Minnesota Fishing – April 2016
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Fishing dates to remember
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 and northern pike, and stream trout in lakes; bass opener in northeast; bass catch-and-release season opens statewide except northeast
Saturday, May 28: Bass season opens statewide
Saturday, June 4: Muskellunge season opener
Record program: Catch-and-release for three species
Anglers can set catch-and-release length records this fishing season for lake sturgeon, flathead catfish and muskellunge through the State Record Fish Program of the DNR.
While catch-and-release length records can be set for sturgeon, flathead catfish or muskies, the traditional catch-and-keep records based on certified weight for all species will remain an option.
The certified weight record and catch-and-release length record each have an individual set of guidelines for submitting a state record fish. Remember to read up on guidelines and application forms, and fishing regulations and season dates. Anglers who catch large fish also have the option of participating in the Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame’s Master Angler Program, which recognizes 60 fish species.
Mille Lacs Lake open water regulations announced
Mille Lacs Lake anglers must immediately release all walleye when Minnesota’s 2016 fishing season opens Saturday, May 14, and anglers will be able to fish with live bait.
Other changed regulations for the 2016 season on Mille Lacs include:
Walleye: Night closure beginning Monday, May 16, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and continuing through Dec. 1. Muskellunge anglers may fish at night but all baits, live or artificial, in possession must be at least 8 inches long.
Northern pike: Five fish with only one longer than 40 inches. All northern 30-40 inches long must be immediately released.
Bass: Four fish with only one longer than 21 inches. All fish 17-21 inches long must be immediately released.
The DNR is working to conserve young walleyes so they can mature and become spawners, thus helping the lake’s walleye population to recover, and the agency is committed to continue providing world-class fishing at one of Minnesota’s premier vacation destinations. Visit the DNR website for more information about Mille Lacs Lake.
3-walleye limit on Upper Red Lake continues
Less restrictive walleye regulations put in place on Upper Red Lake this past winter will continue when the 2016 open water season opens on Saturday, May 14. The daily bag and possession limit will be three walleye, with one fish longer than 17 inches allowed.
Walleye harvest on Upper Red Lake is managed on an annual basis by a harvest plan, which was updated before the most recent winter fishing season. Future harvest adjustments could include increasing the bag limit this summer; and a June 15 adjustment to a four-fish bag limit is likely.
The DNR and the Red Lake Band of Chippewa developed a joint harvest plan that governs walleye harvest, and harvest restrictions are necessary to comply with the harvest plan agreement. The Upper Red Lake fishing regulations are available on the DNR website.
Lake trout recovery a highlight of Lake Superior plan
A healthy recovery staged by wild lake trout in Lake Superior means these fish no longer need to be stocked in the lake, according to an updated management plan that covers the Minnesota waters of Lake Superior. The public can comment on the plan now through Sunday, May 8.
Three public open houses to gather input and answer questions are scheduled for next week:
Tuesday, April 19, 6-8 p.m., Cook County Community Center, 317 5th Ave. W., Grand Marais.
Wednesday, April 20, 6-8 p.m., Lake Superior College, 2101 Trinity Road, Duluth.
Thursday, April 21, 6-8 p.m., DNR headquarters, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul.
Comments can be submitted through May 8 on the DNR website or by contacting Cory Goldsworthy by email or calling 218-302-3268. Learn more about the plan and its recommendations on the DNR website.
Comment on International Falls area fisheries plans
Fisheries management plans for 10 lakes and two streams in northern St. Louis and Koochiching counties are under review by the DNR, and the public is invited to review and comment on the plans through Monday, April 18.
Lake plans under review are Beartrack, Clear, Cruiser, Eugene, Gabrielson, Loiten, Quill, Rod Smith Pond, Susan and Swan. Stream plans under review are Kinmount Creek and Lost River.
Copies of the draft plans are available at the International Falls area fisheries office located at 392 Highway 11 E., International Falls, MN 56649, or call the office at 218-286-5220 to request a copy, or email kevin.peterson@state.mn.us.
Those wishing to comment on any of the plans may do so by contacting the DNR area fisheries office by any of the methods outlined above. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Comments, questions and suggestions for management of any of the other lakes and streams in the International Falls area are welcome at any time, and will be considered when those plans are due for review.
DNR announces temporary fishing closures
To protect spawning fish, the DNR has begun to close certain portions of some Minnesota waters to fishing. The closings are routine and based on local conditions.
Closings occur each year as ice-out begins and waters begin to warm. The DNR closes the spawning locations to fishing only where habitat is limited and fish are very concentrated in one location, such as a river or the bay of a lake where fish are congregated during spawning.
Areas closed to fishing are listed and updated on the DNR website. Portions of waters closed to fishing also are posted at access sites and in other visible areas. Anglers may fish in areas that are not posted.
Youth-adult pairs can learn fly-fishing basics
A youth paired with an adult can join other youth-adult pairs to learn the basics of fly-fishing from experienced instructors from Friday evening, May 13, to Sunday afternoon, May 15, near Lanesboro.
To participate, youth must be 11 to 17 years old as of May 13, and each youth-adult pair must have less than 10 hours of fly-fishing experience between them. The registration fee is $130 per pair and includes meals, lodging, guiding services, equipment and additional materials. The event is limited to 20 youth-adult pairs.
More information is available on the DNR website or by contacting 507-359-6049 or deborah.groebner@state.mn.us. The weekend event is made possible through MinnAqua, a statewide education program designed to teach angling recreation and stewardship as well as the ecology and conservation of aquatic habitats.
Twins offer free hat through partnership with DNR
Anyone with a 2016 Minnesota hunting or fishing license can receive a free camouflage and blaze orange Twins logo baseball cap by being among the first 500 to buy Minnesota Twins tickets through a special offer online, good for these upcoming home games:
Sunday, June 12, vs. the Boston Red Sox
Sunday, June 19, vs. the New York Yankees
Sunday, July 3, vs. the Texas Rangers
Sunday, Aug. 14, vs. the Kansas City Royals
Saturday, Sept. 3, vs. the Chicago White Sox
Saturday, Sept. 24, vs. the Seattle Mariners.
Tickets are available in upper and lower decks with varying prices by location and game. Ticket buyers pick up their cap at the game. Purchase tickets online at the DNR website and enter the transaction number, which is printed on the hunting or fishing license. The offer is available only through the DNR’s Twins Web page.
Did you know? Minnesota fishing facts
There are about 1.4 million licensed anglers in Minnesota.
About 500,000 people are expected to fish on Minnesota’s opening day of the walleye and northern pike season, Saturday, May 14.
Minnesota has 11,842 lakes, 5,400 of which are considered fishing lakes. There are over 18,000 miles of fishable rivers and streams, including 3,800 miles of trout streams.
