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DNR  NEWS—A statewide catch-and-release season for sturgeon is among several rule changes proposed by the Minnesota DNR.  Now, there are only a few waters in the state where anglers can legally fish for sturgeon.  New rules would also affect those who fish for trout and bass, among other species.  The DNR is accepting comments on the proposed rules.  Rulemaking documents are available at http://www.mndnr.gov/input/rules/fisheries/statewide.html.  The proposed changes include but are not limited to:

GAME  FISH  REGULATIONS

New statewide catch-and-release seasons for bass and sturgeon

Close the taking of flathead catfish during the winter.

TROUT  LAKE  REGULATIONS

Open trout lakes in Becker, Beltrami, Cass, Crow Wing and Hubbard counties to winter trout fishing.

Little Andrus [Snowshoe Lake] in Cass County; Allen and Pleasant lakes in Crow Wing County; and Bad Medicine Lake in Becker County will remain closed to winter fishing.

OTHER 

Require a barb on arrows used for bowfishing.

Open Spring Lake in Itasca County to whitefish netting.

Restrictions placed on where nets can be placed for smelting on Grindstone Lake.

For border waters, changes simplify, provide additional opportunities, make rules consistent with Minnesota inland regulations,ormake consistent with bordering government regulations, as well as clarify the no-culling rule.

FAWNS BORN IN MAY—LEAVE THEM ALONE

Newborn fawns may appear abandoned and fragile but their best chance for survival comes when people leave them alone, especialy in spring according to the Minnesota DNR.  Deer rear their offspring differently than humans.  Most fawns are born in May and within hours of birth the fawn is led to a secluded spot so it can nurse.  With a full stamack, the fawn is content to lie down and rest.  If the doe has twins, it will hide the second fawn up to 200 feet away.  Then the doe leaves to feed and rest herself, out of sight but withn earshot.  In four or five hours, the doe will return to feed the fawns and take them to a new hiding place.  Deer foolw this pattern for two to three weeks, and only then, when fawns are strong enough to outrun predators- do the young travel much with their mother.

Deer have evolved a number of special adaptations that make this approach to fawn rearing successful.  Fawns have almost no odor so predators are less likely to smell them.  Their white spotted coats provide camouflage when they are lying on the forest floor.  For the first week of life, frightened fawns instinctively freeze, making full use of their protective coloration.  Older fawns remain motionless until they think they have been discovered, and then jump and bound away.  A deer’s primary protection from predators is its great speed.  Newborn fawns are not fast enough to outdistance predators so they must depend on their ability to hide for protection.  Although these adaptations work well against predators, they don’t work very well with people.  For the first few weeks, a fawn’s curiosity may entice it to approach a person who comes upon it.

What’s the right way to handle an encounter with a fawn? Never try to catch it.  If it’s hiding, admire it for moment and then quietly walk away.  If the fawn tries to follow, gently push on its shoulders until it lies down and then walk away. 

My brother Ed, was out and about last weekend doing some walleye fishing and fishing the North Shore for Loopers [Kamloops Rainbow Trout].  Ed and his friends fished Boulder and Island Lake last weekend near Duluth.  The water in the reservoirs is still very cold. Some walleye’s caught still had running milt and eggs, so they are not finished spawning yet.  Fishing on these two reservoirs was good in the early mornings and late afternoons.  Minnows were best, along with trolling crawlers and using leeches.  Baits under a slip bobber produced best.  The fish were shallow.  Shore fishermen on Island Lake did better than some guy’s in boats who were fishing deeper areas.

I have fished these lakes since the sixty’s and still do.  I’m going up there in June.  The waters in these reservoirs are stained so there can be a good day bite with a slight walleye chop.  There are some jumbo perch being caught as well.  There is a good bait shop right on County 4 on the way to the reservoirs [Chalstroms].  

The smelt run is on in the rivers on the lower North Shore.  The Lester River, just outside of Duluth has been the popular place to dip for those tasty little fish for as long as I can remember.  Park Point results have been spoty, with some doing well and some poorly.  I would take the dip net to the rivers myself.  If your going to go, go now for it will be over soon.  They have been running good since last Thursday and it wont be much longer.

