluegill fishing has begun to pick up. Walleye are more abundant in Big Stone than Lac Qui Parle, with walleye averaging 14 inches. Lake Traverse is north of Big Stone Lake near Browns Valley.
Similar to Lac Qui Parle, Traverse boasts good populations of walleye, white bass, and channel catfish. However, Traverse has more walleyes than Lac Qui Parle, and Traverse also has a decent population of bluegill. It should be noted that Big Stone Lake and Lake Traverse are border waters with South Dakota, and the season opened on April 21. Therefore, local bait shops should have a good idea of fishing success come statewide opener on May 12.
If the size of the above three lakes does not appeal to you, the Ortonville area also has some smaller bodies of water that provide angling opportunities for crappie, walleye, and yellow perch. Del Clark Lake is located near Canby. It has a diverse fish population and an excellent regional park for camping. Oliver Lake is located 9 miles north of Appleton and is split into two basins. Each basin has a boat access, and opportunities for crappie, walleye, perch and sunfish exist.
Big Stone Lake (12,610 acres) is located in the town of Ortonville, Minnesota, on the Minnesota-South Dakota border. Anglers have been fishing the lake since the border waters opener on April 21. Anglers primarily target walleye and yellow perch, with walleye averaging 14 inches long and yellow perch averaging 9.5 inches long. Big Stone Lake also provides fishing opportunities for bluegill, northern pike, and white bass. Anglers need to be aware of the special regulations that exist on Big Stone Lake. They consist of a walleye daily and possession limit of 4, with only one allowed over 20 inches. Also, the daily and possession limit for crappie and sunfish is 10 of each species.
Del Clark (154 acres) is a small, deep, clear impoundment located southwest of Canby. Stonehill Regional Park (507)-223-7586 surrounds the entire lake and maintains two lake access sites, 41 campsites, a beach/swimming area, and bathroom facilities. The park fills up quickly, so interested parties should plan to make reservations early.
Fishing opportunities exist for a number of species including walleye, bluegill, and black crappie. Northern pike also exist, but only in small numbers. No special regulations exist on Del Clark, but anglers are encouraged to practice catch and release.
Lac qui Parle (5,589 acres) is a large reservoir located on the Minnesota River west of Milan. Walleye, northern pike, crappie, white bass, and channel catfish provide anglers with several opportunities. Fishermen can expect walleye to average almost 17 inches, northern pike 24 inches, crappie 8 inches, white bass 9 inches, and channel catfish up to 26 inches long. Several boat accesses exist on the east and west side of the lake, as well as Lac qui Parle State Park located on the southwest corner of the lake.
Lake Traverse (11,528 acres) is a large reservoir located near Browns Valley, Minnesota, on the Minnesota-South Dakota border. The fishing season opened on Traverse on April 21. Special regulations exist on Lake Traverse that consist of a walleye daily and possession limit of 4, with only one allowed over 20 inches, and a daily and possession limit of crappie and sunfish of 10 for each species. Anglers commonly target walleyes, with average size nearing 16 inches and 2 lbs. White bass are also abundant in Lake Traverse, and fish up to 17 inches long exist. Opportunities are also present for bluegill, crappie, channel catfish,
and northern pike.
Oliver Lake (666 acres) is located in western Swift County, approximately 9 miles north of Appleton. It is split into an east (455 acres) and west (211 acres) basin by Swift County Highway 5, with boat access on both basins. Although a culvert connects the two basins and allows for fish movement, an abundant population of sunfish and crappie characterizes the west basin, whereas the fish population in the east basin is primarily walleye and yellow perch. Anglers primarily target walleye, yellow perch, and black crappie, and these species should provide excellent fishing opportunities.
Spicer Area
General Outlook for Spicer Area: Ice out was about two weeks early this spring for shallow lakes in Spicer Area. Deep waters like Green, Rice, and Koronis lakes had ice off on or near April 10, 2007, about the normal time. Water levels are low on some lakes, however, a spring snowstorm increased flows on streams and lake levels in some watersheds. Angling should be good this season on most area lakes.
Green Lake (5,406 acres), located in Kandiyohi County, has shown improved walleye abundance in the 2006 netting. Walleye gill net catches averaged 9.58/net, with an average size of 1.25 pounds per fish. Northern pike were sampled at 1.83/gillnet and averaged an amazing 5 pounds. There are abundant bass, both smallmouth and largemouth for angling on the bass opener. There are many smallmouth in the 17-inch size, and good numbers of 12-inch largemouth bass. There are six public accesses on Green Lake. Shore anglers can catch bluegills and other fish from the new fishing bridge and fishing pier located at the outlet on County Road 4.
Big Kandiyohi Lake (2,692 acres) posted walleye gillnet catches averaging 12 fish/net, and a strong size class of 11 to 14 inch long fish. Walleye average size was 1.6 pounds. Northern pike abundance was low, less than one fish per gillnet, but they averaged about 4.5 pounds. Some channel catfish can be caught on Big Kandiyohi Lake. There are two boat launches on Big Kandiyohi Lake, one at County Park 1 on the southwest side of the lake, and in County Park 2 on the north east side of the lake.
