June 7, 2005
Press Release

Minnesota DNR - News Releases

DNR refines walleye stocking to improve fishing

Minnesota's walleye fingerling stocking program - already the largest in the nation - is being further refined to improve angler catch rates.

The new stocking system is an outgrowth of an intensive six-month review of more than 900 stocked walleye lakes. The Department of Natural Resources’ review determined that higher stocking rates could improve walleye angling in some of the 560 lakes stocked with walleye fingerlings. Starting this fall the DNR will double stocking rates in about half of these lakes and increase stocking by about 30 percent in the remainder.

"We are shifting gears," said John Guenther, DNR Fish and Wildlife Division director. "We are placing greater emphasis on maximizing return to the angler."

Lakes with high fishing pressure but little natural reproduction will get the biggest bump in walleye fingerlings. Next will be lakes where walleye are pursued, but share the spotlight with bass and panfish. Lakes with sporadic natural reproduction will be monitored more closely and may receive more fingerlings over time. Since 2000, the DNR has stocked an increasing number of 5- to 7-inch walleye, known as fingerlings. On average 136,400 pounds of fingerlings are stocked annually.

Last year, the DNR stocked 143,000 pounds. This year's target is 160,000 pounds. The DNR also stocks about 230 million walleye fry each year.

"The new stocking system will not change our management approach to the large self-sustaining walleye lakes," said Guenther. "We do not stock the self-sustaining lakes nor do we stock lakes where walleye are not appropriate. However, the changes does mean for the lakes we do stock, we are serious about maximizing benefits to anglers and dispelling any misplaced notion that we are not doing enough."

Guenther noted that despite the stepped-up stocking effort clean water, habitat conservation and catch-and-release are the heart of fish long-term conservation. "We raise millions of fish each year in our hatcheries," said Guenther "but hatcheries are not a panacea. Anyone who wants quality fishing tomorrow needs to be working today to conserve the quality of our waters, shoreline and shallow habitat and the ethic of recycling our catch."

Ron Payer, DNR chief of fisheries management, said statewide fisheries staff participated in the stocking review and helped develop the final plan. "It was collaborative effort involving extensive review and was a good investment of time," he said. Dick Sternberg, an independent fisheries biologist, had a hand in the plan. Sternberg was contracted by the DNR in 2004 to review the walleye stocking program.

He compiled stocking summaries and worked with certain fisheries staff to pinpoint opportunities for potential higher catch rates for anglers.

"It was a good process," said Sternberg. "The DNR shared its data. I reviewed it. And then we worked together to refine where and how often stocking should occur for maximum potential benefit to anglers. I was particularly pleased with the outcome of more intensive management of lakes where natural reproduction is sporadic."

Sternberg also found favor with DNR stocking efforts related to walleye fry and frylings. "Fry and fryling stockings can also be very effective in supplementing walleye populations when a lake has poor natural reproduction," Sternberg said.

"The way DNR manages its walleye waters - including the use of electro-fishing boats in fall to determine if natural reproduction or spring stocking took hold - is a very effective way of maintaining high quality walleye populations."

Pete Jacobson, DNR fisheries researcher, said the new stocking rate -- commonly the equivalent of one pound of fingerlings annually for every acre of the lake that’s shallower than 15 feet - should maximize walleye abundance in most stocked lakes.

"Because of limits on forage and habitat, stocking walleye beyond this rate would not result in more fish," he said. "In fact, stocking beyond this rate might result in fewer walleyes."

The additional stocking will increase costs. "Doubling our stocking rate in some 280 lakes effectively doubles the expense at those lakes. It does not, however, double walleye abundance. We expect a 23 percent increase in walleye abundance on average."

Fisheries managers are hopeful that changes to the walleye stocking program today will result in better fishing four to five years in the future, when fish stocked at the higher rate begin to reach a catchable size.

"Walleye stocking, whether it's fry or fingerlings, is a continuously adaptive process," said Henry Drewes, DNR northwest regional fisheries manager. "That means we manage based on science and the realities of nature. The new stocking plan does not change that. Instead, it simply provides guidance to that end."

Tim Goeman, regional fisheries manager at Grand Rapids, agreed. "The goal of the new stocking adjustments is to put more fish on anglers' lines," said Goeman. "And if that happens - it will take about a 20 percent increase in catch rates for anglers to notice - we will have moved the stocking program forward yet again."

DNR seeks comment on two proposed motorized recreation trails; grant-in-aid trail proposes 182 miles of riding opportunity

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking public comments on 182-miles of proposed off-highway vehicle (OHV) trails located in Beltrami, Marshall and Roseau counties in northwestern Minnesota. This grant-in-aid proposal includes the use of mostly existing routes located on Consolidated Conservation (or Con-Con) lands, along private land easements and within public road rights-of-way.

