Northern Pike Special Regs or Protected Slots

[Rick]

Minnesota Northern Pike-Special regs

Some regulations could have changed since this document was updated. For complete fishing regulations consult Minnesota Statutes and Rules for DNR. Effective March 1, 2009. Updated Oct. 20, 2009.

Lake - County

Ada - Cass, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Alexander - Morrison, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Alice - Itasca, 22-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”, bag limit 9

Ann - Carver, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Annie Battle, and inlets and outlets - Otter Tail, catch and release

Ash - St. Louis, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Balsam - Itasca, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Bass - Todd, 40” minimum, 1 over 40”

Basswood - Lake, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Battle, West - Otter Tail, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Beltrami - Beltrami, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Big Birch - Todd, - Stearns, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36

Big Carnelian - Washington, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Big Fish - Stearns, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Big Lake - Beltrami, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Big Mantrap - Hubbard, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Big Swan - Todd, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Birch Lake Reservoir - St.Louis, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Black Bass - Mille Lacs, catch and release

Blueberry - Wadena, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Bowstring and connecting waters - Itasca, 22-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”, bag limit 9

Campbell - Beltrami, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Caribou - St. Louis, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Cedar - Morrison,, - Todd, 40” minimum, 1 over 40”

Center, North - Chisago, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Center, South - Chisago, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Child - Cass, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Coon-Sandwick - Itasca, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Cotton - Becker, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Crooked - Stearns, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Crow Wing 5th - Hubbard, 40” minimum, 1 over 40”

Crow Wing 6th - Hubbard, 40” minimum, 1 over 40”

Crow Wing 8th - Hubbard, 40” minimum, 1 over 40”

Crow Wing 9th - Hubbard, 40” minimum, 1 over 40”

Crow Wing 10th - Hubbard, 40” minimum, 1 over 40”

Deer - Beltrami, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Elephant - St. Louis, 40” minimum, 1 over 40”

Elk - Clearwater, 40” minimum, 1 over 40”

Eunice - Becker, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Farm - Lake, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Fish Trap - Morrison, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Fladmark - Otter Tail, catch and release

Floyd, Big - Becker, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Floyd, Little - Becker, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Fox - Beltrami, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Garden - Lake, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

George - Hubbard, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Girl - Cass, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Haskell - Itasca, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Horseshoe - Cass, 30” minimum, 1 over 30”

Island - Itasca, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Knife - Kanabec, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Lake of the Woods - Lake of the Woods and Roseau, 30-40” protected slot, 1 over 40”

Latoka - Douglas, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Little Boy - Cass, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Little Cascade - Cook, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Little Sauk - Todd, 24-30” protected slot, 1 over 30”

Little Toad - Becker, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36

Little Woman - Cass, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Long - Aitkin, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Long - Stearns, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Long - Todd, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Loon - Cook, 30” minimum, 1 over 30”

Maud - Becker, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Medicine - Beltrami, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Melissa - Becker, 24” maximum

Mille Lacs - Aitkin, Crow Wing & Mille Lacs, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Mink-Somers - Wright, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Minnie Belle - Meeker, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Mission, Lower - Crow Wing, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Mission, Upper - Crow Wing, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Mitchell - Crow Wing, 40” minimum, 1 over 40”

Movil - Beltrami, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

North Star, Little North Star - Itasca, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

North Twin - Beltrami, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Norway - Otter Tail, 1 fish bag

Ogechie - Mille Lacs, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Otter Tail - Otter Tail, 30” minimum, 1 over 30”

Pelican - St. Louis, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Prairie - St. Louis, 30” minimum, 1 over 30”

Rabbit, Big - Crow Wing, 24” maximum

Rabbit, East Big - Crow Wing, 24” maximum

Rachel, Little Rachel - Douglas, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Red, Upper - Beltrami, 26-40” protected slot, 1 over 40”

Round - Crow Wing, 30” minimum, 1 over 30”

Round and connecting waters - Itasca, 22-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”, bag limit 9

Rush, East and West - Chisago, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Sallie - Becker, 24” maximum

