January 9, 2009 - TOP STORIES
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2009 could be called Year of the Walleye
DNR has off-road plan for Cloquet Valley Forest
St. Cloud VA taking applications for 2009 Veterans turkey hunt
Best athletes in the world set to be at Canterbury
‘Rescued’ pike stocked in Big Stone County lakes
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2009 could be called Year of the Walleye
DNR will send mail surveys to 3,000 anglers who fish walleye in Minnesota
By Chris Niskanen
St. Paul Pioneer Press
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – For as much as Minnesotans love catching and eating walleye – each year anglers take home about 3.5 million walleyes weighing about 4 million pounds – we still don’t know much about managing the walleye’s biggest predator: The angler.
In other words, managing walleyes – and anglers is complex business in Minnesota, where the Department of Natural Resources has to balance the walleye population with anglers’ desires to catch and eat more fish and a state fishing economy made up of thousands of resorts and fishing-related businesses dependent upon walleyes.
That is why 2009 should be called Minnesota’s “Year of the Walleye.”
In the coming year, the DNR will be talking to anglers a lot about walleyes and how catching and stocking them is managed.
And some old assumptions about walleye management are being challenged.
It starts Jan. 9 when the annual DNR Roundtable convenes in Brooklyn Park, where the agency will hold meetings on new ideas for stocking walleyes and simplifying the state’s complex walleye regulations.
“In many cases, our walleye regulations are working, but at what cost?” asked Dave Schad, the DNR’s director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife. “One cost is complexity of the regulations and we’re hearing from folks they’re having a hard time keeping track of them.”
Moreover, there are worries slot limits might be overprotecting large walleyes on some lakes, causing them to cannibalize or otherwise suppress the survival of young walleyes.
Next, starting in late January and early February, the DNR will send mail surveys to 3,000 anglers who fish walleye in Minnesota, asking them about their motivations, travel habits and experiences catching the state fish.
The survey sample pool will be split three ways: nonresidents, rural Minnesota anglers and anglers living in the Twin Cities.
Also this year, the DNR will begin revising its walleye-stocking guidelines for the first time since 1992. The review might result in more fish being stocked, but with less DNR involvement. Revenues from the new walleye stamp, which goes on sale in 2009, may be used to purchase additional walleyes from private hatcheries, DNR officials say.
The DNR wants to produce a new Walleye Management Plan by 2010, said Jason Moeckel, a DNR fisheries officials who is leading the effort to produce the plan.
“We may not call it a plan per se, but a document that can be updated regularly,” Moeckel said.
All of this pleases Dick Sternberg, the DNR’s biggest critic when it comes to walleye management.
Sternberg, a former DNR employee, began probing the DNR’s dropoff in walleye stocking in the late 1990s. His discovery that some lakes had dropped to a fraction of their previous stocking levels prompted the Legislature to fund an “accelerated” stocking program with an infusion of $1 million a year.
Sternberg has also been a thorn in the DNR’s side over the stocking of Leech Lake. He has worked with local Leech Lake angler groups to convince the DNR that more walleye stocking was needed to rescue the lake’s plunging walleye population. The DNR’s stocking efforts have worked, and last summer Leech Lake had one of its best fishing seasons in years.
In a reversal, the DNR is embracing more of Sternberg’s management suggestions.
“We’re having a lot more communication and involvement with Dick,” said Ron Payer, chief of the DNR’s fisheries program.
Said Moeckel: “Everybody here would agree that Dick asks some good questions.”
One of Sternberg’s biggest criticisms has been the DNR has not stocked enough walleye “fingerlings,” or walleyes raised in ponds during the summer and stocked into lakes in the fall. Fingerlings are expensive to produce and stock, compared with stocking walleye “fry” right after they are hatched, but fingerlings tend to survive better to be caught by anglers.
The DNR’s formula for fingerling stocking is weighted toward pounds, not necessarily numbers. For example if lake X was stocked with 200 pounds of fingerlings and the fingerlings weighed the equivalent five fish to a pound, the lake would get 1,000 walleyes.
Sternberg wants the DNR to raise the numbers of fingerlings stocked and rely less on the number of pounds stocked.
Moeckel explained that the DNR hasn’t been able to ramp up its fingerlings numbers because the agency’s rearing ponds aren’t freezing out annually, leaving bigger walleyes that eat the smaller ones. That makes it difficult to raise lots of fingerlings.
“The lack of winterkill has been a big problem for us in getting our ponds to produce more fingerlings,” he said.
The DNR and Sternberg are working on a formula so lakes will be stocked with more fingerlings – ideally, about 20 to the pound – and the additional walleyes will come from private producers.
“We still don’t agree on the numbers of fish that will be stocked,” said Sternberg. “But they’re admitting that things have to be done, and now we’re working to get the tools to do it.”
Moeckel said the DNR is facing budget cuts and is looking for more efficient ways to stock walleyes.
