May 2, 2008 - TOP STORIES
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Late ice-out may be a concern for anglers

Rainy River anglers not deterred by frozen water

Mississippi refuge publishes new recreation rules

Governor's Fishing Opener Guides selected

Make sure to review new 2008 fishing regs for area lakes

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Late ice-out may be a concern for anglers
Minnesota’s fishing opener is just a week away

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) – Anglers may be dealing with ice when Minnesota’s walleye season opens.
The Minnesota Office of Climatology says as of Friday, April 25 all major lakes in the northern half of the state were officially ice covered (see update in Fish Tales report on page 24). By this time last year almost all of Minnesota’s lakes were ice-free.
Ice-out hasn’t been a worry for the walleye opener since 1996. That year, many Minnesota lakes set their record for latest ice-out.
But a cool winter and spring means a later-than-normal ice-out for northern Minnesota and also for Wisconsin, where the fishing season opens Saturday, a week before Minnesota’s.
And there’s no sign of a warm-up. The National Weather Service in Duluth says temperatures will feel like late March through the last week of April.
Andy Mack, caretaker of Camp Nebagamon on Lake Nebagamon east of Superior, Wis., said ice-out in recent years has averaged about April 15. But Mack remains confident of ice-out before Wisconsin’s opener.
Recent rain helps eat away at the ice, even if the sun isn’t shining, Mack said.
“The sun and 70 degrees we had the other day really took its toll, and the wind and rain have been working on it the last couple days,” Mack said of the lake ice. “We had about 32 inches of ice this year, so it’s taking a while to go ... But it’s black and candling now so it’s just a matter of days.”
In central Minnesota, ice-out is hitting about 12 days later than usual this spring. Lake Minnetonka, west of Minneapolis, became ice-free on April 23 compared with the 129-year average of April 11.
Big Sandy Lake near McGregor already is six days behind its usual ice-out date of April 20. But it won’t be ice-covered much longer. Big Sandy Lake Lodge said last Friday that bays already are open, and predicts the last ice will vanish early this week, about eight days behind average.
Other lakeshore residents say they’re confident Minnesota lakes will open in time for the May 10 opener.
Gunflint Lake on the Ontario border is, on average, Minnesota’s last lake to lose its ice each spring on May 7.
“I think it will be out before the opener ... The rain has made a difference just the past two days,” said Barb Gecas at Heston’s Lodge on Gunflint Lake. “It’s not black yet. But it’s starting to go. It’s not going to make it two more weeks.”

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Rainy River anglers not deterred by frozen water

DNR News
Scores of eager anglers flocked to the Rainy River this spring despite having to push their boats across the ice to get to open water. They came to take advantage of the extended walleye season, which ended April 14, along the Minnesota-Ontario border waters.
“These walleye anglers are a tough breed,” said Doug Easthouse, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Big Bog State Recreation Area park manager. “They camped in tents at Franz Jevne State Park in 20-degree weather and shoveled snow to do it.”
According to most, it was worth it. As one fisherman put it, “the water clarity and river currents were ideal for a hot and furious walleye bite and the catches were excellent.”
“Anglers come to the Rainy River each spring not only for the high catch rates, but for the opportunity to catch large pre-spawn walleye,” said Phil Talmage, DNR Baudette area fisheries supervisor. “The current status of the Lake of the Woods walleye fishery is good. Walleye abundance and fishery health indicators show that we have a strong population on the lake.”
According to Talmage, angling pressure on the Rainy River can be quite variable, with weather and water levels impacting river access and angler success.
Annual spring creel surveys conducted between 1990 and 2005 indicate an average of about 56,000 hours of fishing effort per year, while the spring walleye harvest during that same period averaged about 11,000 pounds per year. This harvest represents less than two percent of the annual walleye harvest from the U.S. waters of Lake of the Woods. The spring walleye season on the Rainy River typically lasts two to three weeks.
For more information on the Rainy River, fishing seasons and regulations, or Minnesota’s state parks, visit www.mndnr.gov.

