The walleye, northern pike, muskie, large and smallmouth bass season for 2004/2005 closed February 20 for non-border waters. The season is extended on various border waters–please consult with the Minnesota DNR for specific fishing rules and regulations.

And the opening dates for the 2005/2006 fishing season for most inland waters in Minnesota are as follows: walleye, sauger, northern pike and lake trout, -May 14; largemouth and smallmouth bass, -May 28; and for muskie-June 4. The fishing season for crappies, sunnies, perch and catfish is continuous.

Anglers may obtain fishing licenses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by dialing 1-888-665-4236, or accessing http://www.wildlifelicense.com/mn/index.html

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TWIN CITIES FISHING REPORTS

ST.CLOUD, MN
Panfish can be found in the shallows just below the ice, especially on East and Pearl lakes. While not always easy to find, freshwater shrimp has been the bait of choice, otherwise waxworms will work just fine. For crappies, try Rice, Clear or Grand lakes using white larvae or crappie minnows in 10-15 feet of water. Perch anglers are having succes on Little Rock Lake.

ANNANDALE, MN
John, Clearwater and Sugar lakes are kicking out sunfish in 10-15 feet of water. Crappies can be found suspended in 20-24 feet of water on Clearwater, Pleasant and Cedar lakes. For the most fish, use a glow jig tipped with eurolarvae.

EDEN VALLEY, MN
Sunfish are biting on Cedar Island and Becker lakes in 6-10 feet of water. Sunnies and crappies are hitting on Long Lake. Crappies are also being reported in 18-19 feet of water on Brown’s Lake. Catfish are active throughout the entire Horseshoe Chain of Lakes.

WAYZATA, MN
On Lake Independence, crappies can be found suspended 20 feet down in 40 feet of water using glow jigs and minnows during the day. Crappies and sunnies are active on Lake Sarah, wtih fish found suspended in 30 feet of water. For the most fish, try ants, spiders, waxworms and flipper jigs. On Lake Minnetonka, good panfish reports are coming from the North Arm and Black Lake.

CHISAGO CITY, MN
An excellent panfish and crappie bite is being reported on Chisago Lake, and at Pancake Island on South Center Lake.

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SOUTHERN MINNESOTA FISHING REPORTS

WABASHA, MN
On the Mississippi River, panfish are hitting waxworms at Third Lake near the Pioneer Club. Anglers are catching a mix of walleye and sauger at the Alma Dam. For the most fish, try a floating jig head and minnow in 30 feet of water. Northern pike are biting on Peterson’s Lake in 6 feet of water.

MANKATO, MN
Sunfish are biting on St. James Lake. On Washington Lake, sunfish action has been best at Baker and Mud bays. For crappies, try 20 foot depths at Second Point on Washington.

MONTEVIDEO, MN
Crappie action has been great on Lake Lac Qui Parle, especially using minnows at Balen’s Bay and Watson Rock. Catfish are active on the Minnesota River.

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NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA FISHING REPORTS

DULUTH, MN
Bluegills are taking waxworms from 8-10 feet of water on Caribou Lake. Crappies are biting on Headquarters, Nickels and Island lakes. Perch action has been best on Pike Lake, with fish hitting crappie minnows. On Lake Superior, loopers and salmon are being taken on waxworms and looper bugs.

KABETOGAMA, MN
Slush has developed in some areas due to mild temperatures–anglers are asked to use caution. The more traveled areas of the lakes remain solid. Crappie action has been pretty consistent on Kabetogama and Namakan lakes during the day. Northern pike are active throughout Lake Namakan.

INTERNATIONAL FALLS, MN
On Rainy Lake, Sand Bay continues to produce fish, and ice conditions remain conducive to travel. Walleye are exhibiting signs of their spring appetite. At present, the best approach is a small minnow on a simple hook or glow-in-the-dark jig. The summer reefs have been good for catch-and-release walleye and northern pike. Work the tops or sides of the reefs, with walleye found suspended at 30-40 feet.

