Management plans for Grand Marais area lakes–some within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA)–will undergo annual review this winter, and citizens can ask questions or submit comments on the draft plans.
“These plans identify specific management activities planned for a lake or stream in the next five to 20 years. Feedback from people interested in these waters is crucial when it comes to making the plans and determining management success,” said Steve Persons, Grand Marais area fisheries supervisor with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Comments on lakes within the BWCA will be accepted until Dec. 15. For lakes outside the BWCA, the comment period extends through Feb. 15, 2016.
Lakes
Preservation of native lake trout populations is the focus for Crooked, Fay, Fern, French, Gillis, Howard, Long Island, Moose, Partridge, Powell, Tuscarora and West Fern lakes, all located inside the BWCA.
Stream trout stocking strategies is the focus of plans for Bench, Bingshick, Unnamed (Little Portage) and Trip lakes. Changes in species, stocking frequency, numbers and size of fish stocked will be considered. Bench and Bingshick lakes are in the BWCA.
The plan for Saganaga Lake will be updated to review walleye stocking to date and review the status of walleye, lake trout, northern pike and smallmouth bass populations.
Management of northern pike fisheries will be addressed in plan revisions for Logger, Ruby and Rudy lakes.
The plan for Mistletoe Lake will be revised to incorporate new survey results and address walleye and northern pike management strategies.
Prune Lake is an unusual lake supporting a population of small black crappie and nothing else. Options for improving this unique fishery will be considered.
Squash Lake is managed as a trophy trout, catch-and-releaseonly lake. The review will address poor rainbow trout stocking success, and consider options to discontinue the special regulations on the lake or discontinue stream trout management entirely.
Additionally, plans for several other BWCA lakes in the area, including Gordon, Hub, Jimmy, Long, Lux, Mulligan, North Cone and Stump will be reviewed to establish survey schedules on those lakes.
Current plans for lakes as well as recent fish population assessment information are available for review at the DNR’s Grand Marais area fisheries office at 1356 E. Highway 61, Grand Marais, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. For more information, contact Steve Persons at 218-387-3056 or steve. persons@state.mn.us.
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