There are still loopers and steelhead to be caught [remember, all steelhead must be released].  My brother will be making his last run up the North Shore next Thursday and Friday.  Starting up on the Lower North Shore up to Grand Marais and staying the night there and then working the shore back down the next day.  Fish are spawning in the rivers still, but a few fresh runners are still making there way up the streams.  By next week the run should be all but over on the Lower North Shore and winding down on the Upper North Shore.  Spawn bags drifted along the bottom are always a good bet, but lately small jigs tipped with waxies have out-produced the spawn bags.  Reinhard

As of 05/09/14 :  During the week, Lower Shore water temperatures were in the upper 30’s in the mornings and rose to 42 by late in the afternoons.  Thursday’s rain once again brought Lower Shore rivers up and they are now high and turbid.  Angling pressure was low to moderate during the week, partially due to strong northeast winds off the lake.  Interviewed anglers caught 10 steelhead and 3 kamloops.  Along the Middle Shore, river conditions had been improving until thunderstorms moved through, and now Middle Shore rivers are running high and dirty.  Water temperatures have reached the low 40’s in the afternoons.  Angling pressure was light and interviewed anglers landed 8 steelhead, 1 Kamloops, and 2 coho salmon.  Along the Upper Shore, rivers were running high and turbid due to snowmelt and rains, and have risen even higher with Thursday’s storms.  Water temperatures were 37-40 degrees.  Angling pressure was very light and interviewed anglers reported no fish caught.

Trap totals through 05/08 are 132 steelhead and 8 Kamloops at the Knife River, and 109 Kamloops and 6 steelhead at the French River.  As for smelt, river temperatures remain on the cool side to trigger smelt runs, and Lake Superior is still packed with ice near Duluth.  Webcam images, including current conditions at Park Point, can be found at  http://www.goduluthmn.com/duluth-web-cam.html. Refer to the “smelt on the North Shore” fact sheet on our website at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/areas/fisheries/lakesuperior/smelt.html for more information on smelt.  This was from current information from the Minnesota DNR.

My brother Ed,  fished the May 10th and 11th.  He said the rainbows were in spawning mode and saw them chasing each other in a couple of streams.  When they are in spawning mode, they just are not interested in biting.  He did manage to get a Looper each day [Kamloops rainbow] however.  He saw a few folks get some loopers as well, but things were still slow due to the higher water levels at times and the fish being in spawning mode.  The smaller rivers got beat up pretty much.  The larger rivers would be a better bet right now.  Reinhard

The Minnesota DNR has developed a new web site to help those of us who love to fish the many lakes and streams of Minnesota.  The web site is   http://www.mndnr.gov/fishmn  .  The fish Minnesota site answers basic questions such as:

Do I need a license?

When can I fish?

What can I catch?

How can I fish?

Where can I fish?

What if I catch fish? 

Direct access to Trout fishing information.  Where to Go features like  Big walleye lakes, Fishing outlooks by region, Boat ramps & canoe landings, Track the melt; Lake ice out maps, Waters seasonally closed to fishing, Metro fishing spots, Metro area bait shops, and Fishing from Shore.  It also has the very popular Lake Finder site included.  It is also now Mobile Friendly!!

The 2014 fishing opener on Leech Lake is expected to be excellent, according to the Minnesota DNR.  This year, those targeting Leech Lake as their opener destination will also be pleased to find increased opportunity for walleye harvest.  Beginning Saturday, May 10, a relaxed protected slot limit for walleye will be in effect allowing anglers to keep walleye up to 20 inches long.  All walleye 20 to 26 inches long must be immediately returned to the water.  The limit of four walleye with one longer than 26 inches allowed in possession has remained unchanged.

Mille  Lacs New Pike Regs

Mille Lacs anglers can keep 10 northern pike, including one longer than 30 inches, which represents and increase of seven fish more than last year’s limit on Mille Lacs.  The DNR announced the new regulations this year along with others that can be seen at  www.mndnr.gov/fishing/millelacs.  

Cook County Area

The Minnesota DNR is seeking public input this summer on experimental walleye regulation being considered for Saganaga, Sea Gull, and Gull lakes and the Sea Gull River.  All are in Cook County on or near the Minnesota Ontario border.  Regulations may include a 17 inch minimum size limit and a bag limit of three fish, with only one fish over 20 inches allowed. 

These regulations are being considered in response to concerns from anglers over a lack of smaller walleye in these waters, coupled with DNR assessment data showing declines in the number of walleye of all sizes present. Questions and comments can be directed to the DNR fisheries office in Grand Marais at 218-387-3056, or Steve Persons, Grand Marais area fisheries supervisor, at steve.persons@state.mn.us.

Things are picking up on the North Shore.  My brother hit the streams on the Lower North Shore over the weekend and picked up a few steelhead and loopers [ Loopers or Kamloops,  belong to the Rainbow Trout Family].  The streams are still dirty with a good flow of water.  He’s drifting spawn bags he ties himself under a snap on bobber, adjusted for the depth of the water he is fishing.  The snow has gone away from the shorelines of the streams with areas of snow still in the woods.  Time for me to head up!!! Remember all steelhead have to be released.  Loopers have a adipose fin removed so you can tell the difference.  Steelhead will have all of their fins.