GRAND RAPIDS, MN
The crappie bite has picked up on Bowstring Lake. Anglers are also catching some nice-sized perch in shallow waters. Little Splithand Lake has been good for a few crappies, especially during evening hours. There have been reports of some large crappies coming from Big Splithand Lake. For the most fish, try a glow jig and crappie minnow. Sugar Lake, near Vermilion, is giving up both crappies and bluegills on minnows, waxworms and eurolarvae.

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NORTHCENTRAL/WEST MINNESOTA FISHING REPORTS

BAUDETTE, MN
On Lake of the Woods, along the South Shore, walleye can be be found in 30-35 feet of water. Around Morris Point, fish are biting in 26-28 feet of water early in the day, and in 15-18 foot depths towards evening. Numbers of northern pike are coming from 8-12 feet of water in the bays, inlets and feeder stream areas of Zippel Bay. At the Northwest Angle and Islands area, walleye action around the reefs near Bridges and Garden Islands has been excellent. Jumbo perch are coming from the area near Stony Point on larger spoons. The Rainy River is now open all the way to Franz Jevne State Park, and open water is only 3- to 4-miles from Birchdale. The lake trail from Wheeler’s Point to Oak Island is groomed, and in the best condition in the area.

BLACKDUCK, MN
Large jumbo perch are biting on Blackduck Lake. Most perch are being pulled from 14-20 feet of water, however, some perch can be found in 6-10 feet of water. Bluegills and crappies have been most active on Rabideau, Gilstad, Big and Moose lakes. Look for the sunfish in 8-14 feet of water, with crappies found suspended over deeper water.

BEMIDJI, MN
For some good perch action, try minnows in roughly 25 feet of water on Bemidji, Big, Plantagenet and Cass lakes. The sunnies have been most active on Grace, Midge and Turtle River lakes in 10-13 feet of water. Anglers traveling to Upper Red Lake should work the 12-14 foot breaklines, and remain mobile for the best results.

BENA, MN
On Lake Winnibigoshish, large perch are being pulled from depths of 26-28 feet, although some anglers are having success in 18 feet of water near the rocks. Some locations to check out include Raven’s Point, Moses Bar, the end of Long Bar, the humps on the north end off Pigeon Creek, the drop-off at Sugar Point, and the deep cut off Stony Point. For the most fish, try a Northland fry minnow with a small chub, shiner minnow, or just the head of a chub. Anglers continue to need auger extensions in some places. And crappie action is picking up on area lakes, with nice catches of 10- to 12-inch fish being reported on Cutfoot Sioux, Bowstring and Little Ball Club lakes.

WALKER, MN
On Leech Lake, perch are being pulled from 12-20 feet of water at Sand Point and the northern end of Sucker Bay. Tullibee action is picking up at Stoney Point, especially during lowlight hours.

HACKENSACK, MN
Woman Lake is producing large perch in 8-15 feet of water, with a few bluegills mixed in. For the most fish, try small jigs and eurolarvae. Pleasant and Birch lakes are giving up crappies in 20 feet of water.

PARK RAPIDS, MN
Sunnies are actively hitting waxworms in 12 feet of water on Fish Hook Lake. For crappies, hit 25 foot depths using a crappie minnow on Big Mantrap Lake.

DETROIT LAKES, MN
Bluegills and crappies remain active on Round, Floyd, Cotton, Little Pelican, Prairie, Crystal, Lida, Sand, Little Detroit and Big Toad lakes. The best approach has been a waxworm on a pounder jig or frostee jig worked at the weed pockets. Anglers are pulling a few tullibies from Lida, Long, Rose and Cotton lakes.

BATTLE LAKE, MN
Fishing has been excellent. Numbers of nice-size crappies and sunnies are coming out of 11-13 feet of water on Battle, South Turtle, Star, Dead and Rush lakes. Blue and red seem to be the most productive lure colors. Tullibies are starting to bite on Clitheral, Ottertail, Molly, East Battle and Pickeral lakes.

ALEXANDRIA, MN
Crappies and sunfish are active throughout the day on Victoria, Geneva, Le Homme Dieu, Ida, Mary and Miltona lakes in 6-18 feet of water, with a wide variety of baits on smaller jigs working well.

