DNR to hold public meeting on proposed special fishing regulations for Hubbard and Clearwater County lakes in Itasca State Park

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold public meetings to solicit comments on a number of special regulation proposals for lakes in Itasca State Park.

The proposed special fishing regulations include the following:

Lake Itasca Sunfish: Possession limit of 10. Crappie: Possession limit of five.

Elk Lake

Northern pike: 40 inch minimum size; one over 40 inches.

Lake Ozawindib

Largemouth bass: 12 inch maximum size; one over 20 inches. Crappie: 10 inch minimum size.

Mary Lake

Sunfish: Possession limit of five. Largemouth bass: Catch and release only. Crappie: Possession limit of five.

A presentation will be given at 7:00 p.m. on Sept. 14 at the Itasca State Park Visitor Center (Hubbard County) to provide information and answer questions. Immediately following the presentation, public input will be accepted for any of proposed regulations. Since the proposed lakes within the park reside in both Hubbard and Clearwater counties, public input will also be accepted at Douglas Lodge for anyone who prefers to comment in Clearwater County.

For those who would like to comment from the Twin Cities metropolitan area, a statewide open house will be conducted at the DNR Central Office, located at 500 Lafayette Road in St. Paul, on Sept. 29 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Those unable to attend any of the public input meetings may provide written comments to Gary Barnard at the DNR Area Fisheries Office, 2114 Bemidji Avenue, Bemidji, MN 56601. All comments must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. on Oct. 9.