articles from February, 2002 newsletter:
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President's Message
Greetings and a happy and prosperous New Year 2002 to all. As I sit writing this in the middle of January it seems strange that we haven't had any Northern Minnesota winter yet. It has been so warm that many of the lakes are not even safe for snowmobiling, let alone driving on with vehicles, which is normal this time of year. Some lakes still have open water on them. I have recorded only two mornings with below zero readings this fall and winter. We have almost no snow and it is hurting businesses that are winteroriented. If we have more winters like this, all the "Snowbirds" will stop going south for the winter and it will be too crowded here for us to enjoy normal winters.
It looks like it will be another busy year for the Sportsmen's Club of Lake Vermilion. Your board had a meeting in January, which is a first, to get an early start on the business at hand. Again this year the Minnesota DNR has asked the club for help in furnishing them with a boat and motor for use in the creel census on Lake Vermilion as we have in the past. The creel census lasts for two summers and then the club will auction off the boat and motor to a member of the club.
For those who have not heard, there is a new Citizens Advisory Committee set up to draft a new Comprehensive Plan for Lake Vermilion. They will come up with revised zoning plans as well as other things that need to be addressed to preserve and protect the beauty and quality of the iake. The Sportsmen's Club has a member and some alternates on that committee to see that the club's goals and interests are maintained. Any interested person may come to the meetings and they will have opportunities to voice concerns they may have. There will be a public hearing held before the final draft is ready.
Still waiting for some snow and COLD weather so we hardy souls in the North can enjoy some winter activities.
Ray Harris, President
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'Loon' omission from electronic tax forms is bad news for nongame wildlife program
An error by the MN Department of Revenue on electronic tax forms may turn out to be costly for the DNR's Nongame Wildlife program. The Department ot Revenue, in deleting extraneous graphics from the Minnesota Individual Income Tax Return, also managed to delete the loon graphic that marked the donation line for nongame wildlife. This could turn out to be a substantial dip in donations for the state's nongame wildlife program, as more than one-third of Minnesota taxpayers file electronically.
For many years, a loon silhouette has appeared on Minnesota's state tax form next to the line where taxpayers could donate part of their refund or add to their tax payment an amount that would be given to the nongame wildlife fund. The "loon line" has annually generated $1 million for the fund - 80 percent of the state's entire budget for nongame wildlife programs. The money is mainly spent to protect and improve habitat for Minnesota's hundreds of nongame species -- such as loons, swans, eagles and songbirds -- species that do not share in the federal tax revenues from purchase of hunting and fishing equipment.
According to the Department of Revenue, those filing state income tax electronically will still find the donation line, sans loon, at line 29 on the second page of the tax form. The loon silhouette continues to appear at the donation line on printed versions of the Minnesota Individual Income Tax Return.
Paula Bloczynski
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THE LAKE VERMILION HATCHERY
Ask a fisherman about fisheries management in general, or fish hatcheries and stocking in particular, and you might hear something like this: Those #%&@*&% at the DNR have ruined the fishing by a) Taking too many walleye eggs out of the lake; b) Stocking muskies that are eating the walleyes; c) Not stocking enough walleyes." I'm as ready as anyone to look for excuses when I come home empty-handed, but now that I've spent some time learning what the DNR folks actually do at the Pike River Hatchery, l'll have to find a new scapegoat.
The concentration of walleyes spawning in the Pike River below the dam is one of the largest in Minnesota, so it's long been recognized as a source of walleyes for stocking. The state first harvested walleye eggs at this location in 1892; in 1909, they began stocking some of the resulting fry back in Lake Vermilion. At first the eggs were carried to other Minnesota hatcheries, but eventually a hatchery building was put up near the current location. The egg harvest and hatchery operation continued until 1946; for the next 25 years no eggs were harvested or walleyes stocked on Lake Vermilion.
