Minnesota DNR reworks management plans for over 100 lakes
Feb. 7—ST. PAUL — Minnesota Department of Natural Resources fisheries offices across Minnesota are reworking management plans for 112 lakes in 34 counties in 2024 and they are asking for the public's input during February.
"People interested in the health and quality of Minnesota's fisheries are a critical part of the DNR's fisheries lake management planning process," said Jon Hansen, DNR fisheries management consultant.
People who want to discuss management for a lake can call or email the area fisheries office listed for that lake during February.
Some questions to consider include:
* "What kind of fishing experience are you looking for?"
* "Are there fish habitat concerns you'd like to share?"
* "What kinds of fish do you like to catch?"
* "Do you like catching big fish or a lot of fish?"
* "Do you have social concerns about the fishery?"
The DNR's interest in comments goes beyond individuals. Representatives of lake associations, outdoors groups, conservation organizations and local units of government are encouraged to comment during this initial period.
The Northland lakes, listed by county with the nearest city listed, scheduled for management plan updates in 2024 include:
* Beltrami: Plantagenet, Bemidji, Big Bass.
* Carlton: Forbay (Carlton).
* Cook: Little Bass (Remer), Pleasant, Gadwell, Vale, Stony, Crooked, Greenwood, Homer, McFarland, Mountain, Otter, Wampus.
* Crow Wing: Rock (Pine Center), Smith (Garrison).
* Itasca: Blandin (Grand Rapids), Buck (Nashwauk), Burrows (Marcell), Cutfoot Sioux (Squaw Lake), Deer (Deer River), Little Cutfoot (Deer River), Little Moose (Grand Rapids), Moonshine (Grand Rapids), Moose (Deer River), No-te-she-bun (Remer), O'Brien (Nashwauk), Snowball (Calumet), Trestle (Talmoon), Wilson.
* Koochiching: Pine.
* Lake: Coffee, Organ, Basswood, Bald Eagle, Cedar (Winton), Fall, Good, Indiana, Lax, Little Knife, Newfound, Newton, Ojibway, Snowbank, Sucker.
* Otter Tail: Fish (Fergus Falls), Crystal (Pelican Rapids), Long (Fergus Falls).
* St. Louis: Wild Rice Reservoir (Duluth), Boulder Reservoir (Duluth), Deepwater (Chisholm), Burntside, Ash, East & West Twin, Birch, Blueberry, Cedar (Aurora), Cedar Island, Crellin, Cummings, Elbow, Esquagama, Little Trout, Trout.
The full, statewide list of lakes is available at
Fisheries management plans for Minnesota's 10 largest lakes follow a similar but separate update process explained at
