Vermillion River

[Jim W]

If you would like more information on stream regs etc., attend Trout DAy on the 26th in Forestville/Mystery Cave state park.

I will have easement books, regs books, trout maps etc. available for free.

Plus, some gentlemen from the Lanseboro fisheries offcie will be there in the afternoon for a electro-fishing demonstration and questions/answer time as well.

Keep the rods bendin'!!

Jim W

[TSTEPHENS]

J.W. YOU HAVE EASEMENT MAPS FOR THE VERMILLION RIVER?
WERE CAN I GET THOSE MAPS BESIDES TROUT DAY. I'LL BE MOVING THAT DAY SO I CAN'T MAKE IT.

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"ONLY THE BIG ONES"

[Renneberg]

Check the dnr's web site. They well tell you how to order one.
Otherwise check the trout hatchery at Lanesboro or Cold Springs near Whitewater state park.

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"Study to be quite"

[CAB]

Fished the Vermillion river in the rain today. I was able to catch 4 Browns that were 12", 12", 18", and 20". The 18 and 20" Browns were like footballs. They closely resembled smallmouth bass...it was amazing. With the recent rains, I think the fish are on a binge. They both had worms and minnows spilling out when I un-hooking them.
Its great that there is a resourse, like the Vermillion, that is close to home. I have mixed thoughts on having the DNR designating it as a trout stream. I thinks its good in the fact that with all new construction going on in the area, the tighter regulations to control run-off will greatly benefit water quality. What worries me is that when the DNR lists it as a designated trout stream, the fishing pressure is going to rise dramitically.
It has been like my own secret river (I now there are many other that fish it) but seldom do I see anybody fishing the Vermillion when I out there.
By the way, the trout today were caught on Rapalas and yes they will live to see another day.

[Guest]

hey there cab i too live very close and it too for me was kinda of like my secret
little river but now too many people fish it. Oh well everyone has the right to fish so i cant really say too much. but what [PoorWordUsage]es me off is when i see people using minnows. I also think that people dont need to keep 5 trout every time they go out. Yeah they taste good but how many can you eat. i think 2 is plenty. anyways so it must have been tough fishing since the waters so high and fast and dirty. Were these fish in slack water close to the bank amidst wood. I figured they were. HA. Yes there are many big browns. I recently caught a 22 incher on a jointed rap.

[Guest]

A couple of things are prodding me to post here:

1. If there is a "trout waters designation" to the water/fishery, then is it NOT illegal to use "live" minnows for bait-fishing this water?

2. Assuming there are/will be heavier fishing pressure present or in the future, hopefully EVERYONE will leave as they arrived..."Leaving NO Trace" or TRASH!

Fishing access will become unavailable VERY QUICKLY if folks do NOT "keep it clean"!

"LUND-MAN"

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"Leave NO Trace"

[mark p]

In the general regulations section of the 2003 fishing regulations it says it is unlawful to posses live minnows on stream trout LAKES. It is legal to use them on trout streams.

[Guest]

it is illegal to use minnows on a trout stream. I was on the vermillion opening morning and i talked to a guy that works for the DNR and he said it is illegal. Did you get that ILLEGAL. WITH AN I AND 2 L's. i might be wrong but if i am its because an employee from the DNR told be the wrong info. Either way people shouldnt use minnows. Minnows carry diseases, a fish its a minnow with a disease the fish now has that disease. Sooner or later you have trout with worms.

[Jim W]

All,

Ironically I was reading the regs, brushing up for trout day and searching for this years changes etc.

It does NOT say that you cannot use minnows in a trout stream It states that you cannot use them in a Stream trout lake and it states you cannot remove minnows from a trout stream unless you have a permit. That's it.

Keep the rods bendin'!!!

Jim W

[mark p]

Here is what it says in the general regulations section of the 2003 fishing regulations. The 2002 regulations say the same thing. Since it specifically says lakes I assume it is legal on streams.

