DNR proposes special walleye regulations for several lakes in Lake and
St. Louis Counties (2005-08-08)
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking public
input on special regulations for walleye on the Farm, Garden, South Farm,
and White Iron Chain of Lakes and on Lake Vermilion.
The special regulation proposal for the Farm, Garden, South Farm, and White
Iron Chain of Lakes is 17-26 inch protected slot for walleye. The goal of
this regulation is to increase walleye numbers on Garden Lake Reservoir
(Farm, Garden, and South Farm Lakes), maintain current walleye numbers on
White Iron Lake and to increase the numbers of medium and larger size
walleye in all of the lakes in this chain.
The DNR preferred special regulation proposal for Lake Vermilion is a 17-26
inch protected slot for walleye with a four fish bag limit. The goal of this
regulation is to reduce the walleye harvest on Lake Vermilion down to or
below the safe harvest level. Based on creel survey information the walleye
harvest in 2002 and 2003 averaged 88,200 pounds, well above the annual safe
harvest level of 65,000 pounds. A 17-26 inch protected would have reduced
the walleye harvest in 2002 and 2003 to a level close to the safe harvest
level. The addition of the four walleye bag limit would add another layer of
protection to the walleye population and help keep harvest at a safe level.
Open house meetings for public input on the proposed special walleye
regulations for all of the above lakes are scheduled for:
Sept. 19 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Fall Lake Town Hall, east of Ely
Sept. 21 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Conference room at DNR office in Tower
Sept. 22 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. DNR Central Office, 500 Lafayette Rd., St.
Paul
Comments will be taken at any of the open house meetings listed above, or
can be mailed to: Tower Area Fisheries, 650 Hwy 169, Tower, MN 55790; or
email: joe.geis@dnr.state.mn.us
. Comments and questions can also be submitted by phone: 218-753-2580
ext. 222. The comment period ends October 3, 2005.
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