STARBUCK, MN
On Lake Minnewaska, anglers are catching a few large perch at the Starbuck end. The best approach has been a small jig and minnow in 15 feet of water. Sunfish are coming out of Devil’s and Whiskey lakes.

BRAINERD, MN
The sunnies and crappies can be found together, and continue to move into shallower waters. Hit 6-12 feet of water, at the weed beds near a drop-off or hole, for the most fish. Small tear drop jigs tipped with a crappie minnow or waxworm is working best.

NISSWA, MN
Crappie anglers are having the most success staying mobile, and drilling a few of holes, sometimes just 50 yards apart. Anglers report that fish are now migrating into the shallows. For the most fish, hit the weed pockets found in 6-15 feet of water using small jigs and plastic tails, or ice jigs tipped with a waxworm. The smaller area lakes have been the most productive. Anglers are also catching numbers of sunfish along with the crappies.

As of March 20th, the gray-morph GYRFALCON was still in Dakota County along State Highway 55. It was most recently reported between County Road 42 and Jacob Avenue. And on the 21st, Deb Buria-Falkowski saw a Gyrfalcon near Spirit Lake in downtown Virginia, in St. Louis County.

GREAT GRAY OWLS and NORTHERN HAWK OWLS continue to be easy to find across northern Minnesota, especially in Aitkin County and Pine County. Many observers still report finding multiple Great Gray Owls along Aitkin County Roads 4, 5, 22 & 73, and along State Highway 65.

Mary Stefanski saw a SNOWY OWL in Aitkin County on March 23rd, along Portage Lake Road.

A ROSS’S GOOSE was seen by Jim Mattsson on March 21st. The goose was standing on the ice with 20 Canada Geese at the “Frog Pond” on Ravenna Trail in Hastings, in Dakota County. This is a backwater area accessed about one-half mile east of U.S. Highway 61 on 10th Street.

On March 19th, Randell Rogers heard as many as three BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS and saw one THREE-TOED WOODPECKER in the Sax-Zim Bog, in St. Louis County, along McDavitt Road, two and a half miles north of Sax Road.

A TURKEY VULTURE was seen soaring over Duluth with an adult GOLDEN EAGLE on March 22nd.

On March 21st, Ken and Molly Hoffman saw three HARLEQUIN DUCKS and a larger flock of LONG-TAILED DUCKS off Artist’s Point in Grand Marais, in Cook County. And Jim Lind reported a flock of roughly 80 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS in the town of Askov, in Pine County, on March 17th.

More than 800 nongame wildlife species depend on the generosity of Minnesotans during tax time. This once-a-year opportunity to donate to help wildlife appears on Minnesota state income and property tax forms and provides funding for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Nongame Wildlife Program.

The uniqueness of this government program is that it is 80 percent funded by donations to the wildlife fund checkoff on state tax forms, according to Carrol Henderson, supervisor of DNR Nongame Wildlife Program.

“These voluntary donations have been extremely important to the survival of Minnesota’s because most other conservation funding is not available to help nongame wildlife,” Henderson said.

Minnesota now boasts the largest common loon population in the lower 48 states, the highest number of trumpeter swans in the interior population, and has the fourth largest population of bald eagles in the United States.

Last year, 74,000 Minnesotans donated to the line with the loon on their state tax returns, compared with 76,000 the previous year.

“Only one in 32 households contributed to the wildlife checkoff fund last year, so every dollar donated is an important gift to wildlife,” Henderson noted.

The April 15 tax deadline offers Minnesotans a last opportunity to donate to the Nongame Wildlife Fund and provide the means and hope wildlife biologists need to carry out more than 60 projects that will help keep Minnesota a state rich in wildlife resources.

“Remember tax time is your time to help wildlife,” said Henderson.

With spring just around the corner, the first killdeer of the season was reported on Feb. 24, according to the Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union birding hotline.

Other arriving migrants reported recently include greater white-fronted goose, great blue heron, northern harrier, sandhill crane, ring-billed gull and both rusty and red-winged blackbirds.

Resident birds and those returning to Minnesota from their southern wintering grounds will soon be ready to nest. In spring and early summer, birds, their eggs and hatchlings are vulnerable to becoming a meal for predators.