The current hatchery was built in 1972. The work there hasn't changed much over the years; DNR personnel net female walleyes coming into the river to spawn and "milk" the eggs, then fertilize them and keep them in tanks to hatch into Ufry." The 108 million eggs taken by the DNR represents less than 5 percent of the egg production in Vermilion. Looked at another way, those eggs are produced by about 864 fivepound females (a female walleye lays about 25,000 eggs per pound of body weight). In the lake those 108 million eggs would produce about 2 million fry, but in the protected conditions of the hatchery, the DNR gets 81 million fry. Fifteen million of those are stocked back in Lake Vermilion, so the Vermilion walleye population actually gains from the hatchery operations. At the same time, more than 60 million fry go to other Minnesota lakes.
Memories of the good old days are full of perfect summers and great fishing. So I asked Duane Williams, the DNR's Large Lake Specialist for Vermilion, what happened to all those fish, especially the big ones. He told me that it's not the fish that changed, it's the people. The DNR has been estimating fish populations on Lake Vermilion for the last 33 years, based on netting conducted in the same locations at the same time each year. The walleye population hit low spots in 1971, '86 and '94, and peaks in 1975, '90 and 2000. Both the peaks and the valleys match up with variations in spawning success a few years earlier. When the late spring and early summer are cold, the walleye fry grow slowly and are less likely to survive to adulthood.
But if the fish population isn't changing, why was the fishing so much better 30 or 40 years ago? Duane's answer is that the same number of fish are being divided up among more fishermen. "Lake Vermilion's 'carrying capacity,' meaning the walleye population it can support, is determined by factors like available feed; which is limited by the short growing season and the relative infertility of the watershed. Those factors also cause walleyes to grow more slowly here than in other lakes. The walleye population bounces up and down, but it can't stay above the carrying capacity for very long. Right now it's above that capacity, so it's not surprising that the 2000 year class was below average. The population may decline over the next few years, but it shouldn't crash."
Although the DNR has estimated fishing hours for only 17 years, we all know that there are many more fishermen, equipped with much more advanced gear, chasing that constant population of walleyes. The walleye harvest on Lake Vermilion varies some, but over time it stays pretty close to 76,000 pounds per year. So if there were 1,000 fishermen on the lake 40 years ago, they could each take home 76 pounds of walleye in a year. But if there are 7,500 fishermen today (that's only two per cabin plus a couple thousand from resorts and day use), they can only average about 10 pounds of walleye in a year. And partly because of fishing pressure, the average size is probably smaller.
I asked Williams if lower limits would help restore the golden years. "Not really. The walleye population varies some, but in the long run it doesn't change much. We've set a harvest level that keeps the population relatively stable, and we only exceed it when the population is temporarily above the lake's carrying capacity. If we reduce the harvest, it won't change the lake's capacity, so what would happen is that fish that could have been caught would die of natural causes." What about slot limits? "We studied that a few years ago. To make a difference, a slot limit would have to be pretty extreme. Walleyes grow slowly in Vermilion, especially in the Tower end, so there aren't many really big walleyes here. To make much difference a slot limit would have to be painful."
Then the conversation turned to other species. The hatchery is dedicated to walleyes, but the DNR keeps tabs on all types of game fish. Muskies, which are native to many northern lakes and were observed in Lake Vermilion 100 years ago, may have migrated into the lake before the Vermilion River dam was built in 1890. The DNR began stocking muskies in 1968, using the Leech Lake strain of muskies since 1987.1 asked Williams about the concerr that muskies feed on walleyes; he said there's quite a bit of evidence that any impact is minimal. "Just look at the population chart. The walleye population has held steady during the same years the muskie populatior has grown substantially, and the walleye population is higher now than at any time since we began counting. The walleye population is limited by the characteristics of the lake, not by predation." More scientifically, Williams said, research in several states on muskie stomach contents shows few walleyes, because muskies prefer soft-finned prey.
