Minnesota Fishing – February 2016

[mudbrook]

Minnesota Fishing – February 2016
Like Us  Like Us    Follow Us  Follow Us

Fishing dates to remember
Sunday, Feb. 28: Last day of statewide angling seasons for a variety of game fish species; also last day for dark-house spearing, see Fish Minnesota for details.
Sunday, March 27: Last day for Mille Lacs Lake northern pike angling.
Thursday, March 31: Last day of fishing for lake trout statewide, and last day of fishing for stream trout in lakes statewide
Friday, April 15: Last day of catch-and-release stream trout fishing in southeastern Minnesota streams in Dodge, Goodhue, Fillmore, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha and Winona counties
Saturday, April 16: Stream trout opener in streams statewide
Saturday, May 14: Minnesota fishing opener for walleye, bass and northern pike, and trout in lakes
Women can learn outdoor skills at workshop
Women can discover the enjoyment of snowshoeing, cross country skiing, birding, wild ricing, dark-house fishing and hiking at a winter workshop offered by the Becoming an Outdoors Woman program of the DNR.
The focus of the workshop is providing opportunities to try winter activities in a fun and supportive atmosphere, and prior experience isn’t required. The workshop is Friday, Feb. 19, through Sunday, Feb. 21, at the Deep Portage Environmental Learning Center near Hackensack for ages 14 and older. A winter workshop schedule and registration form is available from the DNR.
Wild hockey discounts with hunting, fishing license
Minnesota hunting or fishing license holders can order discounted tickets to Minnesota Wild hockey games.
Upcoming games included in the promotion are Sunday, Feb. 28, against the Florida Panthers; and Sunday, March 6, against the St. Louis Blues. Ticket costs vary based on game and seating options.
A limited number of tickets are available for each game and will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. The offer is available online only and is available to hunting or fishing license holders for 2015 or 2016. The discount is not available at the Xcel Energy Center box office. Fishing and hunting licenses can be purchased online.
Leech Lake 5-year management plan finalized
A new five-year fisheries management plan for Leech Lake in northern Minnesota has been released by the DNR. The plan covers the period 2016-2020 and outlines management objectives for primary sportfish populations, as well as steps to reach these goals.
The document was developed by combining fisheries science with extensive public input. Management actions in this plan include habitat protection, special regulations, stocking of game fish (when specified population triggers are met), and continued support for double-crested cormorant control, as well as expanded sampling for other important species such as largemouth bass and tullibee, also called cisco. The plan aims to provide a quality sustainable sport fishery in Leech Lake for the long term.
The final plan, approved by DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr, can be viewed at: http://bit.ly/1R9Ird8. Electronic copies of the plan can also be obtained by emailing the Walker area fisheries office at walker.fisheries@state.mn.us.
Leech Lake covers 112,000 acres and is a popular year-around recreation destination. The lake is home to walleye, muskellunge, northern pike, yellow perch, largemouth bass and a number of other fish species sought by anglers.
Did you know? Aerating lakes
Ever wonder what's the story behind whether lakes are aerated to prevent winter fish kill?
The DNR does not aerate lakes, but the agency does issue permits to lake associations, counties and other local partners who wish to aerate shallow lakes that are prone to fish kills due to lack of dissolved oxygen in the winter. Public safety is the primary concern, so these permits require aerated parts of the lake to be clearly marked with thin ice signs and located away from high-traffic areas such as boat launches and snowmobile trails.
DNR fisheries and wildlife managers often provide guidance on whether or not aeration is desirable for a given lake. For example, some shallow lakes are important habitat for waterfowl, where fish compete with ducks and geese for food while stirring up sediment that can harm aquatic vegetation. In those cases, natural winter fish kills serve an important biological purpose.