DNR adds 2 miles metro trout fishing opportunities along Vermillion

[DonBo]

(Released April 8, 2014)

Metro anglers who want to stick close to home for the April 12 stream trout

opener will have nearly two additional miles of shoreline to explore as a

result of acquisitions made by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in Dakota County.

Half a mile north of Dakota County Road 66 along County 79, the DNR has acquired a 52-acre aquatic management area that straddles the main branch of the Vermillion River, protecting 4,100 feet of shoreline. Upland areas of the property include five acres of grasslands and 25 acres of woods.

Brian Nerbonne, DNR streams habitat consultant, with brown trout from Vermillion River.

Further east, a 62-acre acquisition now affords access to the south branch of the Vermillion River just south of County Road 66 and west of state Highway 52.

That parcel includes 6,900 feet of shoreline, 25 acres of grassland and 20

acres of woodland. The south branch is a coldwater tributary to the Vermillion that provides rearing areas and offers refuge for trout, especially during hot summer weather.

Both properties provide habitat for pheasants, turkeys, ducks, doves, deer and other wildlife; they also will be open to hunting, trapping and wildlife watching. The DNR’s Fisheries section will continue to work with the DNR Wildlife section to manage upland areas.

“These properties are a great addition to the region’s outdoor recreation system, especially for busy metro anglers and hunters who may not always have time for a several-hour drive,” said T.J. DeBates, DNR’s east metro fisheries supervisor. “Acquisitions like these not only protect habitat, they also provide much needed public access.”

The two properties cost $384,200. Funding was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources. Money for the properties also came from the Outdoor Heritage Fund, created after voters approved the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment in November 2008, which increased sales tax by three-eighths of 1 percent. The fund receives one-third of the sales tax dollars and may only be spent to restore, protect and enhance wetlands, prairies, forest and habitat for game fish and wildlife. Dakota County also contributed to the acquisitions.

The Vermillion River has gained notoriety over the past 10 years as a trophy brown trout stream within 45 minutes of a major urban area. As recently as 1960, though, the stream was considered unfit for any game fish due to poor water quality from industrial wastes and land use practices. The river’s comeback has been the result of local, regional and state efforts to improve water quality.

Since 2005, the DNR has acquired land protecting nearly 10 miles of shoreline along the Vermillion for habitat and public access for fishing and hunting. The DNR also has worked with local government and nonprofit conservation organizations on several stream restoration projects along the Vermillion.

[DrJuice1980]

Good news. FYI, as of today the river has yet to be stocking with its spring allotment.

[DARK30]

Are they stocking rainbows in there?

[rkhinrichs]

great!

[mallardnwalleye]

That is great news. Are there any restoration projects planned on that stretch?

[laker1]

Great news,habitat and outdoor opportunity is what is all about. You get both here.

[Bandersnatch]

Are they stocking rainbows in there?

Yes.

They stocked Rainbows on 4/11.

[DrJuice1980]

and they're all 7-8 inches, that's it.

[Bandersnatch]

and they're all 7-8 inches, that's it.

Look a bit bigger than that to me.

Here's the video.

http://kstp.com/article/stories/S3396979.shtml?cat=12196

[esoxrocks01]

I have a question related to the rules regarding the Rambling River park area of the Vermillion River. Are you allowed to keep rainbow trout within that area, or is it strictly catch and release?

[Bandersnatch]

I think that they cover that in the video.

[esoxrocks01]

Okay. Sorry about that.

[Bandersnatch]

No problem!!

I just thought that they did.

I seem to remember them saying that it was about a two mile stretch that you could keep a limit from, and the rest is C&R.

[DrJuice1980]

Look a bit bigger than that to me.

Here's the video.

http://kstp.com/article/stories/S3396979.shtml?cat=12196

I didnt go by a video, I went by what they looked like in my hands. Im sure my first hand experience means more than what you estimate the sizes to be on an internet video.

Bottom line is they aren't cleanable fish in my opinion. Too small.

[Bandersnatch]

I didnt go by a video, I went by what they looked like in my hands. Im sure my first hand experience means more than what you estimate the sizes to be on an internet video.

Bottom line is they aren't cleanable fish in my opinion. Too small.

Then you didn't catch what they were stocking.

I didn't watch an internet video.

I watched the CH5 news.

I provided you with the link to the video.

[DARK30]

Did they come from Lanesboro? A 12" rainbow is very easy to eat. I think they should try and keep more of those larger browns in the Vermillion if they can. (It used to be pretty well kept secret)

[DrJuice1980]

If they were 12" I would have been cleaning them for the smoker. They were not, and I find it hard to believe that somebody who was no where near there but "seen on the news" has a better idea of the size than I do, being I caught 4. None of which broke 10" (saw many others that were the same size). I suppose the Vermillion rainbows are now reproducing? Yeah right.

Im glad there was a ruler in the video for you to accurately judge length.

I've fished that river hundreds of times throughout the years. This years stock was well on the small side.

But maybe I caught ones they didnt stock.

[Bandersnatch]

Well, take the 3 minutes to watch the video.

They may well have stocked others, but look at what they showed them stocking, and tell us if that's what you caught.

[delcecchi]

It wouldn't be the first time that a TV station used some stock footage they had laying around or that they got from the DNR in a story, rather than shooting current video and editing it.

[outdoors247]

It wasn't a stock video. I was there watching them stock the river while KSTP was filming.

I'll have to agree with Dr. J, they are on the small size this year. That didn't stop me from keeping a few of them. I just cut off the head and gutted them. I then wrapped them in foil with lemon and a little marinade and cook them whole on the grill until done. They turned out pretty good.