Sand and connecting waters - Itasca, 22-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”, bag limit 9

Scrapper - Itasca, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Shamineau - Morrison, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Sissabagamah - Aitkin, 20-30” slot, 1 over 30”

South Farm - Lake, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Spider - Itasca, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

St. Olaf - Waseca, 30” minimum

Steiger - Carver, catch and release, spearing ban

Sturgeon - Pine, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Sugar - Wright, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Syliva, West Sylvia - Wright, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Ten Mile - Cass, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Three Island - Beltrami, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Turtle, Big - Beltrami, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Turtle, Little - Beltrami, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Turtle River Lake - Beltrami, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Twenty One - Otter Tail, catch and release

Unnamed (Louise) - Cass, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Vermilion - St. Louis, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Wabedo - Cass, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

West Battle - Otter Tail, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

White - Iron - St. Louis, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

Woman - Cass, 24-36” protected slot, 1 over 36”

[Spike76]

This is an experiment, and should be listed as such,and there should be only a few lakes in this experiment, until they know the effects on the lakes. I wonder if big fish eat a lot more, without changing the panfish population? Oh, that's ok, now we'll find out where all the crappies went.

[Random guy]

To add to this Upper Red Lake went to a 26-44" protected slot limit.

[RK]

For the record - not all the lakes listed are experimental. There's a practical and statutory difference between special and experimental regulations.

Experimental regulations are just that - defined experiments with a specific purpose, and a built-in sunset. At the end of the experiment period the results are evaluated to see if the research met its objectives, and why or why not. In some cases (not all) where the results of experimental regs are shown to be benificial to the fishery, they may be evaluated and proposed as special regsl.

Special regulations do not have a built in sunset, and have different evaluation requirements. The become the status quo for that body of water.

In each case, before they're put in place, there's a required process that includes public comment, and in the case of experimental regs, a significant requirement for data gathering and evaluation throughout the period when the regs are in place.

Point is, these aren't arbitrary, and the process by which they get put in place is pretty transparent...

[Shawn Kellett]

Actually Spike, it's when the lake is over run by the small pike that the panfish populations take a hit. It takes more energy to keep 20 1lb fish alive then it does 1 20lb fish. I've got lots of great data for you if you'd like to read it concerning this topic.

[JBMasterAngler]

I'd like to see lake of the woods change their slot from 40 inches to 44. With the year round season, those big girls could use all the protection they can get.

[Big Tom]

I'd be happy to see a 28-44 slot state-wide. 24" is 3.9 lbs. and not really worth the effort of removing y bones. I fully support releasing all others but, and in my case, including trophys.

[SmellEsox]

I'd be happy to see a 28-44 slot state-wide. 24" is 3.9 lbs. and not really worth the effort of removing y bones. I fully support releasing all others but, and in my case, including trophys.

One of the most important aspects of setting a slot limit is getting the lower number right. In other words, if you put a 28 to 44 inch slot on a lake where few or no fish reach 28 inches, the reg will not work. No fish will reach the slot. Also, remember, if you put a 28" lower end on your slot, more harvest is directed at those fish just below the slot. If growth rates aren't fast enough, increased harvest below the slot may keep fish from growing into the slot. From our experience, you need to set the lower limit where you are already protecting a pretty significant number of fish in the population. In other words, if the biggest fish in assessments are 28-30 inches, but there aren't very many that size, you'd better set your lower limt in that 24 to 26" range. It has been our experience that you cannot get anglers to harvest enough small fish below the slot to increase growth rates of the remaining fish so they make it to the protected slot. Does that make sense?

[merkman]

...

[Huey]

What is the purpose of a 24" - 36" slot?

To increase the number of pike in the 24 - 36 " range? Or is the ultimate goal to increase the number of pike over 36"? Or some thing else?

I fished a slot lake last Friday and there were a lot of fish below or in the slot but none above it. Yes... I know that is not a scientific sampling, etc but it made me wonder what is the purpose of a slot.

[Nick Kuhn]

What is the purpose of a 24" - 36" slot?

