DNR proposes special fishing regulations for several lakes in Itasca
County (2005-09-07)
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking public
input on special regulations for northern pike on Spider and Balsam Lakes,
smallmouth bass on Turtle Lake, and sunfish on Deer, Battle and Pickerel
Lake.
The special regulation proposal for Spider Lake and Balsam Lake is 24.0 to
36.0 inch protected slot for northern pike. The goal of these regulations is
to maintain and improve the quality, or average size, of northern pike.
These lakes are capable of producing large northern pike and this regulation
is designed to allow harvest of the more abundant, smaller pike, while
protecting the medium to large fish, and providing an opportunity to see
very large fish. The daily and possession limit would remain at three,
however, only one northern pike larger than 36.0 inches would be allowed in
possession.
The special regulation proposal for Turtle Lake is 12.0 to 20.0 inch
protected slot for smallmouth bass. The goal of this regulation is to
maintain and improve the quality smallmouth bass fishery. Turtle Lake is
capable of producing large smallmouth bass and again, this regulation allows
for the harvest of the smaller, more abundant fish, while protecting the
medium to large fish. The bag limit would remain at 6 fish, however, only
one smallmouth bass larger than 20.0 inches would be allowed in possession.
The special regulation proposal for Deer, Battle and Pickerel Lake, located
east of Effie, is a possession limit of five sunfish. The goal of this
regulation is to maintain and improve the quality of the sunfish, especially
bluegill, population.
Open house meetings for public input on the proposed special regulations for
all of the above lakes are scheduled for:
Sept. 19
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Bigfork City Hall, Bigfork
Sept. 20
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Balsam Memorial Hall, 41388 Scenic Hwy, Bovey
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: Grand Rapids Area Fisheries, 1201 East Hwy 2, Grand
Rapids, MN 55744; or email: chris.kavanaugh@dnr.state.mn.us . Comments and
questions can also be submitted by phone: 218-999-7821. The comment period
ends October 3, 2005.
For more information, contact: Chris Kavanaugh, Grand Rapids Area Fisheries,
1201 East Highway 2, Grand Rapids, Minnesota 55744, 218-999-7821
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