What threats do concern Williams? First is water quality. Because of the rocky bottom and short summer, pollution from lawn chemicals, septic systems and other runoff will cause big problems if they reach levels that the lake can't handle. No one knows exactly where that point is, so every foot of shoreline that's changed from its natural state to lawn, every faulty septic system, and every new driveway or parking lot contributes to the potential problem. Williams' other concern is overharvest. Because walleyes grow slowly here, and cold summers can dramatically cut into natural reproduction, growing fishing pressure combined with bad weather could reduce the population to a level from which it would take years to recover.
Duane Williams spends a lot of his spare time just like the rest of us, fishing on Lake Vermilion. His combination of scientific training and thousands of hours on the lake give him a breadth of knowledge few can match. He's optimistic that as we learn more about the lake, we'll have the good sense to protect it.
Tom Morrow - Club Member
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YEAR 2001 WATER QUALITY REPORT
INTRODUCTION
The Sportsmen's Club of Lake Vermilion has a demonstrated, long-standing interest in maintaining water quality in the Lake Vermilion Basin. In 2001, The SCLV contracted the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa Water Quality Program for assistance in collection and analysis of total phosphorous and total nitrogen present in the basin. SCLV concerns regarding these water quality parameters is based on the fact that nitrogen and phosphorous are both macronutrients that aid in nuisance weed and algae growth. Also, nitrogen in particular is considered a possible non-point pollution threat to lake water quality and might be occurring as a result of changing land use around the lake.
METHODS
On dates May 23, July 17 and September 9, 2001, we collected water samples from several sites within the Lake Vermilion basin for testing of total Kjeldahl nitrogen and total phosphorous.
Sites where collections took place included Big Bay, East Bay, Hoodoo Bay, Wakemup Bay (two sites) and 36 Island Bay.
Samples were obtained using a Van Dorn water bottle sampler. Discreet water column samples were collected from a depth of between thirty-five and forty feet at each site. Samples were s~ored in nalgene sample containers and processed within appropriate time frames as defined in Standard Methods.
Total phosphorous was analyzed using lon Analyzer Method 365.4. Total Kjeldahl nitrogen was analyzed using ion analyzer method 351.1, as defined in Standard Methods.
RESULTS
Total phosphorous analyzed from all site locations showed little fluctuation throughout the sample collection period. Sample phosphorous levels were generally below instrument detection limits (0.01 mg/L). On one sample date (July 17), phosphorous levels in the East Bay sample exceeded detection limits, but measured level was insignificant in terms of water quality impact (0.11 mg/L).
Total nitrogen tests showed maximum nitrogen values in the May 23 samples, and generally decreased in later sampling. One exception to this trend was Hoodoo Bay. In Hoodoo Bay, nitrogen values increased steadily through the three sampling periods, reaching a maximum value of 1.0 mg/L in September.
DISCUSSION
Water quality sampling for nitrogen and phosphorous showed relatively stable, low levels of either nutrient present in the water column at the sampling depth used. Levels of nitrogen do not exceed those indicating substantial non-point source inputs to the system. Likewise, low phosphorous levels and higher, stable nitrogen levels do not indicate the occurrence or potential for nuisance algae growth. Generally, parameter values obtained indicate a relatively high level of water quality within the context of these two parameters.
Nitrogen increases in Hoodoo Bay may be the result of increased organic inputs as a result of land use changes, or may be naturally occurring. Maximum concentrations of nitrogen are typically found during winter months, owing to increased solubility of nitrogen at colder temperatures. Contrary to this we saw that, in other sampling locations, nitrogen levels continued to decrease or remained low through the September sample collection period.
Chris Holm, Bois Forte Lab
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LAKE VERMILION MUSKIES
When a person thinks of a Muskie, chances are he or she visualizes a huge toothy critter that swims wherever it wants and eats everything from muskrats to 2pound whitefish. The mystique that surrounds this fish has grown over the years and anyone fishing on Lake Vermilion has a very good chance of seeing a muskie or maybe even catching one.