4/25/14

All rivers along the North Shore are flowing strong.  Unfortunately rain and snow has kept rivers across the shore high and difficult to fish.  Rivers along the Lower Shore are all running high and dirty.  Afternoon water temperatures reached 35 degrees earlier in the week but were only about 32 degrees with Thursday’s cold front.  Angling pressure was light with most anglers fishing close to the river mouths due to the high water conditions.  Lake Superior continues to have a lot of ice that moves with the winds and has been severely limiting shore anglers targeting Kamloops.  Only one steelhead was reported by interviewed anglers.  Smelt will not run until river temperatures climb into the upper 40’s.  This was a report by the Mn DNR.

On normal years, the steelhead and Looper spawning run would be in full swing by now.  Because of the colder than normal winter, the spawning run is just getting started but according to my brother, none have been caught according to what he has seen.  He was out over the weekend fishing some streams from the Lester River north to Silver Creek.  All the rivers are running but the mouth’s of the streams are blocked with Ice that has been blown in from the main lake [Lake Superior].

The water in all the streams are still dirty from the spring runoff. Lot’s of snow still in  the woods up there and along the streams including some ice.  So be very careful when walking along the stream edges.  The water is still icy cold.  I’m sure there are some fish in the streams but they are just not biting at this time.  I would wait till next week for better results.  Fish early in the day when the water level is lower.  During the day the snow will melt at a better pace resulting in a higher water level but lower ability to get the bait to the fish.  I hope to be there next week when conditions should be better.

The following information about fishing can be used in stories in preparation for the fishing opener on Saturday, May 10.

Anglers and waters

About 1.5 million licensed anglers  About 500,000 people are expected to fish on opening day of the walleye and northern pike season, Saturday, May 10.  Minnesota has 11,842 lakes, 5,400 of which are managed by DNR fisheries.  There are 18,000 miles of fishable rivers and streams, including 3,600 miles of trout streams.  Average annual expenditure per angler is about $1,500.  Although not every kind of fish lives everywhere, 162 species of fish can be found in Minnesota waters.

Fishing contributes $2.4 billion to the state’s economy in direct retail sales, ranking Minnesota fourth in the nation for angler expenditures.  Fishing supports 35,400 jobs.  Minnesota ranks second in resident fishing participation at 32 percent, second only to Alaska.  Minnesota is the third most-popular inland fishing destination in the country.  Minnesota ranks sixth among states with the highest number of anglers.  The top three states are Florida, Texas and Michigan.

Most resident anglers-855,000 of them in fact-are from urban areas.  The remaining 474,000 resident anglers live in greater Minnesota.  Men account for 66 percent of resident anglers.  Women account for 34 percent.  Significantly more time is spent fishing on lakes rather than rivers and streams.  The average Minnesota angler spends 15 days fishing each year, with 84 percent of resident anglers never fishing anywhere else but Minnesota.  

The Minnesota DNR will place burning restrictions over the central part of the state beginning April 14 because fire danger is expected to rapidly increase as winds pick up and snow continues to melt.  These counties will be included in the initial burning restrictions:  Anoka, Benton, Chisago, Dakota, Douglas, Hennepin, Isanti, Otter Tail, Pope, Ramsey, Sherburne, Strearns, Todd, Washington and Wright.

The burning restrictions mean the state will not give out burning permits for burning brush or yard waste.  Spring fire restrictions limit open burning until summer green up occurs.  Traditionally, most wildfires in Minnesota occur during April and May.  More than 95 % of these fires are caused by human error. “Because of the high fire incidence during this time period, the DNR initiates burning restrictions to coincide with this annual fire season,” said Larry Himanga, DNR wildfire prevention coordinator.

On April 21, these counties will also be under restrictions:  Aitkin, Becker, Cass [that portion south of the Chippewa National Forest boundary}, Clearwater, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Kanabec, Mahomen, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Polk [that portion south and east of County Road 6 from the Mahnomen County line to state Highway 92 east to the Clearwater County line], and Wadena.  More counties will be added as conditions warrant.

The restrictions normally last from four to six weeks until sufficient green vegetative growth occurs.  Spring fire restrictions have resulted in a dramatic decrease in both the numbers and sizes of accidental fires, Himanga said.  Campfires are still allowed.  Be sure to watch the fire continuously and mke sure it is out and cold to the touch before leaving.  For more information and maps visit http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire/firerating_restrictions.html.