One of America’s most efficient predators is the domestic cat, which if allowed outdoors might kill birds and small mammals, even if the cat is well fed by humans.

Every year the lives of free-roaming cats are cut short when they are run over by cars, attacked by other animals, contract diseases, pick up parasites, or are poisoned or harmed by humans, according to Andrea Lee Lambrecht, of the Cats Indoors Minnesota Project.

Her organization is encouraging people to keep their cat indoors, for the cat’s safety as well as for the sake of birds and wildlife on which cats prey.

To promote the idea, a “Keep Your Cat Indoors” poster contest, open to children ages 6-12, is underway. Entries must arrive at a regional Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Nongame Wildlife offices by April 8. State winners will be announced on April 22, Earth Day.

Prizes will include bird/wildlife books, plush birds that sing and Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union bird checklists. The three top state winners will also receive Nikon binoculars. The Ornithologists’ Union and the DNR Nongame Wildlife Program are among the organizations that endorse and fund the Cats Indoors campaign.

Contest guidelines are posted on the Minnesota DNR Web site at www.dnr.state.mn.us.

Guidelines may also be obtained at regional DNR Nongame Wildlife offices located at 2115 Birchmont Beach Road NE, Bemidji, MN 56601; 1201 East Highway 2, Grand Rapids, MN 55744; 1200 Warner Road, St. Paul, MN 55106; and 261 Highway 15 South, New Ulm, MN 56073.

In an effort to maintain high-quality walleye fishing at Lake Vermilion in northeastern Minnesota, the Department of Natural Resources is proposing a new regulation to protect the walleye population by reducing harvest starting in 2006.

Surveys of anglers in 2002 and 2003 documented the highest walleye harvest ever observed on Lake Vermilion, well above a sustainable level, says Joe Geis, DNR Area Fisheries Supervisor in Tower. The proposed regulation would keep walleye harvest at or below the long-term goal for the lake.

The Lake Vermilion walleye population is in good condition now, says Geis. But continued harvest at the 2002 and 2003 level will have negative consequences. Acting now to reduce harvest will ensure good fishing for the future.

Two potential regulations are being offered for consideration:

A 17 to 26-inch protected slot with one fish allowed over 26 inches.

A 17-26 inch protected slot with one fish allowed over 26 inches, and a 4-fish daily and possession bag limit.

Geis says adding the four-fish bag limit offers the best chance to keep harvest at a safe level and maintain fishing quality. A four-fish bag limit would also be consistent with regulations recently adopted on other large walleye lakes in Minnesota.

There will be a formal public input process in September of 2005, including public input meetings and a time period for submitting written or verbal comments.

Signs will also be posted at public accesses and resorts this spring informing anglers a regulation change is under consideration. If adopted, the new regulation would go into effect on May 13, 2006. Any questions about the proposed regulation change can be directed to the Area Fisheries office at Tower MN.

Joe Geis, Area Fisheries Supervisor 650 Hwy. 169 Tower, MN 55790 Phone: 218-753-2580 ext. 222 e-mail: joe.geis@dnr.state.mn.us

Duane Williams, Large Lake Specialist 650 Hwy. 169 Tower, MN 55790 Phone: 218-753-2580 ext. 224 e-mail: duane.williams@dnr.state.mn.us

Three non-resident anglers were recently fined $1,300 each for taking more than their legal limit of perch from Lake Winnibigoshish.

The anglers, David S. Lape, 54, of Van Wert, Ohio, Dennis J. Lape, 48, and Julie A. Kleinknight, 47, both of East Lake, Mich., were caught with 249 perch in their possession on March 5. That is 129 perch over their legal limit. Perch possession limit is 20 daily and 40 in possession.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Conservation Officer Larry Francis, Remer, received a call March 4 that two men and a woman were overheard at a resort bragging about the fish they had caught in the northeastern Minnesota lake.

The next day, Francis and Conservation Officer Gary Sommers, Walker, stopped the suspects’ vehicle after it left the resort. The bed of the truck contained 26 bags with 249 perch.

“After doing the math,” Dennis Lape stated to Francis, “we must have miscounted.”