Since being introduced in 1987 in Lake Vermilion, the muskies have done well with good numbers of fish being caught in all major lake basins. Stocking started this great fishery and now its up to fishermen and women to help keep it strong. Muskies are at the top of the food chain and are present in smaller numbers than other game fish. With more pressure on these fish everyone needs to practice catch and release" of muskies and for that matter all large fish of any species should be released. Larger fish are primarily female and the foundation of any good fishery. Trophy fish can be "photo released" with a graphite reproduction going on the wall instead of taking the fish out of the lake.
Anyone going out specifically to catch a muskie needs to carry some extra equipment. 1) A large hoop net or cradle type net. 2) Large needlenose pliers and 9" hookouts. 3) Hookcutters 4) Jaw spreaders 5) Measuring device (floating ruler). When landing a fish try to net the fish headfirst and keep the net in the water while unhooking the fish. Cut any hooks that are not easily removed. Lift the fish from the net for a quick photo and after the fish is back in the water measure with the floating ruler. With good pictures and measurements there are many taxidermists who can do a wonderful job with a reproduction mount of that oncein-a-lifetime monster.
Always try to minimize the time a fish is out of the water. When releasing fish, hold them upright in the water for several minutes to help them maintain their equilibrium. With warmer water temperatures or a more exhausted fish you need to spend a little more time to help the fish recover. Even after a fish swims away I usually stay in the area for awhile to make sure it doesn't resurface.
I have been guiding for walleyes on Lake Vermilion for close to 25 years and muskies since they were introduced and I've never met a fish I didn't like to catch. One myth I'd like to talk about is that "muskies are eating all the walleyes." That very simpLy is not true and there have been studies done that prove this. They do eat some walleyes,we have to expect that, but in all my time on the water the walleye fishing is as good or better now than it was before muskies were introduced in any numbers in 1987.
No matter how we enjoy Lake Vermilion, let's all respect other boaters, and remember to leave some for the future.
GOOD LUCK AND GOOD FISHING!
Doug Knoer, Vermilion Guide Service
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WHAT CAN AN INDIVIDUAL DO TO HELP PROTECT LAKE VERMIILION?
The future of Lake Vermilion and whether the water quality, fishery and wildlife can be sustained in the face of increasing human usage is a very hot topic these days. A considerable amount of very useful discussion is being conducted by various interest groups around the lake and at the much publicized Lake Vermilion Management Plan Citizen Steering Committee meetings which have been taking place over the winter. In those proceedings, concerned members of the lake community and government agencies are working together to develop a consensus on a set of recommendations which the St. Louis County Planning Board will eventually incorporate into updated planning and zoning regulations. Hopefully that effort will be successful and the resulting regulations will help to address these challenging issues.
Just as important as government regulations, however, are the attitudes and practices of those individuals who actually live on or use Lake Vermilion and its watershed. Many believe more government regulations will provide the solutions to present and future environmental problems. Ultimately the future of Lake Vermilion depends upon the actions of each individual. Regulations can either be accepted and implemented or rejected and circumvented. Each of us has the ability to either preserve and protect the lake, or to refuse to accept personal responsibility and therefore contribute to its gradual destruction. Assuming most people who love the lake are willing to accept this responsibility, the question becomes, "How do I begin and what things can I do which will have a positive impact?"
The first thing each of us can do is to adopt the attitude that we need to be good stewards of the lake and the land which surrounds it. Stewardship describes the desire of people to care for and live compatibly with the natural environment. It accepts the reality that people (development) and the environment must coexist. It is a practical approach to everyday life, whereby people consider the natural environment in their decision-making and at every opportunity make an effort to accommodate, enhance and protect the land. Stewardship invites a broad perspective. It asks a landowner to step back and view the natural areas of the property as an assembly of communities that take their strength from relationships. It considers the role of the property in the context of neighboring lands and the larger, regional landscape. It encourages an examination of the land in the manner one might look into an engine to try to understand how it works and to identify the elements and conditions necessary to sustain it. It acknowledges that those things which we can see, such as trees, plants, songbirds and deer, rely on things we cannot see and may not even know exist.