Wakanda Lake (1664 acres) may provide early season walleye fishing for those adventuresome anglers. Walleye were sampled at 62 fish/gillnet in 2006, and averaged 1.5 pounds. Northern pike were found at 3 fish/gillnet and 2.7 pounds average. The two boat accesses, one on the north shore and one on the south east shore off County Road 3, are very shallow and difficult for large boats to launch. There are many carp and bullheads that may frustrate live bait anglers. Fishing in fall and early winter tends to be best.
Waterville Area
Albert Lea Lake (2650 acres): Albert Lea Lake is located in Freeborn County near the City of Albert Lea. This lake and adjacent basins were stocked with 5 million walleye fry following a 2004 winterkill; the first time walleye fry have been stocked in this complex. The post-winterkill walleyes were very abundant at up to 85/gill net during the 2006 assessment; most of the fish were 14 - 18 inches at that time. Yellow perch were also very abundant at 150 per gillnet. Many perch over 8 inches were sampled. Accesses are located at the City of Albert Lea, at Myre-Big Island State Park and on the south side of the lake. Albert Lea Lake is very shallow with a maximum depth of 5 ½ feet; much of the angling activity has traditionally been from shore in the vicinity of the channel connecting Albert Lea with Fountain Lake, immediately upstream.
Shell Rock River: The Shell Rock River is located in Freeborn County. It flows from Albert Lea Lake south approximately 12 miles to the Iowa border. Walleye angling in the Shell Rock has been excellent as a result of fish movement from Albert Lea Lake. Access consists of 6 road crossings; also, the river flows through approximately ½ mile of WMA near the Iowa border. The river is navigable for canoes and similar watercraft.
Lake Elysian (1902 acres): Lake Elysian is located in Waseca County near the cities of Elysian and Janesville. Walleyes are very abundant as a result of fry stocking following 2004 winterkill. Walleyes were sampled at 51 per gillnet in 2005. Most walleyes were 10 - 12 inches long in 2005 but the fish have grown rapidly since that time. Pike were also present in record abundance at 25 per gillnet. Public accesses are located at the north and south ends of the lake, near the cities of Elysian and Janesville.
Circle Lake (624 acres): Circle Lake is located in Rice County approximately 8 miles north of Faribault. Circle was stocked with walleye fry following 2004 winterkill. Walleyes are now abundant. The public water access is located on the northwest shore of the lake.
Loon and Crystal Lakes (755 and 393 acres): These connected lakes are located in Blue Earth County near the city of Lake Crystal. Walleyes were captured at 57 per gillnet in Crystal and 37 per gillnet in Loon during a 2006 assessment. Many of the walleyes were 13 - 16 inches long at the time but fish up to 30 inches were observed. Public water accesses are located on the south side of Lake Crystal and on the south side of Loon Lake.
Other waters:
Scotch Lake (565 acres; located near Cleveland in Le Sueur County) was stocked with walleye fry following 2004 winterkill. Angling for walleyes was excellent during the winter of 2006 - 2007.
The Cannon River chain of lakes (Gorman, Sabre, Tetonka, Upper and Lower Sakatah, Cannon and Wells) supports good numbers of walleyes. There are numerous shore fishing opportunities, including a fishing pier at the Waterville Area Fisheries Headquarters on Lake Tetonka; the bridge between Upper and Lower Sakatah; a park area in the City of Morristown; and the bridge between Cannon and Wells Lakes. Also, approximately 4 miles of the Cannon River between Morristown and Warsaw flows through the Cannon River AMA and WMA.
Windom Area
General Outlook for Windom Area: Ice-out was early this spring by about two weeks. Most lakes and streams were low going into winter, but have refilled nicely due to late winter/early spring snowstorms and rain. Little winterkill was seen in area lakes, so angling is expected to be good.
Lake Sarah (1176 acres) walleyes have maintained excellent numbers entirely by natural reproduction, since 1991. Gill net catches in 2006 averaged 60/net, with many in the 14-18 inch prime eating range. Yellow perch are also numerous, at 36/gillnet, with many 8-9 inches and more.
Public accesses are found on the east, west and northwest sides of the lake. Lake Sarah is found in Murray County about 12 miles north of Slayton.
Round Lake (947 acres) in southwest Jackson County has been the area hotspot for the last year or so, with hordes of anglers concentrating on the huge walleye population (152/gillnet), comprised of 14-21 inch keepers. Black crappie numbers are good, with many 10-14 inches. There is a DNR access on the east side of the lake, with county and township accesses on the north and south sides, respectively.
Lake Okabena (785 acres) is in the city of Worthington in Nobles County. There are several boat ramps and many shore fishing opportunities located in various city parks all around the lake. Walleyes numbered 34/gillnet in 2006, with most of them 15-20 inches. Yellow perch are extremely abundant (117/gillnet), with many of them 8-10 inches, as well as nice keeper bullheads present and eager to bite.
© 2007 Outdoors Weekly Corporation