Detailed SE Minnesota Fishing Easement Maps

[JIvers]

The DNR has a new list of maps showing in great detail where fishing easements begin and end on some trout streams in southeast Minnesota: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fishing/trout_streams/south_mn_maps.html

The streams in question saw some angler-landowner confrontations in the past because the easement boundaries apparently weren't clear. The streams or portions of streams listed with detailed maps are:

Big Springs [three maps]

Crooked Creek

Kedron Creek

Little Jordan Creek

Lynch Creek

Rush Creek

South Branch of the Root River [upstream from Forestville State Park]

Schueler Creek

Trout Run Creek

Wisel Creek

[itchmesir]

These are nice maps.. wish they would've had them a couple years back when i was looking for one of those easements.. i found it though....

[goblueM]

Boy, the MN DNR uses mapping technology and their HSOforum extremely well. Lake finder, trout maps, water trail maps, etc... all superb. Wish all states had such a good HSOforum and easy-to-find downloadable resources

[itchmesir]

Honestly wish Minnesota would switch to a more of the norm system and allow you to be within the high water mark on any section of stream.. would be a lot simpler

[ted4887]

I think the reason they don't is because it would be much harder to acquire easements and accesses. These new maps are just a result of landowner confrontations. At least they took the time to post these up though.

[OnAFly]

GoBlue - I agree. Trying to find good info on fishing locations in other sates can be a absolute pain! Not that it's always a cakewalk in MN, but at least we have something.

[itchmesir]

Unless you wanna dish out the $30+ for a book that'll give you that info... I saw that "Improved Streams of Minnesota and Iowa" book.. will show you where easements are on sections of stream the DNR has done HI on... $30!!! ridiculous.. don't get me wrong.. i have plenty of these books and have used them to my advantage.. but i never had to pay anywhere near $30 for one of them

[MyFishHasRabies]

I always thought you COULD wade (or walk) below the high water mark on any body of water, navigable or not, in Minnesota.

I agree that MN has a great DNR HSOforum. If I could change one thing I would make a "search by fish species" feature in the lake finder. I'm trying to find which lakes holding Gar are the closest to me and it's a real hassle to go one by one, but at least the info is THERE, as opposed to some other state's websites.