09-14-2006, 02:43 AM
DNR seeks input on fishing regulations for Grand Rapids area lakes (2006-09-12)
The Grand Rapids Area Fisheries Office of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has scheduled two public open-house informational meetings to gather input on northern pike regulation proposals and muskie regulation proposals.
Northern pike regulations are being considered on the Bowstring/Sand chain of lakes, Round Lake (near Squaw Lake) and Coon-Sandwick Lake. The proposed regulation on Bowstring, Sand and Round Lake is a 22 to 36 inch protected slot and a daily and possession limit of nine northern pike, only one pike larger than 36 inches may be in possession. The goal of the regulation is to improve northern pike size characteristics by protecting medium to large size fish while allowing an expanded harvest opportunity for small fish.
The proposed regulation on Coon-Sandwick is a 24 to 36 inch protected slot with one northern pike longer than 36 inches in possession. There has been an experimental regulation using a different protected slot on Coon-Sandwick since the early 1990s, which has showed some success at improving size structure. The change, at this time, is to simplify the regulation and make it consistent with most other lakes that have special regulations on northern pike.
The meeting to discuss northern pike regulations will be held on Monday, September 25, at 7:00 p.m. at the Sand Lake Community Center, located on County Road 4 about 4 miles west of Spring Lake. The meeting will consist of a brief presentation, followed by an open house to discuss the proposals with DNR staff.
Muskie catch and release regulations are proposed for the Mississippi River below the Blandin Dam and the Prairie River below the Prairie Lake Dam. There is also a proposal to increase the minimum size limit to 48 inches on Blandin Reservoir, Jay Gould, Little Jay Gould, Pokegama, Blackwater, Little Winnibigoshish, Winnibigoshish, Cut Foot Sioux, Deer, Moose, and North Star lakes and the Big Fork River. The meeting to discuss muskie regulations will be held on Thursday, September 28, at 7:00 p.m. in the Training Room at the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center (MIFC) located at 402 11th Street SE, Grand Rapids.
The public comment period began in May and will end10 days after the meeting. “This is not a done deal,” said Chris Kavanaugh, DNR Area Fisheries Supervisor. “The comment period and the meetings are extremely important to us so that we can make the best decision on implementing the regulation on any of the lakes.”
The comments will be reviewed and a decision on implementation will be made by early December. If implemented, the regulations would become effective at the beginning of the 2007 fishing season.
An additional Open House meeting to discuss regulation changes will be held on September 29, 2006, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the DNR Headquarters, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul. Comments on the proposed regulations for lakes in Itasca County may be directed to Chris Kavanaugh, DNR Area Fisheries, 1201 E Highway 2, Grand Rapids, MN 55744 or e-mail chris.kavanaugh@dnr.state.mn.us Written comments will be accepted until October 9, 2006.
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© 2006 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
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The Grand Rapids Area Fisheries Office of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has scheduled two public open-house informational meetings to gather input on northern pike regulation proposals and muskie regulation proposals.
Northern pike regulations are being considered on the Bowstring/Sand chain of lakes, Round Lake (near Squaw Lake) and Coon-Sandwick Lake. The proposed regulation on Bowstring, Sand and Round Lake is a 22 to 36 inch protected slot and a daily and possession limit of nine northern pike, only one pike larger than 36 inches may be in possession. The goal of the regulation is to improve northern pike size characteristics by protecting medium to large size fish while allowing an expanded harvest opportunity for small fish.
The proposed regulation on Coon-Sandwick is a 24 to 36 inch protected slot with one northern pike longer than 36 inches in possession. There has been an experimental regulation using a different protected slot on Coon-Sandwick since the early 1990s, which has showed some success at improving size structure. The change, at this time, is to simplify the regulation and make it consistent with most other lakes that have special regulations on northern pike.
The meeting to discuss northern pike regulations will be held on Monday, September 25, at 7:00 p.m. at the Sand Lake Community Center, located on County Road 4 about 4 miles west of Spring Lake. The meeting will consist of a brief presentation, followed by an open house to discuss the proposals with DNR staff.
Muskie catch and release regulations are proposed for the Mississippi River below the Blandin Dam and the Prairie River below the Prairie Lake Dam. There is also a proposal to increase the minimum size limit to 48 inches on Blandin Reservoir, Jay Gould, Little Jay Gould, Pokegama, Blackwater, Little Winnibigoshish, Winnibigoshish, Cut Foot Sioux, Deer, Moose, and North Star lakes and the Big Fork River. The meeting to discuss muskie regulations will be held on Thursday, September 28, at 7:00 p.m. in the Training Room at the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center (MIFC) located at 402 11th Street SE, Grand Rapids.
The public comment period began in May and will end10 days after the meeting. “This is not a done deal,” said Chris Kavanaugh, DNR Area Fisheries Supervisor. “The comment period and the meetings are extremely important to us so that we can make the best decision on implementing the regulation on any of the lakes.”
The comments will be reviewed and a decision on implementation will be made by early December. If implemented, the regulations would become effective at the beginning of the 2007 fishing season.
An additional Open House meeting to discuss regulation changes will be held on September 29, 2006, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the DNR Headquarters, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul. Comments on the proposed regulations for lakes in Itasca County may be directed to Chris Kavanaugh, DNR Area Fisheries, 1201 E Highway 2, Grand Rapids, MN 55744 or e-mail chris.kavanaugh@dnr.state.mn.us Written comments will be accepted until October 9, 2006.
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© 2006 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
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