OutdoorMN News - DNR fisheries seeks input on northern pike regulation proposals in Itasca County

[Rick]

The Grand Rapids area fisheries office of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has scheduled a public open-house meeting to gather input on northern pike regulations on three lakes in Itasca County. Current regulations are being reviewed for Sand, Bowstring and Round lakes (near Squaw Lake).

The three lakes are managed with a special regulation that allows a possession limit of nine northern pike and requires all pike from 22-36 inches to be immediately released. “This regulation has been in place on these waters since 2007 and the data show general improvement in the northern pike size structures on these waters,” said David Weitzel, area fisheries supervisor.  “The proposal is to keep the current regulations in place for the time being.”

There has been a statewide initiative to change northern pike regulations by implementing a zone concept, with northeast, north-central and southern zones.  If implemented, the new zone regulation would be similar to the special regulation on Sand, Bowstring, and Round lakes.  The proposed statewide regulation would allow a 10 fish limit with a 22-26 inch protected slot, and allow some exceptions for spear fisherman.

If implemented, the statewide zone proposal is expected to provide similar results on these lakes, and the current special regulation may no longer be warranted from a biological perspective.

The meetings are intended to provide an opportunity to ask the DNR questions before comments are submitted. “Questions and comments can be made at any time during the comment period,” Weitzel said. “We want anglers to be informed and encourage them to ask us any questions they have. Successful regulations must balance biological and social concern, so the comment period and the meetings are extremely important. We want to know how anglers value these fisheries and implement the best regulation to ensure that angler expectations are being met.” An open-house meeting will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 28, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Sand Lake Community Center on County Road 4 in Itasca County.

An additional open-house meeting will be held on Sept. 28 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the DNR Headquarters, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul.

More information is available by contacting the Grand Rapids Area Fisheries office at 218-328-8836 and on the DNR website at www.dnr.state.mn.us/areas/fisheries/grandrapids/index.html. Comments on the lakes in Itasca County may be made using a standard comment sheet on the website or they may be directed to Dave Weitzel, DNR area fisheries, 1201 E. Highway 2, Grand Rapids, MN 55744 or [email protected]. Written comments will be accepted until Oct. 10.

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