Lake Melissa Regs

[fireman]

I just read in the sunday fargo forum there is going to be a DNR informational meeting coming up regarding special regulations on Melissa. I dont think I will be able to attend the meeting, so was wondering if anybody had heard any rumors on what the DNR is planning. Thanks.

[LaVoi]

This was taken from the Outdoors Weekly Website.

August 23, September 22 – DNR Public Meetings - Experimental Fishing Regulations For Lake Sallie and Lake Melissa. The Minnesota DNR will hold two public open houses in to solicit public comments on the northern pike experimental fishing regulations on Lake Sallie and Lake Melissa in Becker County. The DNR will consider public comments in determining whether to extend, remove, modify or make permanent the experimental northern pike regulations on both of the lakes. The current experimental regulation for both lakes is a 24-inch maximum size limit for northern pike. The first open house will be held from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Aug. 23 in the auditorium of the Becker County Technical College at 900 Highway 34 East, Detroit Lakes. The public can also provide input during a statewide open house at the DNR Central Office, located at 500 Lafayette Road in St. Paul, on Sept. 22 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For those unable to attend a public input meeting, written comments should be send to Dave Friedl at the DNR Area Fisheries office at 14583 County Highway 19, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501. All comments must be received no later than Oct. 3.

Just to give my two cents on the subject, the DNR has built a northern pike fishery in Melissa that rivals that of some of Canada's better waters. If anyone agrees with me, please try to make it to the meeting and show your support. It would just be a shame to spend nine years building and establishing a trophy northern pike population to just open it up and be back to a typical hammer handle population in just a matter of a couple years. My suggestion is that the slot stays in place, however allowing an angler 1 fish over 40". This would ensure that these fish can reach true trophy potential before being removed from the water. And please I encourage you people to keep many of those fish under 24", this will only help keep the population in check and prevent shortages of forage for those 30"+ fish. Just my .02. -LaVoi

[fireman]

Thanks for the info. I was unsure whether the DNR was having the meeting in regards to the northern pike or were going to be adding new regs for another species.

I would tend to agree with you, LaVoi, and I hope they continue the size limits in the future, but would also like to see a person able to keep one trophy fish.

[Dan L]

I would also like to see the pike regulations continued. I had the chance to fish Melissa for 4 days in June. What a great pike fishery.

I read that the meeting was attended by only 14 people and most of them had a place on the lake. It sounds like they don't like the regs because they thought it was effecting the walleye fishery. I sure hope the regs stay the same. What a shame to start harvesting all of these big pike after 9 years of special regulations. I E-Mailed David Friedl with my comments yesterday. If you want the regs to stay in place it might be a good idea to let the DNR know.