Select lakes open for whitefish-tullibee sport-netting season

Media contact: Roy Johannes, DNR section of fisheries management, (651) 296-2308.

Select lakes in northern Minnesota will be open for whitefish and tullibee sport netting starting this month, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced today.

About 170 lakes in northern Minnesota are open for recreational netting of whitefish and tullibee. Each year, the DNR sells approximately 650 whitefish and tullibee netting licenses.

"This season is carefully regulated so as not to interfere with other game fish species," said Roy Johannes, DNR section of fisheries management. "We encourage anyone interested in this opportunity to carefully review the regulations before fishing."

Of the 170 lakes open to whitefish and tullibee netting, about 25 are Schedule I lakes, which are opened and closed on a 48-hour notice posted at the lake access points. These lakes are opened and closed based on weather conditions that affect the vulnerability of game fish to accidental harvest and presence of whitefish or tullibees in shallow water. Remaining lakes, known as Schedule II lakes, are opened on a schedule that begins in October.

This year, Upper Red Lake, Beltrami County; Mille Lacs Lake, Aitkin, Crow Wing and Mille Lacs counties; and O'Reilly Lake, Itasca County will not be opened to sport gill netting in 2006.

Individuals can obtain a copy of the 2006 whitefish-tullibee regulations by calling the DNR Information Center at (651) 296-6157 or toll free 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367).

Information is also available online at www.dnr.state.mn.us.