It costs the DNR $22 to $23 a pound to raise walleye fingerlings, but the state pays private producers about $14.50 a pound for walleyes. Higher staff salaries and fuel costs are among the reasons why the DNR can’t raise fingerlings more cheaply than the private sector.
“Buying private fish can allows us to get rid of some of our big, gas-guzzling trucks,” Moeckel said.
Most of Minnesota’s major walleye lakes have slot limits – regulations that generally require anglers to keep small fish and one token trophy and throw back larger, breeding-sized fish. However, slot limits can vary greatly from lake to lake.
Not only have slot limits added complexity to the regulations, there is research showing protecting large numbers of breeding fish might be detrimental to young walleyes. A recent Lake Mille Lacs report suggest cannibalism contributed to a significant loss of the 2006 hatch of walleyes, which began as the largest year class ever recorded in Mille Lacs. The report concluded 18 percent of Lake Mille Lacs walleye diets in 2006 were small walleyes.
“Lower survival of young fish may be a recruitment response to the increased number of large fish since Treaty regulations began in 1997,” the report states.
“My suggestion is that we put a moratorium on special walleye regulations,” Sternberg said.
Payer said the DNR is interested in reviewing the effectiveness of slot limits.
“The bulk of our regulations came along in the 1990s,” Payer said. “I don’t think we will be throwing out slot limits. But when you’re protecting a heavy biomass (large walleyes), you might reduce recruitment (of young fish).”
It might come as a shock to some anglers that keeping more larger walleyes might be good for the future of fishing. Payer said the DNR is still looking at the “tipping point” where protecting large walleyes is a good thing.
“Anglers will still want to catch large walleyes,” he said. “They don’t want to go back to catching 12- and 13-inch fish.”
Said Sternberg: “I think slots have a place. But we don’t have to protect all the spawners, either. They produce a lot of eggs.”
DNR has off-road plan for Cloquet Valley Forest
DULUTH, Minn. (AP) – The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will allow off-highway vehicles to ride on all routes in the Cloquet Valley State Forest unless they are posted as closed.
The final decision, announced last Tuesday, is a victory for off-road enthusiasts who wanted to continue open access to the forest. But many residents and environmental groups had wanted tighter controls on the vehicles.
Members of the Friends of the Cloquet Valley State Forest had hoped the DNR’s final plan would have required that specific trails be marked as open before all-terrain vehicles or off-highway vehicles could travel on them.
But the DNR controls only about 15 percent of the land within the forest, and agency officials said they wanted to match rules expected to be adopted by St. Louis County, which manages the rest of the land.
“We’ve worked closely with St. Louis County to create a plan that provides consistent, careful management of resources while still allowing important recreational access,’’ said DNR Commissioner Mark Holsten. “Consistency is critical to public understanding, compliance and enforcement of the new route designations.’’
Bob Krepps, St. Louis County land commissioner, said the county hadn’t made any official decision, but will likely now adopt the DNR plan – unless the county board votes otherwise.
Krepps said the decision is a balance between those who oppose ATVs and those that want to ride anywhere.
“Before now, we really had no control over where they (off-highway vehicles) rode. This brings us to a point on a line. I’m not sure if it’s a halfway point or where the user groups want it, but it’s a point to work from,’’ Krepps said. “It may take adjustments down the road. But it brings us toward some management of this use, which right now is a free-for-all.’’
The new plan will take effect on or before the end of 2009.
The DNR said that among other things, the new plan will: allow continued use of motor vehicles on about 350 miles of designated state and county forest roads and on more than 400 miles of nondesignated access routes; close about 188 miles of current trails that the DNR feels are environmentally unsustainable for off-highway vehicles; reclassify nearly 19,000 acres as closed to off-highway vehicles; and designate about 30 miles of hunter walking and ski trails within the state forest.
Classification plan completed for Cloquet Valley State Forest
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has approved the forest classification and route designation plan for motorized and non-motorized use in the Cloquet Valley State Forest. Because the majority of public land within the forest is county-administered land, the DNR has worked with St. Louis and Carlton counties in preparing the plan. The largest landholder in the Cloquet Valley State Forest is St. Louis County with 85 percent.
“We’ve worked closely with St. Louis County to create a plan that provides consistent, careful management of resources while still allowing important recreational access,” said DNR Commissioner Mark Holsten. “Consistency is critical to public understanding, compliance and enforcement of the new route designations.”
Because the DNR manages only 15 percent of the lands in the Cloquet Valley State Forest and the county manages 85 percent, St. Louis County has taken the lead in the classification and route designation process.
St. Louis County Land Commissioner Bob Krepps said, “It is critical that state lands within the Cloquet Valley Forest are managed similarly to county tax-forfeited lands to help ensure consistent regulation and to minimize confusion among state and county land managers and the public with regard to vehicle use rules and regulations. The plan is unlikely to satisfy everyone. However, this plan is a big step toward resolving off-highway vehicle (OHV) use issues on state and county forestlands in the southern part of St. Louis County.”