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Mississippi refuge publishes new recreation rules
Growing number of entrants expected at 2nd Annual Lake of the Woods Sturgeon Tournament held May 2-3; purse potential of several hundred dollars each day

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on April 24 published a final rule in the Federal Register to implement general recreation actions in the approved Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for the 240,000-acre Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.
The new rules are effective May 27, 2008 following the customary 30-day waiting period for new rules.
Refuge Manager Don Hultman said they received 22 comments on the draft rule released for a 60-day comment period last October. He said most comments repeated previous concerns expressed during preparation of the CCP.
“We made three changes from the proposed rule,” said Hultman. “We will allow the collection of shed deer antlers on the refuge, we removed the chainsaw prohibition, and we changed the minimum camping distance from boat ramps and other facilities from 100 to 200 feet.”
Hultman said the new rules establish four electric motor only areas totaling 1,630 acres (1 area of 222 acres already exists) and eight new seasonal (March 16 – October 31) slow, no-wake areas totaling 9,370 acres. Airboats and hovercraft will not be allowed in slow, no-wake areas during the effective dates.
Collectively, these areas account for just eight percent of the estimated 140,000 acres of surface waters of the refuge. The remaining 92 percent of waters will remain open to all watercraft, subject to state rules and restrictions.
“It’s important for people to realize that the electric motor areas and slow, no wake areas remain open to all uses, including hunting and fishing. Only the means of access has changed,” Hultman said.
He said these areas are designed to help limit disturbance to habitat, fish, and wildlife in sensitive backwater areas, and balance the needs of the refuge’s 3.7 million annual visitors who enjoy the refuge in a variety of ways.
Other regulations stemming from the CCP include a ban of glass food and beverage containers on beach areas and other lands of the refuge; clarifying the definition and requirements for camping and campsite sanitation; and clarifying the rules for watercraft mooring, firearms, vegetation cutting and use, and domestic animals.
“Most of these regulations have been in effect for years as described in brochures and on refuge signs. This new rule formalizes the regulations, and fine-tunes and modernizes the language for clarity, ease of enforcement, and consistency with sound wildlife and recreation management,” Hultman said.
The entire rule, along with fact sheets and links to maps and the CCP, is available at http://www.fws.gov/midwest/UpperMississippiRiver/, or you may call (507) 452-4232 and request a copy. New maps and brochures will be available by mid-May at refuge offices and at many boat landings.
The refuge CCP was approved in October 2006 following four years of effort, including 46 public meetings and workshops attended by 4,500 persons. Final rules for hunting and fishing changes stemming from the CCP went into effect last fall.
In addition to being the most visited refuge in the country, the “Upper Miss” Refuge has the added complexity of a major navigation system, including 11 locks and dams, within its boundary. It is also a world-class fish and wildlife area which harbors 306 species of birds; 119 species of fish; more than 160 active bald eagle nests; thousands of heron and egret nests; spectacular concentrations of canvasback ducks, tundra swans, and white pelicans; and several threatened or endangered species.
For more information on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, visit www.fws.gov.

By the Associated Press
Federal officials have published new rules for boaters and beach lovers in the upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.
The rules create an additional 1,600 acres of electric motor-only areas and eight seasonal no-wake zones. Glass containers will no longer be allowed on beaches and other refuge lands.
Fruit and nut collectors will be limited to two gallons per person per day. Campsites will have to be at least 200 feet from any boat landing, parking lot, road or trail.
The rules go into effect May 27. The changes are part of a new master conservation plan the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approved for the refuge in 2006.

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Governor's Fishing Opener Guides selected

Walleye Dan selected as Gov. Pawlenty's Fishing Host
“Walleye Dan” Eigen has been selected as Governor Tim Pawlenty’s fishing host for the 2008 Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener in Breezy Point, Minnesota.
“It gave me the chills and I am completely honored,” Eigen said when notified that he had been selected as the fishing host for the Governor.
Dan has a few ideas that he believes will put fish on the hooks of the Governor and First Lady on Opening day, but doesn’t want to give away his secrets. Dan predicts the Governor and the First Lady will catch fish on opening day.
Dan started fishing with his Dad when he was about five years old and because of his fascination with the sport, he spent much of his free time fishing. He has always been interested in the outdoors and also trapped and hunted his entire life.
Dan is now a full time, professional fishing guide and the owner/operator of Walleyedan’s Guide Service of Nisswa, Minnesota. He became a professional fishing guide because of an experience he had when he was about ten years old when his father hired a guide at a resort in the Brainerd Lakes area. Dan was impressed with the amount of fishing knowledge the man had. Dan later began working at the Quarterdeck Resort on Gull Lake and would quiz the resort guides about fishing techniques and locations and then head out on the lake to try out his new found knowledge. From there, Dan began his fishing guide career.

