Video shows how to handle large fish during catch and release

Now is a great time to prepare for when you catch that big, trophy fish of your dreams. To help, we’ve got a video out on how to properly handle large fish during catch and release.

Being properly equipped and understanding how to handle a large fish is critical to ensuring the fish’s survival after release. The video covers the proper equipment for large fish, minimizing the time the fish is out of the water, protecting the fish’s slime coating, holding the large fish horizontally and supporting the fish’s body, and how to release the fish.   

Minnesota has a wide variety of opportunities to catch the true heavy hitters — flathead catfish season opened April 1, and seasons are around the corner for other large fish like lake sturgeon, muskellunge, northern pike, steelhead and others.

More details: Watch the video

Walleye limit set on Mille Lacs Lake for spring, fall fishing

Mille Lacs Lake walleye anglers will have two potential opportunities for harvest during the 2022 open water season.

A one-fish limit will allow Mille Lacs anglers to harvest one walleye 21-23 inches or one longer than 28 inches from Saturday, May 14 through Tuesday, May 31. After a summer of catch-and-release fishing with an early July closure to reduce hooking mortality, the one-fish limit is expected to return on Thursday, Sept. 1.

More details: Read about the upcoming season  

DNR fish hatcheries in need of modernization

Minnesota’s renowned fishing heritage is supported by fish hatcheries that are in critical need of modernization.

For example, the Waterville Hatchery was built in the 1950s and is in a converted garage. It is the largest cool-water hatchery in Minnesota. Fish produced there every year are stocked in lakes across the state: 35 million walleye fry; 200,000 walleye frylings; 25,000 walleye fingerlings; 1.5 million northern pike fry; 4,000 muskie fingerlings; and 6,000 channel catfish fingerlings.

The Budget to Move Minnesota Forward includes $10 million for modernizing and adapting fish hatcheries. Get a virtual tour of the Waterville Hatchery by watching the video on Facebook.

More details: Watch the video

Public can comment on St. Louis River Estuary proposal

The DNR, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources are seeking public comments on their recommendation to remove an impairment designation from the St. Louis River Area of Concern for Degraded Fish and Wildlife Populations Beneficial Use.

The St. Louis River Area of Concern partners will host a public open house from 5-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, at the Lake Superior Estuarium, 3 Marina Drive, Superior, Wisconsin. A presentation about the impairment and the partners’ recommendation to remove it will begin at 5:30 p.m.

More details: Read more about this recommendation and how you can comment

Catch that rough fish webinar?

Ever wonder why some fish are called “rough fish,” why to fish for them and how to catch them? Check out our recorded webinar on fishing for rough fish on our website, with Corey Geving, founder of roughfish.com.

More details: Watch the video (found under “common fish”)

Share your fishing story!

Fishing has always been something Trevor Kallinen did with his dad, so introducing fishing to his daughter was important to him.

“This photo shows when my daughter caught her first fish. I don’t know who was more excited when it happened, her or me. We now have great father and daughter moments and are creating new memories. She loves the whole process of fishing from jumping in the boat, catching them, and now even helping me clean and cook the fish.”

Do you love being outdoors? Tell us your #MyMNOutdoorAdventure story!

More details: Read other stories and send us yours