Ice fishing trout...

[Chad711]

What trout lakes, in Minnesota are open during the winter? Why do they close Benjamin? I dont get it, thanks Chad...

[JP Z]

Chad,

Look into the MN fishing Regs. They will tell you the counties that are open for Trout fishing in the Winter.

[chunkytrout]

Lakes in Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Cass, Crow Wing and Hubbard Counties are closed during the winter season. I'm not sure why but alot of those lakes were chemically treated in the past. Maybe they are just under tighter management.

[JP Z]

Chunky,

In talking with the DNR head for Crow Wing head pointed out exactly what you said. These aren't managed for year round use. They want to preserve year classes for the spring/summer months so they close them off for Winter fishing. And they stock them late in the fall so they can grow over the winter.

[Chad711]

I cant imagine for instance, Lake bBenjamin being a pressured lake in the Winter, it isnt in the Summer.. Just strange...

[bwtrout]

Stocked trout lakes/pits get a great deal of pressure in the winter from what I've seen. (I have a home on one) The trout move up in the water column and into the shallows. Winter Opening weekend always seems to catch them off guard. The big ones caught I've seen/heard have all been through the ice.

[chunkytrout]

It's not only the pressure Chad, I think they look at the overall reintroduction of a species into an isolated body of water. It's a study with hard data. BW has a good point. The lakes we work in the winter get hammered on but they're dumping in fingerlings by the truck load. There isn't much of a water study or follow up study besides the average 4 year netting/creel. What's odd about it is it's a complete put and take operation say at the mine pits. Streamers will not produce offspring in still waters. Sure they go through the motions of spawning and maybe a few survive only to fall prey by pumpkins and bass. So why the more intense management at the above county lakes? I think strictly for study purposes. My guess at best. Thanks Jpz for checking with the boss. He didn't mention any special studies going on with these lakes did he?

BW, was that you and I that saw that article RE a lake/streamer hybrid strain that could reproduce in lake conditions?