Tom Whitehead tapped as Minnesota Lieutenant Governor’s Fishing Host
Brainerd resident and tournament fisherman Tom Whitehead has been selected as the fishing host of Lieutenant Governor Carol Molnau at this year’s Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener at Breezy Point, Minnesota.
Tom said he was really excited when he got the call to be her host for fishing on Pelican Lake. Tom has guided for many people over the years and is confident he will put the Lieutenant Governor “on fish” on Opening morning.
Tom has been part of a Governor’s Opener in the past, but he says hosting the Lieutenant Governor is something very special to him. “I know the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor have a great fishing competition going,” Tom added. “I intend to use all the tricks and knowledge of fishing I have to help Lieutenant Governor Molnau out fish him.”
Tom was born in southern Minnesota and started fishing when he was three-years old. Tom’s two grandfathers and several uncles let him tag along when they went fishing. By the time Tom was 11, he was tying his own lures and could be found somewhere on the two lakes in the Delevan area whenever he had some free time.
Tom said his appreciation for the outdoors and nature has been part of his “being” for as long as he can remember. Tom is a self-employed manufacturers’ representative in the outdoor industry and operates TK Marketing.

About the Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener
The Governor’s Fishing Opener has been a tradition in Minnesota since 1948. The event was designed to promote the development of Minnesota’s recreation industry. In recent years, the Opener has served as a celebration kickoff for the summer tourism season. It provides the community with an opportunity to highlight local fishing and other recreational activities, attractions and other points of interest. For more information, go to www.mngovernorsopener.com

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Make sure to review new 2008 fishing regs for area lakes
As the May 10 fishing opener approaches, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages anglers to visit the DNR Web site to familiarize themselves with the new 2008 Minnesota Fishing Regulations, which went into effect on March 1.

Detroit Lakes area
• Little Toad Lake, Becker County - sunfish possession limit of 10; all northern pike from 24-to 36-inches must be immediately released; one more than 36-inches allowed in possession
• Maud Lake and Lake Eunice, Becker County - sunfish possession limit of five; black crappie – minimum size limit 10-inches, possession limit five; all largemouth and smallmouth bass from 12-to 20-inches must be immediately released; one more than 20-inches allowed in possession; all northern pike from 24- to 36-inches must be mmediately released; one more than 36-inches allowed in possession
• Little Cormorant, Becker County - sunfish possession limit of five; black crappie minimum size limit of 10-inches; possession limit of five; walleye minimum size limit of 17-inches
• Otter Tail River, Otter Tail, Becker and Wilkin counties - smallmouth bass, catch-and- release from Wilkin County Road 19 crossing upstream to the Friberg Dam, including all impoundments, and from Otter Tail County Highway 51 upstream to the Hubbel Pond Dam, including Mud, Rice and Town lakes

Fergus Falls area
• East Battle Lake, Otter Tail County - previous 22-inch maximum regulation on northern pike has been dropped
• Middle Lake, Otter Tail County - all largemouth bass between 12- to-20 inches must be immediately released; one more than 20-inches allowed in possession
• Otter Tail River, Otter Tail, Becker and Wilkin counties - smallmouth bass -- catch-and-release from Wilkin County Road 19 crossing upstream to the Friberg Dam, including all impoundments, and from Otter Tail County Highway 51 upstream to the Hubbel Pond Dam, including Mud, Rice and Town lakes

Glenwood area
• Lake Andrew and Lake Burgen, Douglas County - previous 24-inch maximum regulation on northern pike has been dropped
• Rachel Lake and Little Rachel Lake, Douglas County - all northern pike between 24- to 36-inches must be immediately released; one more 36-inches allowed in possession

Walker area
• Lind Lake, Cass County - sunfish possession limit five
• Ten Mile Lake, Cass County - all northern pike between 24- to 36-inches must be immediately released; one more than 36-inches allowed in possession

Additional special regulations remain in effect on several area lakes. These are listed in the regulations booklet and are posted at access sites.

The 2008 Minnesota Fishing Regulations are available online at www.mndnr.gov/regulations/fishing or by contacting the DNR Information Center at info@dnr.state.mn.us, (651) 296-6157 or toll free 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367).

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