The Cloquet Valley plan is part of the forest classification and route designation planning effort that is required for all Minnesota state forests.
Cloquet Valley State Forest plan will:
• close approximately 188 miles of unsustainable routes to vehicle use; reclassify nearly 19,000 acres as closed to off-highway vehicles; and develop those areas for walking hunters and other non-motorized forest users not using motorized vehicles
• protect the Cloquet River through various means including closing routes that have lead to illegal river crossings
• retain the current managed (routes open unless posted closed) classification for the bulk of the Cloquet Valley State Forest, which lies north of U.S. Highway 2
• designate about 30 miles of hunter walking and ski trails within the state forest
• designate about seven miles of OHV trails outside of the forest on scattered state lands in St. Louis County, but will not include new OHV trials inside the state forest
• allow continued use of motor vehicles on some 350 miles of designated state and county forest roads and on more than 400 miles of non-designated access routes (open to all motor uses) located within managed portions of the forest
• begin implementation immediately, with most provisions taking effect on or before Dec. 31, 2009.
The planning process included extensive public input and resolved many of the site-specific issues and concerns brought forward during plan review.
“St. Louis County and the DNR worked together in crafting an access plan for the forest, and we will move forward cooperatively to implement it,” said the DNR’s Northeast Regional Director Craig Engwall.
“State and county land managers share similar goals and challenges with OHV management.”
For more details about the ongoing reclassification process for state forests, or for other information on OHV riding opportunities, including maps of designated forest roads and trails, visit the DNR Web site at www.mndnr.gov or at www.findthetrails.com.
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St. Cloud VA taking applications for 2009 Veterans turkey hunt
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Applications will be available beginning January 19, 2009, for the fifth annual Physically Disabled Veterans Turkey Hunt. Sponsored by the St. Cloud VA Medical Center, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Minnesota National Guard, Camp Ripley, this special hunt will take place April 21-23, 2009, at Camp Ripley in Little Falls.
The Physically Disabled Veterans Turkey Hunt is available to physically disabled veterans who receive outpatient treatment at a VA Medical Center, or veterans who are eligible for VA care and cannot hunt during the regular firearms season.
Limited space is available. Applications will be available beginning Monday, January 19, 2009. The deadline for applications to be returned is Friday, March 6, 2009.
For more information contact Patricia Aljets, Recreation & Voluntary Service Manager, (320) 252-1670, ext. 6669.
Best athletes in the world set to be at Canterbury
MINNEAPOLIS - The top professional snocross racers on the planet, as well as the leading freestyle athletes anywhere will invade Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota for Round 3 of the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series. More than 15,000 fans are expected to witness the world’s best snowmobile riders compete side-by-side for more than $250,000 on a racetrack littered with huge jumps and insane terrain. Racers will fly more than 80-feet in excess of two-stories high as they negotiate a course laid out in front of the heated Canterbury Park venue.
Winter X Games Champions including Minnesota’s own Tucker Hibbert and Levi LaVallee as well as freestyle king Chris Burandt will be there, giving area fans one of the few opportunities of the year to see these incredible riders in person.
The weekend heats up fast Friday night at 7:00pm with a FREE Monster Energy Slednecks Invasion Tour freestyle showcase. The top freestyle athletes in the world including Chris Burandt and Paul Thacker will perform some of the most insane tricks ever seen on a snowmobile including a back-flip! Riders will launch their snowmobiles from two freestyle ramps to a backdrop of infused rock and free swag for the fans. Joining them will be the biggest names in snocross racing for an evening of hospitality, autographs and family fun.
Racing gets underway at 9:00am both Saturday and Sunday, but race fans will want to be sure they are in the stands 4:00pm Saturday for the Main Event. There’s free snowmobile demo rides or the kids with a chance for one lucky participant to win a new Arctic Cat kids snowmobile.
Advance weekend passes are just $30 with kids 12 and under FREE! Visits www.isocracing.com for more information and tickets.
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‘Rescued’ pike stocked in Big Stone County lakes
DNR News
Three Big Stone County lakes were recently stocked by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) with approximately 2,500 ‘rescued’ northern pike weighing from one-half to three pounds.
The pike were removed from a lake near Aitkin that frequently has winterkills, a condition brought on by low oxygen levels in shallow lakes. Norm Haukos, DNR fisheries manager at Ortonville, said “rescue netting” is annually conducted at this lake and the fish are then transported to other Minnesota waters more suited for northern pike.
The pike were released into Artichoke, East Toqua and Long Tom lakes. “Rescuing fish can be fairly labor intensive and it is only done on a case by case basis,” Haukos noted. “In this case it’s worth it because of the large number and good size of the pike.”
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