Whitefish and Cisco sport netting season on Shagawa Lake begins Nov. 4

11/1/2006

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Tower Area Fisheries Office announced that the opening of Whitefish/Cisco netting on Shagawa Lake in St. Louis County will be Saturday November 4, 2006. The closing date will be Sunday November 26, 2006.

Regulations for sport netting:

* Nets may be set after sunrise on the opening day and must be removed before sunset on the closing day.

* Minimum gill net mesh size shall be no less than 3 ½ inch net stretch measure. (Net stretch measure means the interior distance between opposite knots or corners of a single mesh of net, taken between the thumb and forefinger and applying enough pressure laterally to allow the opposite sides of the mesh to touch.

* A Whitefish netting license is required.

* A person may use only one gill net, not exceeding 100 feet in length and 3 feet in width.

* One end of the gill net must have a pole, stake, or buoy projecting at least two feet above the surface of the water or ice.

* Gill net must have an identification tag attached near the first float of the end with the pole, stake, or buoy.

* Identification tag must be a minimum of 2-1/2 inches by 5/8 inch, permanently bearing the name and address of the owner.

* Gill nets may not be set after sunset or raised before sunrise.

* Gill net must be set and lifted by the licensee only and must be tended at least once every 24 hours.

* A gill net or any part of a gill net may not be set in any water deeper than six feet, measured from the lake bottom to the top surface of the water or ice.

* A gill net may not be set within 50 feet of another gill net.

The 2006 Whitefish and Ciscoes Sport Gill Netting Regulations can be found on the DNR website - www.dnr.state.mn.us under Fishing Regulations.

For more information, contact: Tower Area Fisheries, 218-753-2580 ext. 221 or 222