Minnesota DNR seeks feedback on proposed special fishing regulations

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is asking the public to comment on proposed special fishing regulations.

The DNR said it seeks public comment each year when it reviews current fishing regulations and proposes new, special regulations that apply to particular waters.

One proposed ordinance aims to address angler concerns about perch and increased pressure on fish populations due to winter fishing, while another would reduce the daily perch bag limit to five on seven lakes in Otter Tail County and one in Lac Qui Parle County.

“If we do implement these limit reductions, we’ll evaluate them carefully in a separate fisheries research project to try to determine which lakes and types of crappie populations benefit from the reduced limits, because not all do,” said Jon Hansen, Minnesota DNR fisheries program consultant. “In some lakes where crappie don’t live very long, reducing the limit simply means that the fish are dying from natural causes rather than being available to anglers.”

Other regulations proposed by the DNR to amend special and experimental fishing regulations next year include:

• Saganaga and Sea Gull Lakes (Cook County)
• Sauk River Chain of Lakes Catfish (Stearns County)
• Northern Pike from Basswood Lake (Lake County)
• Garden Reservoir Chain and Birch Lake (Lake County) Northern Pike
• Basswood Lake Sunfish (Lake County)
• Little Sauk Lake (Todd County) regulations simplified for multiple species
• Lakes near Rochester (Olmstead County) many species

Responses can be submitted via an online survey, which will be available until October 7.

The DNR will also hold open houses in each county where the proposed changes would apply, as well as another one covering all proposals in the Twin Cities.

Details about open days can be found online.