Each person received a citation for being 43 perch over the limit and had their licenses seized under the state’s gross over limits law. Each citation carries of a fine amount of $960 and a restitution amount of $430 for a total penalty of $1,390 per violator. Upon conviction, the individuals also face a three-year revocation of their fishing privileges.

“This is another example of how the Turn In Poachers (TIP) hotline and concerned Minnesota sportsmen and women can assist state conservation officers in protecting our natural resources,” Sommers said.

Established in 1981, the TIP program allows Minnesotans to call a toll-free number from anywhere in the state to report natural resource violations. Calls regarding violations can be placed anonymously at 1-800-652-9093, cash rewards are given for tips.

The Rainy River and Lake of the Woods are home to one of the few remaining lake sturgeon populations in northwestern Minnesota. After decades of low abundance, a recent tagging study by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) provides further evidence that sturgeon abundance is on the rise in this system.

The 2004 study was a cooperative effort among sturgeon anglers, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR), Rainy River First Nations and the Minnesota DNR. Sampling was done on both sides of the international border.

A total of 1,739 sturgeon were tagged from April 1 to May 31, 2004, to learn more about the current status of the fishery.

This study would not have been possible without the help of sturgeon anglers, who provided more than half of the fish that were tagged. Gov. Tim Pawlenty even got in on the fun, tagging a fish during the 2004 governor’s fishing opener on Lake of the Woods.

Mark-recapture studies such as this are used to estimate the number of individuals in a population by comparing the number of fish recaptured with the number of fish marked initially.

A total of 659 fish were captured and examined for tags from June 22 to Sept. 2, 2004. Eight of those examined were tagged. This provides a population estimate of 59,050 lake sturgeon. A study done by the OMNR in 1990 estimated the population at 6,500 fish. This confirms what anglers have been seeing and DNR test nets have shown; sturgeon abundance is increasing in the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods.

The tagging study provided additional information that can be used to gauge the health of the fishery and measure progress towards recovery. Fin rays were collected from more than 500 fish to determine ages. The age structure of the sample suggests that natural reproduction began improving in about 1970 and has been very consistent since then.

However, healthy populations should have fish up to age 70 in the population. The oldest fish sampled in 2004 was 38. Similarly, there are few big fish (mature females) in the population. Only 5 percent of those sampled were greater than 55 inches, which is about the size female sturgeon start reproducing. This shows that while abundance is improving, the population still has a way to go to reach its full potential.

“The results of this study provide reasons for cautious optimism for the future of sturgeon and sturgeon fishing in Rainy River and Lake of the Woods,” said Kevin Peterson, International Falls area fisheries manager.

“If the we keep harvests at sustainable levels and protect their habitat, sturgeon should continue their recovery. Sturgeon fishing will continue improving and anglers will encounter more large fish as the population of fish over 55 inches expands.”

Sturgeon harvest in 2004 was estimated at 5,112 pounds, which was below the target level of 7,600 pounds. However, sturgeon harvest the previous year (before regulations were changed) was approximately 20,000 pounds, which is not sustainable.

Additional monitoring is planned for 2005. Creel surveys will provide information on angling effort and fish harvest. Some additional tagging may be done on the lower river. Follow-up studies will evaluate tag loss and handling mortality. These studies will become part of the long-term monitoring program to assess the health of sturgeon stocks in Rainy River and Lake of the Woods.

Sturgeon management has come a long way since the fish were dried and used to stoke the boilers of steamships in the 1800s. Much work remains to be done.

“It’s not a coincidence that as the water quality of the Rainy River improved, sturgeon began to increase,” Peterson said. “Cleaner water and revitalized spawning habitat improved conditions for sturgeon as well as for those who live and recreate on the Rainy River,” Peterson said. “The progress shows that good things happen when people work together to protect and improve our natural resources.”

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has drafted revised individual fisheries lake management plans for several lakes in the Tower Fisheries Area. Lake management plans are used by fisheries managers to describe the past, present, and future conditions of the lake. The plans identify specific management activities planned for that lake in the next five to ten years.