Once we adopt this attitude of stewardship, we can begin to make decisions and take actions which will directly benefit the lake. According to the 2000 Lake Assessment Program conducted by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the greatest threat to the health of Lake Vermilion is nutrient loading of the water. The main sources of excess nutrients are failing or improperly maintained septic systems and run-off from developed properties. St. Louis County Ordinance 55 requires that as of August 1, 2001, a property cannot be transferred unless the existing individual sewage treatment system (ISTS) either complies with regulations or is replaced. Over time, this ordinance will facilitate the upgrading of septic systems around the lake, but individual choices will remain vitally important to how effectively these systems continue to function. In designing any sewage treatment system, the main consideration is the volume of water which must be treated. The person interested in stewardship will seek out ways to reduce the volume of water he/she uses. This can be done without sacrificing convenience. Technology is now offering us a new generation of appliances which use much less water and energy than their older counterparts. Washing machines and dishwashers typically account for a large percentage of the water volume produced by a household. Some new high-tech washing machines and dishwashers use only 1/2 to 1/ 3 as much water as conventional types. The choice of such appliances could have a substantial and positive impact on the efficiency of a sewage treatment system and therefore, water quality of the lake. The November issue of this newsletter contained a list of other Best Management Practices which you can follow to keep your septic system in good working order and protect the lake.
Run-off from developed lake lots is also a significant source of excess nutrients. Lawns which extend to the water's edge, especially those which are fertilized, are the worst offenders. Even if such lawns are not fertilized, decomposing grass clippings will release large amounts of nitrogen-rich compounds which are damaging to water quality. The landowner interested in stewardship, when developing a lot, will choose to preserve a buffer zone of natural trees and vegetation between their lawn and the lake shore and minimize the removal of aquatic vegetation. The vegetation growing in this "filter strip" will utilize these nutrients and prevent their introduction into the lake. If the property already has a lawn extending to the lake shore, the choice can be made to reestablish a buffer zone by planting native species of plants, shrubs and trees. The University of Minnesota Extension Service offers advice and informational materials on shoreland revegetation. New board member Walt Moe and his wife have volunteered to cooperate with that agency on a demonstration project of this type on their Lake Vermilion property beginning this summer. Leading by example is a powerful way to promote the message of stewardship. The Sportsmen's Club will follow the progress of this project with great interest and report on it in upcoming issues of The Vermilion Sportsman.
Other people who use Lake Vermilion and are interested in stewardship can also make choices which will positively impact the lake. Boating is certainly one of the most enjoyable aspects of living on or visiting Lake Vermilion and the amount of boating activity is increasing. A certain amount of air and water pollution will be generated by any power boat, but wise choices can help minimize it. Older, two-cycle outboard motors spew out large amounts of unburned gasoline and oil and therefore, introduce toxic chemicals into the water. These chemicals can enter the food chain and end up in fish, loons or humans who draw drinking water from the lake. The choice can be made to replace that old outboard with a new high-tech, fourcycle model. Not only do they produce very little pollution, but are also extremely quiet and fuel efficient. A further positive step would be to disassemble and dispose of the old outboard so it cannot be used again.
These are but a few of the many ways the individual can choose to help protect the health and spectacular beauty of Lake Vermilion. In upcoming issues of The Vermilion Sportsman, other suggestions will be discussed in detail and we will report on individuals who are leading the effort to promote stewardship. We encourage our members to contact us with ideas or related stories.
Dale Lundblad - Vice President.
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Cost-share grant opportunities for erosion and sediment control practices
Once again, the North St. Louis SWCD (Soil and Water Conservation District) has received cost-share funds for erosion and sediment control practices. Eligible practices may include lakeshore and streambank stabilization, riparian buffer strips, stream channel stabilization, critical area plantings, etc. The cost-share funds are used to provide technical and financial assistance to landowners to install conservation practices to protect and improve soil and water resources. The SWCD provides up to 75 percent of the project cost to install an approved practice.