Possessing or using live minnows on designated stream trout lakes is unlawful. Only dried, frozen, or pickled (brined) minnows are allowed.

I also looked in a section labeled "Stream trout regulations". Stream trout are defined as splake, brook, brown, and rainbow trout in inland lakes and streams. In there it again specifically says lakes. Here it is.
Possessing live minnows, not including leeches, or using them for bait on designated stream trout lakes is prohibited.

I would think they would have a hard time prosecuting you given the wording, but.....

[TSTEPHENS]

YOU GUYS ARE ALL RIGHT, BUT HERE'S HOW IT STANDS. YOU CAN'T USE LIVE MINNOWS ON DESIGNATED TROUT WATERS. THAT MEANS ANY TROUT STREAM OR LAKES THAT ARE STOCKED WITH STREAM TROUT WHICH WERE DEFINED BY MARK P.
THE DNR IS LOOKING INTO THE WORDING SO KEEP AN EYE ON THE REG'S. IF YOU SEE ANYONE USING MINNOWS EXPLAIN TO THEM WHAT'S GOING ON AND IF THEY GIVE YOU A HARD TIME AND REFUSE USING THE GET SOME TYPE OF IDENTIFICATION AND LET A DNR REP. KNOW AND LET THEM DEAL WITH IT.

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"ONLY THE BIG ONES"

[Jim W]

Thanks for clarifying guys! There is soooo much ambiguity in regs, I admit getting confused on more than one occasion.

I don't use minnows anyway, but it's definitely good to know eh?

THanks again. ALways feel free to jump in and pull my choke chain!!!!

Jim W

[troutman72]

it must not be to illeagal i seen a co checik someones lic and they were useing minnows he dident say a word. and it dose say lakes with stream trout in them not streams. i dont use bait but i dont see why it would not be alright. everyone of the trout streams in se minnesota dump into the biggest minnow bucket in the usa the mississippi.not like there isent carp in our streams already.

CPR [email protected]

[Pig_sticka]

lakes are prohibited,
streams get ur pig stickin ready

i have met the co every year trout fishing using LIVE minnows and he hasn't said one word. but hey think what you like, it is perfectly legal to fish LIVE minnows in an actual stream.
if minnows carried diseases all the fish in the world would be diseased.
you guys need something better to do then to sit on here and argue. how bout having fun fishing.
good fishing everyone, and keep the streams trash free eh!

[Jim W]

Preventing an all out,

I couldn't find anything in the regs claiming minnows illegal in designated trout streams.

If this is true and someone kind find the page number etc, please let me know.

It is illegal to take minnows from one and use them in another. If you didn't know.

I love this site, saves a lot of personal headache and research. Thanks to all who continue to provide good and accurate info.

Now, where are they biting!!!LOL

Jim W

[Guest]

thank you TSTEVENS for clarifying that. AND gosh dang it i know what the book says you guys dont need to tell me so youre only making yourself look dumb. I was told by a DNR CO that you cant use minnows on a designated trout stream. I will beleive that until another CO tells me diff. AND yes i have seen minnows with worms(black spots all over it like on sunfish). Now i have a question for all you guys, would you be happy if you reeled in a trout that had black spots all over it? I didnt think so. No matter what the law is i dont think minnnows should be used on a trout stream anyways.

[troutman72]

i dont see what the big deal is brown trout arnt even sappose to be here if were talking about introducing exotic species by using minnows than we need to get rid of browns and rainbows than well be all back to nature. just brooke trout. if thats the dnrs reasoning. id think they would only stock brookies. after all they are stocking fish that arnt really natural to our area

just my two cents dont get me wrong i like to catch browns. but im sick of people talking like they were natural to our streams there from over seas just like carp!