The specific plans available for review at this time are:

Armstrong Lake Bear Head Lake Bear Island Lake Big Lake (off Echo trail) Birch Lake (Babbitt) Burntside Lake Cedar Lake (South of Aurora) Clear Lake (west of Ely) Crellin Lake Ed Shave Lake Ely Lake Embarrass Lake Everett Lake Fall Lake Glacier Pond 1 James (Jammer) Lake Jeanette Lake Pleasant Lake Regenbogen Lake Robinson Lake Shagawa Lake Silver Lake (in City of Virginia) Triangle Lake Virginia (Bailey) Lake (in City of Virginia) West Two River Reservoir Whitewater Lake Wolf Lake (west of Ely)

These plans are available for review at the DNR Area Fisheries Office, 650 Hwy 169, Tower during normal business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday). To request a copy of a plan call 218-753-2580 ext. 221 or send an email to: dena.weber@dnr.state.mn.us You may stop in or call (218) 753-2580 ext. 222 to discuss any of these plans with fisheries staff. Comments are due to the Area Fisheries Office in Tower by March 28, 2005 and may be sent by mail or email.

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is asking for help in counting every known bald eagle nest in Minnesota this April in anticipation of the pending removal of the bald eagle from the federal endangered species list.

Bald eagles are already returning to nesting sites from their wintering areas near open water in southern Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri. Anyone who spots an active bald eagle nest is asked to contact the DNR’s Nongame Wildlife Program.

“There are thousands of Minnesotans who work, recreate and drive through rural areas each spring,” said Rich Baker, DNR nongame research specialist. “We need them to contact the DNR and tell us where they’ve recently seen eagles hanging around a large nest.”

Bald eagles have experienced a dramatic recovery since they were listed as a federally endangered species in 1967, Baker said. In 1973, only 115 active bald eagle nests could be found in Minnesota. The DNR nongame wildlife program found 681 nesting pairs in the most recent statewide survey, completed in 2000.

A federal recovery plan written in 1978 established a goal of 300 active territories for Minnesota by the year 2000, but this goal was reached by 1987.

Telephone or e-mail messages reporting sightings should include a detailed description of the location of the eagle nest (including the county, township and nearest landmark), whether or not eagles were seen at the nest, and a way to contact the person reporting the nest.

Report eagle nests to:

St. Paul, (651) 296-9662, steve.kittelson@dnr.state.mn.us.

Grand Rapids, (218) 327-4518, maya.hamady@dnr.state.mn.us.

Brainerd, (218) 833-8728, pam.perry@dnr.state.mn.us.

Bemidji, (218) 755-2976, katie.haws@dnr.state.mn.us.

Rochester, (507) 280-5070, jaime.edwards@dnr.state.mn.us.

New Ulm, (507) 359-6039, brad.bolduan@dnr.state.mn.us.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has received numerous reports of sick and dead common redpolls and other members of the finch family at bird feeders.

According to Carrol Henderson, supervisor of the DNR Nongame Wildlife Program, similar die-offs are occurring in Quebec and in states ranging from Michigan to New York to Vermont and south through Virginia and North Carolina.

The DNR’s Division of Ecological Services has determined the birds are dying from a bacterial disease called salmonella - Type B. This disease is transmitted by contact between birds, especially where they are concentrated at feeders. It can also be transmitted through their droppings onto birdseed and subsequently ingested by other birds.

“It is extremely important to clean up the areas under the bird feeders, where fallen seed could be contaminated,” Henderson said. Henderson noted the redpolls, pine siskins and other northern finches should be migrating northward this month. The problem will subside as they disperse through their northern woodlands for nesting.

“People can help by removing their finch feeders for a week or so to force the birds to disperse their feeding activities over a larger area,” Henderson said.

The feeders should be cleaned with a solution of two ounces of bleach with one gallon of water, followed by a scrubbing or brushing of the entire surface. Feeders can be put out after about a week, when the redpoll numbers have diminished. According to Henderson, house cats can contract this disease from eating sick songbirds. Veterinarians in Quebec have reported receiving sick cats diagnosed with salmonella B. To protect their pets, people should keep their cats indoors because they can become infected with salmonella B when they kill and eat the sickened birds.