Technical (survey and design) assistance is available, even if your project is not approved for funding by the five elected North St. Louis SWCD Board Members.
Applications are accepted year-round and are prioritized based on the estimated natural resource protection provided upon installation of the cost-share practice. Funds are limited, however, we encourage interested landowners to contact the SWCD office at 218-741-3230 for more details.
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Time to order trees for spring planting
The North St. Louis County SWCD (Soil & Water Conservation District) is now taking tree orders for spring planting. The deadline for ordering is Friday, April 12, and trees will be available for pickup on May 9 and 10. Tree buyers are notified by mail the end of April, of tree pickup location and time.
The selection of trees includes 18-24 inch bare root deciduous and 12-18 inch bare root conifers. A variety of deciduous shrubs, small trees and large trees is available plus large conifers. These trees and shrubs are sold in bundles of 25 for $25. An interesting songbird package is also for sale and includes 5 each of Mountain Ash, Nannyberry, American Plum and Hackberry. The package of 20 sells for $25. MN Sales Tax of 6.5% is also charged on all orders.
Order forms are available at the SWCD office in the US Bank Building in Virginia, MN at 230 1st Street South, Suite 104. Phone 218-741-3230. And, if you place your order in person before March 29, you receive a free travel mug or cookbook. Can't beat that!
(I bought Colorado Blue Spruce and White Cedar through this program last spring. The stock was very healthy and the trees did well. The deer munched on the white cedar this winter, so I may order just spruce this year.)
Paula Bloozynski
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Web Sites
The web sites listed here may be of assistance in researching environmental / natural resource related information:
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ENJOY OUR WATERWAYS / DON'T LITTER
Ice fishing has an allure all its own. Some say it's peaceful. Some say it's relaxing. Some say it's invigorating. Most say it's crazy. But there is nothing like walking on a frozen lake, carving a hole and pulling up elusive fish from the mysterious depths below.
When word got out a few years ago about a good crappie catch on Lake Marion near Perham, ice anglers descended on the west-central Minnesota community jigs in hand. Initially, the lake association welcomed them, but when the pristine environment became littered with bottles, cans, cigarette butts, etc. they took matters into their own hands. They began policing up the problem by placing printed litter clean up notices on fish houses. The initiative seemed to work and residents have noticed the problem of litter left on ice has subsided in recent years. But fish house litter is an age-old problem.
"You have the 5% or so who don't care much about the effects of their activities on the resource or other people," said Gary Bergum, a member of the Marion Lake Association. That's why many lake associations have members willing to volunteer their time to leave notices on those fish shelters that have trash scattered around them. We feel if they know we're watching they may be more likely to clean up their mess."
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conservation officers say the biggest problem is identifying the perpetrators.
"Lakes are normally ringed by fish houses this time of year so that's a factor conservation officers have to deal with when trying to identify whose leaving trash on a lake," said Lt. Norm Floden, DNR Enforcement District Supervisor in Bemidji. "Another factor is wind, which can blow trash far and wide, making it difficult to prove where the trash came from. Still, another factor is staffing. We just don't have the number of conservation officers to thoroughly enforce litter laws.
Litter is a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $1000. Conservation officers also have Solid Waste Civil Citation authority which is a "by the pound" or "by the cubic foot" penalty. "It can be fairly effective and since it is civil rather than criminal it doesn't require 'proof beyond a reasonable doubt,' but rasher 'more likely than not' that the party committed the violation," Floden said. "I've used it for abandoned fish house floors and other debris left on the ice. They pay the penalty and still have to clean up the mess."
Conservation officers on Lake Mille Lacs utilize a blaze orange "notice" door tag with a label pasted on the back that essentially asks people to take their litter and blocking materials with them. Officers place the tag on fish houses, especially those that have litter around them. The tag also mentions the statute and potential penalty for violating the law.