The proposed trail connects ATV trails on DNR wildlife management areas with trails in the Beltrami Island State Forest. With the OHV designation, the proposed grant-in-aid trail would be open to ATVs, off-highway motorcycles and off-road vehicles. The trails would be monitored and maintained as part of the DNR's designated OHV trail system.

The DNR is simultaneously putting two separate motorized recreation trail proposals out for public review-this county-sponsored grant-in-aid proposal and a proposal would add 39 miles of ATV trail to existing corridors through or adjacent to wildlife management areas comprised of Con-Con lands.

Beltrami County is sponsoring the Fourtown/Grygla grant-in-aid trail on behalf of the Fourtown/Grygla Sportsman's Club, who would maintain it for public OHV use. Trail access, parking, food and fuel are available in the city of Grygla (Marshall County), at the Fourtown Store in Minnie Township (Beltrami County) and at the Skime Store in Reine Township (Roseau County).

Parking and staging areas would be located at Grande Corner in Spruce Grove Township (Beltrami County) and in the Grygla city park (Marshall County). Rest rooms, barbeque pits and a picnic shelter are also located in the Grygla city park and at Grande Corner.

The proposal recommends that the Fourtown/Grygla grant-in-aid trail be open for OHV use from approximately May 15 to November 1 of each year. Temporary closures may also be imposed at any time to protect public safety, natural resources, the trail surface or trail users.

Copies of the project proposal are available for review at the Northwest Regional Library, 210 North Labree Avenue in Thief River Falls; at DNR Trails and Waterways offices located at 246 125th Ave. NE in Thief River Falls and 6603 Bemidji Ave. North in Bemidji; at the DNR Forestry office in Grygla; and at the DNR library located at 500 Lafayette Road in St. Paul. Project documents are available for download at www.dnr.state.mn.us.

Written comments will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. on July 1. Comments should be directed to Mary Broten, DNR Trails and Waterways, 246 - 125th Ave. NE, Thief River Falls, MN 56701. Letters may also be faxed to (218) 681 0948 or e-mailed to mary.broten@dnr.state.mn.us.

Responses to public comments will be released on the DNR Web site following the public comment period. At that time, the DNR will determine if an environmental assessment worksheet is needed due to the project's proposed mileage. If the DNR decides to go forward with the project, these trails will be considered, along with other proposed trails, for grant-in-aid funding.

DNR seeks comment on two proposed motorized recreation trails; Con-Con proposal would add 39 miles to WMAs

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking public comments on the proposed development of approximately 39 miles of all-terrain vehicle (ATV) trails located in Beltrami and Marshall counties in northwestern Minnesota. The trails follow mostly existing corridors through or adjacent to wildlife management areas comprised of Consolidated Conservation Lands (Con-Con lands).

The DNR is simultaneously putting two separate motorized recreation trail proposals out for public review-this Con-Con proposal and a 182-mile county-sponsored grant-in-aid proposal that would connect ATV trails on wildlife management areas with trails in the Beltrami Island State Forest. The grant-in-aid trail would be designated for use by all-terrain motorcycles and off-road vehicles, such as Polaris Rangers.

This second phase of the Con-Con ATV trail designation process will provide a designated ATV trail system and motorized vehicle access to certain wildlife management areas, as originally ordered by the State Legislature in 2002. Development is intended to ensure "reasonable access" for ATVs to some Con-Con lands via existing travel routes. Trails will be monitored and regularly maintained as part of the DNR's designated ATV trail system.

Copies of the project proposal are available for review at the Northwest Regional Library, 210 North Labree Avenue in Thief River Falls; and at DNR Trails and Waterways offices located at 246 125th Ave. NE in Thief River Falls, 6603 Bemidji Ave. N. in Bemidji; at the Thief Lake Wildlife Management Area office in Middle River; and at the DNR library located at 500 Lafayette Road in St. Paul. Project documents are available for download at www.dnr.state.mn.us.

Written comments will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. on July 1. Comments should be directed to Mary Broten, DNR Trails and Waterways, 246 125th Ave. NE, Thief River Falls, MN 56701. Letters may also be faxed to (218) 681 0948 or e-mailed to mary.broten@dnr.state.mn.us.

DNR Tower Area Fisheries announces 2005 schedule for lake and stream surveys

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Tower Area Fisheries Office has announced their schedule for conducting lake and stream surveys and fish population assessments for the summer of 2005. Tower Area Fisheries crews will conduct fish population assessments on 19 lakes, resurvey 4 lakes, and complete a stream survey on 63 miles of the upper St. Louis River. Most lake surveys and assessments will involve the use of gill nets and trap nets to assess fish populations. In addition, shoreline seining will be done on Lake Vermilion, and electro-fishing will be done on Lake Vermilion and Eagles Nest 1 & 2. Physical habitat evaluations, aquatic plant surveys, standard water chemical analyses, and shoreline seining or small mesh trap netting for young-of-the-year assessment will also be completed on lakes with full resurveys.

