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Liberalized lakes

20lbSloughShark

By 20lbSloughShark
in Ice Fishing

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dougger222 Proficient

dougger222

Posted
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Know several people who have "fished" liberalized lakes and the trick is to get out there right after the dnr opens it up. You can literally fill the box of your truck with fish. Quite often the game fish are taken first and the rough fish are all that's left when most people go to these lakes.

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paceman Grand Master

paceman

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About 15 years ago a local lake was opened to liberal fishing. It was a blast. we built portable spearhouses. Cut the holes and speared lots of northerns, crappies, bass... The fish would come in super slow just below the ice. One day we had about half a pickup box full. One of the guys had a small game farm and had twolves so he took most of them for feed.

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brian6715 Experienced

brian6715

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It's when the lake is suffering from winter kill (lack of oxygen) the dnr opens up the limits to let people take whatever fish they want from the lake. Basically it prevents a mess of fish washing up in the spring creating a horrible mess.

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flyfisher03 Community Regular

flyfisher03

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From the DNR web page

Lakes are opened to liberalized fishing when a fish population is endangered due to the lack of oxygen available in the water. These lakes are opened so that the public can take fish before they die. Lakes opened to liberalized fishing have signs posted at the public access or along the shore, and announcements will be made in the local newspaper and through the DNR Section of Fisheries central office in St. Paul.

Fish taken from lakes opened to liberalized fishing usually are lethargic and located near the bottom of the ice or near springs. Anglers should use caution and check ice conditions before beginning to fish on opened lakes. These lakes may be restocked with fish next spring after ice-out.

Rules for taking fish from lakes opened to liberalized fishing:

The lakes are only open to liberalized fishing for a short time period. So check the dates on posted signs or in local newspapers.

You are required to have a resident angling license to take fish on liberalized lakes.

You may take fish in any quantity for personal use from lakes opened to liberalized fishing.

You may sell rough fish.

You may take fish by spear, gillnet, or angling (check each lake at the access site, gillnets may not be allowed at all lakes).

You may not use seines, hoop nets, fyke nets, or explosives to take fish.

All trespass laws are in effect and you should abide by them when accessing lakes.

Do not leave any trash or litter on the lakes and take home all fish that are caught.

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bbfenatic Mentor

bbfenatic

Posted
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Mrklean:

about 15 years ago they opened up a lake here in the DL area and we could catch walleyes by the bucket full with only a waxie all thru March. Lake is 14' at max and you are right....they were almost coming out of the hole. Surprisingly there were not that many of us out there fishing....lake is now on the rebound but it will take many years and hopefully no more winter kills before it becomes worth fishing again.

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Tom7227 Grand Master

Tom7227

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In the past I have seen a list of the lakes on the DNR HSOforum but for the life of me I can't find it today. Liberalized didn't work, winterkill didn't work, and neither did promiscuous fishing. Someone can try with other word combinations and then maybe post the link.

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