"Officers will be documenting houses that have litter around them or look like they may be abandoned," said Lt. Rita Frenzel, Lake Mille Lacs District Supervisor. "Given the size of Mille Lacs and the number of houses this may be somewhat hit and miss, but we will be diligent in pursuing litter cases." She noted officers will also be talking t~ resort owners about removing blocking material and remnants of ice bridges discarded on lakes.
The Department of Natural Resources has the follow ing tips to keep our waterways clean:
- Set an example for others, especially children, by
not littering.
- Properly dispose of tangled fishing line to prevent wildlife from becoming trapped and injured.
- It is unlawful to dispose of ice fishing shacks anywhere in the state.
- Litter is a costly problem that we all end up paying for to keep our roadways, parks, and waterways clean. The act of littering not only hurts our pocket books, but it also causes harm to our environment in many ways.
- Keep a litter bag or trash container in your fish
house, dark house, or shelter to discard of materials.
- Secure trash container covers to prevent wind or animals from spreading litter.
- Cover and secure any vehicle, truck, or trailer carrying refuse.
- When visiting any recreation areas make sure to leave the area clean for the next person to enjoy.
*** Contact the Minnesota State Patrol or a DNR Regional or Area Office for the name and phone number of a Conservation Officer in your area.
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St. Louis Co. Secchi Transparency
There were 21 lakes in St. Louis County that met the minimum data requirements for trend analysis. Of these, five exhibited significant improvements in transparency, 13 exhibited no change in transparency, and there were three lakes with a significant decline in transparency over time. The St. Louis County lakes had data sets spanning eight to 22 years.
Lakes with Improving Trends in Transparency:
(Lake Name/Nearest City/# Years Monitored):
Caribou/Duluth/12;
Eagles Nest #1/ Robinson/11;
Maple Leaf/Meadowlands/11;
Shagawa/Ely/22; Vermilion/ Tower/22;
Lakes with No Trends in Transparency:
(Lake Name/Nearest City/# Years Monitored):
Burntside/ Ely/16;
Eagles Nest #4/Soudan/9;
Ely/Gilbert/9;
Island Reservoir.(W. Basin)/Duluth/11;
Little Sand/ Brittmount/8;
Long/Eveleth/13;
Pike/Duluth/9;
Prairie/ Floodwood/10;
Schubert/Whiteface/10;
Schultz/ Duluth/8;
Side (Bowman)/Taft/13;
Sturgeon (Main Basin)/Side Lake/9;
Whiteface Reservoir/ Makinen/ 11;
Lakes with Negative Trends in Transparency:
(Lake Name/Nearest City/# Years Monitored):
Briar/ Duluth/16;
Eagles Nest #3/Robinson/11;
Majestic/Mt. Iron/1 3.
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Portable shelters require identification
Minnesota Conservation Officers want to remind ice anglers that all ice fishing shelters, including portable shelters must have the complete name and complete address or driver's license number of the owner plainly and legibly displayed on the outside in letters and figures at least 3 inches in height.
"We seem to be running into more folks fishing from portable shelters that are not marked with name/ address or the driver's license option," said Lt. Ken Soring, DNR Enforcement District Supervisor in Grand Rapids. "lt's a concern I'm hearing from conservation officers across the state."
Dark houses, fish houses, and portable shelters placed on the ice for shelter while fishing must be licensed, except that a license is not required on border waters with Wisconsin, lowa, and South Dakota. A durable tag, furnished with the license, must be attached to the exterior side of the door not more than 6 inches below the top of the door. On structures with openings other than doors, the tag must be attached to the material to the right of the opening when facing the structure, no more than 6 inches below the top of the opening.
Portable dark houses, fish houses, and shelters may be used for fishing within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA), but must be removed from the ice each night. The structure must be removed from the BWCA each time the occupant leaves the BWCA.
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