Spearing ban meetings in Minnesota

[Wildlineman]

DNR seeks input on northern pike spearing bans, muskie management (2003-08-19)
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Division of Fisheries will hold a series of local public input meetings to take comments on northern pike spearing bans and muskie management on 36 lakes.

The northern pike spearing bans, enacted between 1968 and 1988, were established largely to protect muskie from incidental spearing. The regulations are scheduled to sunset on March 1, 2004. Following a public input period, decisions will be made whether to drop or continue the spearing bans on each lake.

Twenty-three of the 36 lakes are designated muskie lakes, for which DNR Fisheries is required to show that the muskie populations in these lakes had been enhanced before extending any of the spearing bans beyond 2004. Ten other lakes had spearing bans implemented from 1985 to 1988 under experimental regulations, which were enacted to protect muskie and northern pike populations. Some of these lakes also have a 48-inch minimum size limit for muskie. Meetings will also be held to discuss three other designated muskie brood-stock lakes that have 48-inch minimum size limits, but do allow northern pike spearing.

The meetings will be held in September and early October in the county where each lake is located, as listed below. Access sites were posted this summer announcing the local public input meetings. Public notices will be published in local newspapers 30 to 60 days and again 7 to 30 days prior to the meetings.

Written comments will be accepted for up to ten days after the meetings. Additionally, an open-house meeting will be held on Sept. 24 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the DNR Fisheries Division headquarters, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul.

You may also submit comments using a form on the DNR's HSOforum.

County and lakes with spearing bans:

• Beltrami - Big

• Cass - Baby, Wabedo

• Chisago - East and West Rush

• Douglas - Lobster

• Hennepin - Independence, Minnetonka including Libbs, Forrest, Peavy, Tanager

• Hubbard - Big Mantrap, Bad Axe, Big Sand, Little Sand, Spider, Stocking

• Itasca - Deer, Moose, Little Moose, North Star, Spider

• Lake – Dumbbell, Harris

• Otter Tail - West Battle

• Pine – Cross

• Rice - French

• Scott - Cedar

• Wright - Sugar

County and lakes with spearing bans and 48-inch minimum size limit on muskie:

• Anoka - Ramsey - Bald eagle

• Hennepin - Eagle, Rebecca

• Ramsey – Owasso.

County and lakes with 48-inch minimum size limit on muskie with spearing allowed:

• Cass/Hubbard - Little Wolf

• Clearwater – Elk

• Hubbard – Plantaganette.

Let your voice be heard.

Shayne