Experimental regulations for northern pike and bass remain in place on Pelican Lake (February 5, 2008)
The size limit for northern pike on Pelican Lake near Orr will be modified to a 24- to 36-inch protected slot limit on March 1, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). In a possession limit of three, anglers will be allowed to harvest one northern pike more than 36 inches.
Pelican Lake has had experimental regulations for northern pike and bass since 1998. The current northern pike regulation requires the immediate release of all pike from 24 to 32 inches.
All largemouth and smallmouth bass from 14- to 20-inches must be released, with one bass more than 20 inches allowed in a possession limit of six. The bass regulation will remain unchanged.
The northern pike size limit was modified as part of a statewide effort to simplify angling regulations by applying a consistent slot limit in Minnesota lakes where it is warranted. Having many lakes across the state with the same regulation will also help fisheries biologists evaluate the effectiveness of length-based regulations.
As an added bonus, anglers will have fewer size limits to remember. The new size limit on Pelican Lake will be identical to ones already in place on nearby Vermilion and Ash lakes.
Size regulations on northern pike were implemented to improve the size structure of the population, improve angler catch rates of larger fish, and maintain historical population size and growth rates. Preliminary results of the regulation review conducted in 2007 indicate the size regulation has made progress toward these objectives. The size structure of the northern pike population has improved, and anglers are catching more big fish, according to the DNR.
Pelican Lake has an early bass opener (two weeks before Memorial day), which exposes bass to harvest when they are spawning or preparing to spawn. Creel surveys from the 1990s showed that anglers were harvesting large bass during this time period, which could reduce the quality of the bass fishery.
The goal of the bass regulation was to maintain or improve the size structure of the bass population and catch rates of the bass fishery. The bass regulation has achieved these objectives.
Nineteen people attended a recent public input meeting in Orr. Most of the discussion was focused on northern pike. Although the majority of those who commented supported the concept of managing Pelican Lake for larger northern pike, opinions expressed about the size limit were mixed. Anglers who like to spear northern pike were opposed to the size regulation. They asked for some accommodations for spearing, such as relaxing the size limit during the winter or allowing one fish within the protected slot.
The DNR appreciates the perspective of those who enjoy the sport of dark house spearing, but analysis showed that relaxing the slot limit during the winter spearing season would jeopardize the gains achieved thus far.
Forty-one comments were received on the regulation during the public comment period. Summer anglers, cabin owners and the Pelican Lake Association supported extending the regulations for northern pike and bass, as did 81 percent of the 929 angling parties interviewed in the 2007 creel survey. A petition received at the meeting also supported continuing the current regulations or expanding the size limit to a 24- to 36-inch protected slot.
The new northern pike and bass regulations will be in place for a 10-year trial period.
People with questions or comments should contact Kevin Peterson at the DNR area fisheries office in International Falls, 392 Highway 11 East; by phone (218) 286-5220; or by e-mail kevin.peterson@dnr.state.mn.us.
