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North and south of Lida (near Pelican Rapids) and Big Pine (near Perham) will have sunfish limits reduced to 10 as part of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ Quality Bluegill Initiative. They are part of approximately 50 lakes around the state that may have lower bag limits that would go into effect in March 2022.
Under the proposal, sunfish daily bag limits would be reduced from the statewide limit of 20 sunfish to five sunfish on some lakes and 10 sunfish on others. Some lakes also have similar proposals for lower daily bag limits for crappie.
Anglers are encouraged to comment via an online survey which will be open until October 31.
Other lakes in Otter Tail and Becker counties that may have their boundaries reduced under the proposal include Crystal, Island, Turtle and Venstrom, which is adjacent to South Lida. All would have daily limits reduced from 20 to 10.
The 50 lakes are in addition to nearly 100 that were included in the first phase of the Bluegill Quality Initiative, which went into effect in March 2021. Many of these lakes have seen their sunfish limit reduced to five, in order to increase the quality of fishing.
The reduction of the crappie limits to 10 is aimed at maintaining a quality fishery.
MNR began working on the QBI several years ago, with the goal of improving the quality of the crappie fishery in lakes capable of producing larger fish. Anglers, lake association members, resort owners and others have told MNR they are prepared to sacrifice large numbers of fish for better quality fish. MNR biologists have therefore identified lakes that have the biological capacity to grow larger moonfish and have targeted these lakes.
Biologists say there has been a noticeable change in attitudes in recent years. Where lake property owners and vacationers once opposed lower bag limits, they are now supporting them for better quality angling.
In a press release, the DNR also said that anglers “expressed concern about the added strain on fishing due to electronic fish finders and other technological advancements, including rapid communication on fishing grounds. social networks between fishermen when the fish bites “.
“These new regulations would continue to address the concerns of anglers about the declining size of some of our state’s most prized and frequently caught fish,” said the Grand Rapids Area Fishery Supervisor, Dave Weitzel, in the press release. “We aim to protect and improve the size of sunfish on certain lakes with the biological potential to produce large sunfish. “
You can post a comment online by visiting the MNR website.
Here is the full list of lakes in the northwestern part of Minnesota proposed for reduced limits for Pumpkinseed in 2022. The statewide list can be found on the DNR website:
OTTER TAIL COUNTY
- Large Pine
- Crystal
- Lida (North and South)
- Middle
- Venstrom
BECKER COUNTY
DOUGLAS COUNTY
- André
- Blackwell
- Mill
- Red rock
- Reno
- Round
- Vermont
HUBBARD COUNTY
POPE COUNTY
- Amelie
- Leven
- Minnesota
- Reno
- Villard
CASS COUNTY
- Beuber
- Boy
- Curve
- Isle
- Lower trelipe
- Beef yoke
- Sanborn
- Sugar
- Upper trelipe
- Vermilion
POLK COUNTY
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