Survey frequency varies on each lake based on ongoing management evaluations and a priority system. Fish populations on Lake Vermilion are assessed every year, other large lakes in the area may be assessed every four to six years, while smaller and more remote lakes are generally assessed less frequently.

Lake survey and population assessment data are used to evaluate management activities and provide an update on the status of the fish community. The data is reviewed and then incorporated into an individual Fisheries Lake Management Plan. The plan identifies goals for the key species in the lake and outlines specific management activities.

Lakes where fieldwork for population assessments has already been completed this spring:

Cub

Embarrass Pit

Little Elbow

Norberg

Vermilion (muskie assessment on East Vermilion)

Scheduled dates for surveys and assessments on other lakes (GN + gill nets & TN = trap nets): Ahsub: May 31 - June 3 (GN)

High: May 31 - June 3 (GN)

Dry: June 6-10

Little Dry: June 6-10

Moose: June 13-17 & 20-24 (TN)

Newfound: June 13-17 & 20-24 (TN)

Sucker: June 13-17 & 20-24 (TN)

Birch: June 13-17 & 20-24 (TN)

Vermilion: June 13-17 (night electro-fishing)

Little Bullfinch: June 27 - July 1 (GN & TN)

Eagles Nest 1 & 2: July 5-8 (TN)

Eagles Nest 3: July 5-8 (TN)

Vermilion: July 5-8, 11-15, 18-22, 25-29 (shoreline seine)

Colby: July 11-15 (GN & TN)

Section 12 (Camp 20): July 11-15 (GN & TN)

Burntside: July 18-22 (GN)

Ojibway: July 18-22 & 25-29 (GN & TN)

Snowbank: July 25-29 (GN)

Vermilion: July 25-29 & August 1-5 (TN)

Basswood: August 1-5 (GN)

Low: August 8-12 (GN & TN)

Blueberry (in Bear Head Lake State Park): August 8-12 (GN)

Eagles Nest 1 & 2: August 15-19 (GN)

Eagles Nest 3: August 15-19 (GN)

Moose: August 22-26 (GN)

Newfound: August 22-26 & August 29 - Sept. 2 (GN)

Sucker: August 29 - Sept. 2 (GN)

Vermilion: August 29 - Sept. 2, Sept. 6-9 & 12-16 (GN)

Birch: Sept. 6-9 (GN)

Eagles Nest 1 & 2: Sept. 6-9 (night electro-fishing) Vermilion: Sept. 20-24 & 27-30 (night electro-fishing)

St. Louis River: September

Scheduled dates for surveys and assessments are subject to change. If you have any questions please contact the Area Fisheries Office in Tower at 218-753-2580 ext. 221 or 222 or in writing at Tower Area Fisheries, MN DNR, 650 Hwy 169, Tower, MN 55790.

DNR Fisheries announces summer schedule for lake and stream surveys

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Area Fisheries Office has announced their schedule for conducting lake and stream surveys and fish population assessments for the summer of 2005. The Brainerd Area Fisheries Crew will conduct these nettings and electrofishing assessments on 16 lakes and 2 streams in Crow Wing and Cass Counties. The surveys and assessments will involve the use of seines, trap nets, gill nets, and electrofishing gear to assess fish populations. Water transparency will be measured and critical habitat will be surveyed for location of emergent plants using GPS. In addition, physical habitat evaluations, aquatic plant surveys and standard chemical analyses will be completed on lakes with full resurveys.

The list of lakes is as follows:

Fish population assessment nettings

Arrowhead Lake: June 6th-8th

Lower Hay Lake: June 6th-9th

Bertha Lake: June 13th-16th

Clamshell Lake: June 13th-16th

Big Bass Lake: June 20th-23rd

Pig Lake: June 20th-23rd

Island-Loon Lake: June 27th-30th

Rush-Hen Lake: June 27th-30th

Little Pine Lake: July 11th-14th

Daggett Lake: July 11th-14th

Big Trout Lake: July 18th-22nd

Big Trout Lake: July 25th-28th

Cross Lake: July 18th-22nd

Whitefish Lake: August 1st-5th

Whitefish Lake: August 8th-12th

White Sand Lake: August 15th-18th

Full Lake Survey

Big Pine Lake: August 22nd-26th

Stream Surveys

Daggett Brook: August 22nd-26th

Stoney Brook Pop. Estimate: August 29th-September 2nd

If you have any questions please contact the Area Fisheries Office in Brainerd at 218/828-2550 or in writing at MN DNR, Area Fisheries, 1601 Minnesota Drive, Brainerd, MN 56401.