Please share your thoughts on proposed special fishing regulations

We’re asking for your input on several special fishing regulation proposals for the following waters:

• Walleye in Big Sandy Lake (Aitkin County)
• Panfish in Dyers Lake (Cook County) and Sand Lake (Lake County)
• Brown trout in the Vermillion River (Dakota County)
• Lake trout in Caribou Lake (Itasca County)
• Walleye in Island and Round lakes (Itasca County)
• Northern pike in West Battle, Otter Tail, and Turtle River Chain of Lakes (Fergus Falls and Bemidji area lakes in Otter Tail and Beltrami counties).

Find out more details about these proposals and share your thoughts via our online survey. You can also check out the details for each of these regulation proposals, find other ways to submit your input, or attend an in-person open house scheduled about these proposals. If enacted, the proposed regulations would go into effect for the 2023 fishing season.

More details: Take a survey or find other ways to be involved or send input

Attend an open house about proposed special fishing regulations

The DNR also will be hosting in-person open houses in each county where special fishing regulations are proposed to change for 2023, and one in the Twin Cities metro area to cover all proposals.

The meetings will take place on various dates between Sept. 1 and Oct. 5. The metro area open house will be from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, at the DNR’s Central Office at 500 Lafayette Road in St. Paul.

More details: Attend an open house

Be kind to wild rice while boating

Boaters and anglers may find themselves along the edges of wild rice beds in northern Minnesota lakes — great hang-outs for fish and important brooding and feeding areas for ducks. Protect the rice and wildlife by avoiding these areas with motorized watercraft.

Wild rice is ecologically and culturally important in Minnesota and has been historically documented in 45 of Minnesota’s 87 counties and in all corners of the state. Wild rice grows in shallow to moderate water depths (1 to 3 feet) and is affected by water flow, turbidity, water quality and water level fluctuations.

More details: Learn about wild rice

Photo courtesy of Annette Drewes