CPR

[TSTEPHENS]

Troutman your certainly right about where the trout came from, but you should think about how much money we all spend in taxes among other fees for the area that supports these rivers.
I don't like the idea that I might be giving thousands of dollars to a program that dosen't get the proper respect.
I don't care what any one person fishes trout with just don't keep the big ones. Let them go for someone else to enjoy, if anything get a fiberglass reproduction.
If you want something for a meal go fish Hay Creek or Whitewater or even the Root those rivers are a lot stronger in population.

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"ONLY THE BIG ONES"

[Jim W]

Hmmmmm,

Geeeez, a lot of my trout have black spots on them, red spots, pink spots........LOL

I'm all about making myself "look dumb".
You should see the color of my hip-boots!
Real "pretty" puke colored brownish tan!

I look and feel soooo perrrty in them!!!

Jim W

[Pig_sticka]

STREAM TROUT REGULATIONS: WORD FOR WORD

Possessing live minnows, not including leeches, or using them for bait on designated stream trout LAKES is prohibited

TAKING minnows or leeches from designated trout waters, except under special permit, is prohibited

there you guys go, YOU CAN USE THEM IN STREAMS.
you cant take them out of the streams but you can use them. you cant use them on lakes.
notice it says lakes not waters!

if your still thinkin you cant well dont, but dont lead others wrong

sunnies dont get black spots from minnows, northerns dont get black spots from minnows.
minnows can have them, same with any other fish.

where did you guys learn this stuff?
good fishing

[Jim W]

I thought I read correctly, but I'm no literature major either!

Jim W

[cherndog]

Guys, growing up on a fishing resort where walleye, northern and perch were a standard I can tell you that they all got spots. These spots are parasites that live in the waters.

Minnows are not the problem. Fish eat much more than minnows and our streams include much more than fish and water. Either way you cook the fish first so you can eliminate any parasites, or don't you? LOL

Those of you interested in the real answer to this riddle should attend Trout Day this Saturday since the DNR will be present.

Hold on while I get down off my soap box.

"Catch'em, Release'em, Catch'em again"

[TSTEPHENS]

PIG_STICKA YOUR MISSING THE BIG PICTURE THESE REGULATIONS ARE WROTE UP UNDER THE STREAM TROUT REGULATIONS SECTION. IF IT WERE MEANT FOR LAKES IT WOULDN'T BE WRITTEN THERE THINK ABOUT IT. IF YOUR STILL CONFUSED CALL THIS GENTLEMAN AND GET BACK TO ALL OF USE HERE.

JASON B. MOECKEL
STREAM HABITAT SPECIALIST
DNR FISHERIES
651-772-7965

HATE TO SEE SOMEONES FISHING TRIP BE CUT SHORT BY A MISUNDERSTANDING IN THE WORDING OF THE REGULATIONS. JUST CALL HIM AND HACK IT OUT WITH THE DNR. NOT US, I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU CAUGHT AND HOW YOUR TRIP WAS NOT ARGUING ABOUT ANOTHER MN DNR SCREW-UP.
COOL.

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"ONLY THE BIG ONES"

[mark p]

They put the regulation about using minnows in lakes being illegal under the stream trout section because of the type of fish it affects, "stream trout". Not because it affects just trout living in streams. The first paragraph in the Stream Trout section says:

The following regulations apply only to stream trout (splake, brook, brown, and rainbow trout) in inland LAKES and streams. They do not include lake trout which are listed under Inland Waters. And they do not cover Lake Superior tributaries.

The section explicitly says the regulations for stream trout covers lakes as well as streams. I believe if the DNR wanted it to be illegal to use minnow in lakes AND streams that contain stream trout they wouldn't have written a regulation that only says it is illegal to use them in lakes. I do not believe there is a judge in this state that would convict you after reading the regulations. Maybe I'm naive.

[Pig_sticka]

tstephens u use what u want lol
ill use minnows on streams cuz i know it is legal, if a dnr officer tells me different ok then but i have met one every year for probably 10 years now, and i am only 19.
where are the field staff, that know what is up?
dont attack me i just read the rules and go by them.
good fishing