To increase the number of pike in the 24 - 36 " range? Or is the ultimate goal to increase the number of pike over 36"? Or some thing else?

I fished a slot lake last Friday and there were a lot of fish below or in the slot but none above it. Yes... I know that is not a scientific sampling, etc but it made me wonder what is the purpose of a slot.

To shift the biomass from mostly low 20" fish to a nice tapered distribution all the way up to ultimate length (40"+).

[RK]

Hiya -

Nick pretty much has it. In a lot of cases the main objective is to allow pike to reach mature size, not necessarily "trophy" size. The 17-22" "hammerhandles" so many lakes are full of are essentially juvenile sized fish. When you look at a lake survey, you see huge numbers of fish in the 15-19 inch range and very few in the 25-29 inch range. In some cases, small pike can make up more than 90% of the population. Look at a few lake survey reports, and you'll see a lot of phrases like this one: "Northern pike size structure has consistently remained poor. Pike ranged in length from 15.5 to 25.8 inches with an average length and weight of 19.3 inches and 1.4 pounds. Northern pike growth is slow with an average length of 19.0 inches at four years of age." That's the kind of population structure slots are trying to address.

Slots do that by protecting fish when they make the jump into the mature size range. Anglers are highly size selective with pike, and the 24-28 inch fish are the ones that get yanked out. A population with an overabundance of juvenile size fish has a lot of consequences. Recruitment remains high, but growth slows as fish expend their energy foraging, not growing. Fish even start to spawn at smaller sizes. They also can have a major affect on forage species like yellow perch.

When slots work (they don't in every case - nothing always works. There have been some lakes where slots were removed because they didn't seem to be working), they can balance out the pike population so there's a more even size distribution. In one central Minnesota lake, after just 8 years of protective regulations, the number of pike over 24 inches averaged 15 fish per survey net. In six surveys spanning more than a decade prior to the protected slot taking effect, the average was one per net, and had never been higher than two. Think about those numbers. One over 24 inches before the regs. 15 after. During the same period the lakes’ pike population went from a hammerhandle factory with 80 percent of the pike under 20 inches, to a balanced population with 20 percent under 20.

Pike over 30" is a bonus on lakes like this, and on some lakes slots have created very good fisheries for 8-12 pound fish, but they don't get to 36" if they are kept when they're 26".

There are some lakes with exceptional potential for trophy size fish that have higher slots, or a high minimum size (Upper Red would be one example). But there the objective is different than on most of the lakes with the 24-26, one-over slots.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[solbes]

I like these regs. There are thousands of lakes with pike in them without the regs, so the few listed here can offer special opportunity to catch and hopefully release some large pike.

I have been to one lake with the 40" min, and we boated a 35" almost immediately. Snapped a quick pic and back she went. Lots of fun. I plan on returning sometime later this summer, as the chance for a true 40"+ from a smaller lake is really cool.

[OnAFly]

I just wish there were more lakes with these regs so it were possible to go to one without driving 50 miles each way.

[ducksnbucks]

I agree with those of you wanting slots on more lakes. I fish in a league every week on 12 different lakes, on top of the other lakes I fish during the year and we rarely see 28"+ pike. So many 17-22" fish. I would just like to be able to have maybe every 25th pike to be over 30" instead of every 100th pike. Just my opinion though.

[RK]

Hiya -

Anglers who support these regulations need to make themselves heard.

Were it not for a veto of the Game and Fish bill by Governor Dayton, we would have lost almost 25% of the few lakes we do have with these regulations, and the original legislation, written and reinserted into the final bill by Rep. Hackbarth then modified during the conference committee meetings, would have cut it in half, placing an utterly arbitrary cap on lakes with special pike regs at 60.

These regulations are very strongly opposed by at least some spearers, and they're working very hard to eliminate them completely, or exempt spearers from having to follow them at all - which would render them meaningless.

I'd like to see more of them too. We have many, many, many lakes in MN that are overrun with small pike, and the whole fishery suffers for it. But with a small, vocal, and politically connected group opposing them, getting more any time soon would not be easy unless an awful lot of anglers made their wishes known.

[OnAFly]

I've contacted my Reps but get very little in the way of any return contact. If anything it's an email telling me how busy they are. Awesome...

[Nick Kuhn]

To further what RK said about hammerhandle lakes and fish growing slowly (and as you will see below this is the majority of lakes), here is a comparison made for my lake (left column) to the county (center column) and upper midwest region (right column).

Some background on my lake: there are 78% fewer pike in there than a typical lake. Those that are in there are extremely difficult to catch (the catch rate is actually middle of the pack for what you expect muskie catch rates to be, taking 10 times longer to catch one than on other lakes). There is however a tremendous amount of forage, and intra and inter species competition is not a factor. The result: look how much faster pike can grow than they grow in a typical hammerhandle lake.

Age - My Lake - Local Mean - Regional Mean

3 - 22.1" ----- 18.0" ----- 17.4"

4 - 24.5" ----- 19.8" ----- 20.0"

5 - 29.2" ----- 22.9" ----- 22.7"

[RK]

OAF -

Frankly, unless you have a rep or senator that's really interested in this stuff, or is on one of the committees, it's tough for them to have much of an impact. Nat. Resources at the legislature is such a niche area that by the time bills get to the floor, it's almost a fait accompli. They heavily defer to the committees at best, or just vote party line. The meaningful interaction between voters and legislators happens with the committee members. Unfortunately, some of the current committee members are not the most receptive to outside input, whether that comes from voters, interest groups, or the DNR. Hopefully that will change someday.

[JPenny]

The more posts I read on this board, the more I like it. You folks in Minnesota are very fortunate to have a few people who are willing to fight for what's right concerning fish regulations. I believe I know this RK guy, and many other warriors in Minnesota who regularly follow the DNR issues and spend considerable time talking to different officials in several branches of government at their own expense. My hat is off to RK and many others in the great state of Minnesota.

[delcecchi]

Hiya -

Anglers who support these regulations need to make themselves heard.

Were it not for a veto of the Game and Fish bill by Governor Dayton, we would have lost almost 25% of the few lakes we do have with these regulations, and the original legislation, written and reinserted into the final bill by Rep. Hackbarth then modified during the conference committee meetings, would have cut it in half, placing an utterly arbitrary cap on lakes with special pike regs at 60.

These regulations are very strongly opposed by at least some spearers, and they're working very hard to eliminate them completely, or exempt spearers from having to follow them at all - which would render them meaningless.

I'd like to see more of them too. We have many, many, many lakes in MN that are overrun with small pike, and the whole fishery suffers for it. But with a small, vocal, and politically connected group opposing them, getting more any time soon would not be easy unless an awful lot of anglers made their wishes known.

The problem is that many spearers want to spear big pike. They don't want to spear 22 inch pike. Heck I don't really like keeping a 22 inch pike angling, myself. So mostly I release the pike I catch.

Why do you think the spearers were frothing over Cass? All those big juicy pike and no slot. yum.

We shall see the results in a few years, eh? Look and release? or whack em and stack em.

[pushbutton]

I am not anti spearing in the least, heck, go out and spear the sacred walleye for all i care, but make sure there are slots on it. I have never uttered an opinion on this touchy issue, but truly feel it would be a travesty to harvest any large pike, be it hook and line, spearing, or noodling The real issues, to me, are simply, the role of the apex predators concerning the overall health of our lakes and the short sightedness of single issue politics.

[reinhard1]

i feel that way also. in my opinion all large fish should be released on hook and line or avoided by the spear. good luck.

[live4chrome]

20-22 inch pike are the best eaters. If you have trouble cleaning a fish that size you need more practice.A sharp knife does wonders, sharpen every time you use it with a whet stone. Anything over 23 gets thrown back in my boat. Keep those overpopulated small fish and let the bigger ones get big.

[reinhard1]

i think you got the right idea. six small pike go a long way toward pickled pike, fish cakes [patties] or great eating fillets. good luck.