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Posts: 656
Location: Forest Lake, Mn. | There is an updated draft management plan for northern Minnesota’s Lake Vermilion, and the Department of Natural Resources is seeking input on it beginning Monday, July 17.
The new six-year plan (2017-2022) retains the walleye regulation implemented in May 2017 and is more specific than the previous plan about management goals and activities for individual fish species including walleye, muskellunge, northern pike, smallmouth and largemouth bass and panfish.
Other changes include new stocking guidelines for walleye and muskie, evaluation of the northern pike regulation, and adjustments to fish survey methods and the timing of sampling.
The plan was developed in partnership with the Lake Vermilion Fisheries Input Group comprised of a diverse group of stakeholders representing local, statewide and tribal perspectives. The 20-member group held eight meetings over eight months in 2016.
“Lake Vermilion is a special place to area residents and visitors alike, and that was reflected in the time commitment and hard work of our fisheries input group,” said Edie Evarts, Tower area fisheries supervisor. “The public comment period is the last step in finalizing this plan and we appreciate everyone who has contributed their time and input to the management plan for this popular, multi-species fishery.”
An executive summary and full management plan are available at the Lake Vermilion webpage of the DNR website at
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakevermilion/management.html
Full management plan proposal at this link.
http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/fisheries/largelakes/vermilion/vermili...
The public is encouraged to comment by responding to the web questionnaire, or by emailing written comments directly to Edie Evarts, Tower area fisheries supervisor at [email protected].
The 30-day public comment period is open through Wednesday, Aug. 16. Comments will be reviewed in August and September, and a final plan completed in October.
Edited by fishpoop 7/18/2017 5:34 PM
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Posts: 656
Location: Forest Lake, Mn. | DNR Survey Questionnaire can be found at this link.
Fish Species Questionnaire:
http://survey.mn.gov/s.asp?k=150004571168
Aquatic Habitat and Water Quality Questionnaire:
http://survey.mn.gov/s.asp?k=150004579429
Fishing Tournaments Questionnaire:
http://survey.mn.gov/s.asp?k=150004587181
Potential Research and Project Ideas Questionnaire:
http://survey.mn.gov/s.asp?k=150004572971
Edited by fishpoop 7/18/2017 5:40 PM
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Posts: 656
Location: Forest Lake, Mn. | Muskellunge fingerling stocking Page 47 Of the PDF
• Stock 4,000 Leech Lake strain fingerlings in odd-numbered years as base quota.
• Stock up to 4,000 additional fish per 2-year period when available.
• Manage stocking priority as a “Premier” lake as defined by the DNR Muskellunge
Technical Committee.
• Investigate feasibility of implanting Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags into
fingerling muskellunge stocked into Lake Vermilion.
• Consider outside partnerships (funding) to support surplus muskie stocking in Vermilion
using private sources if the fingerlings meet DNR standards and protocols.
Vermilion recently has been categorized as a “Premier” lake on the Fisheries stocking priority
list which should result in more consistently meeting the base quota which has been less
regularly achieved in recent years. Muskie are stocked proportionally at numerous locations
around the lake based on percentage of littoral area. The largest data gaps involve an
understanding of the contribution of stocked fish to the fishery and assessing the amount of
natural reproduction that occurs within the population.
Goal Page 35 of the PDF
Support a Muskellunge population that provides opportunity to catch trophy fish (50 inches or
larger).
Objective
No numerical objectives were set for muskellunge.
Muskies provide an important sport fishery on Lake Vermilion. The muskie population present
was established with intensive stocking efforts intended to provide a low density and high quality
fishery. Leech Lake strain muskie fingerlings were stocked annually from 1987-1994 to establish
the population and this was followed by less intensive stocking to supplement the natural
reproduction that was assumed to be occurring (Appendix B).
Data on the muskellunge population has been collected through creel surveys and spring trap net
assessments. Catch rates by anglers targeting muskies were initially very high when they were
first recorded ten years after the initial stocking (Appendix B). Muskies were relatively lightly
pressured at this time and average size was smaller in the developing population. After those
early years, muskellunge targeting catch rates have remained in the 0.010 to 0.024 range across
six creel surveys. Anglers targeting muskies have gone from less than 5% of all anglers in the
1996 and 1997 creel suveys to about 15% in the most recent surveys.
Muskellunge Page 59
Some members expressed interest in higher stocking levels; one suggestion for 0.5 muskie
fingerlings per littoral acre every other year (7,500 fingerlings). Some members indicate hearing
from others in their community who would like to see fewer muskie in Vermilion.
NOTICE THAT LAST SENTENCE!! Some want less stocking. Make your voice heard by filling out the surveys
Edited by fishpoop 7/18/2017 10:35 PM
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Posts: 304
Location: Lino Lakes, MN | Thanks Fishpoop!
Good reading in this report.
Please give your input on this lake management plan- especially if you are a MN resident. They are looking at all species in general with this plan but the 2 key ones are Walleye's and Muskellunge.
Thanks
Steve |
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Posts: 656
Location: Forest Lake, Mn. | Sorgy - 7/19/2017 6:57 AM
Thanks Fishpoop!
Good reading in this report.
Please give your input on this lake management plan- especially if you are a MN resident. They are looking at all species in general with this plan but the 2 key ones are Walleye's and Muskellunge.
Thanks
Steve
Thanks, Steve, for your reply.
I've filled out 2 of the survey questionnaires already but not the most important one yet as I'm trying to figure out what I want to say and how to say it for the most positive impact for muskies.
Reading through the PDF file of the proposed management plan is a bit of a tough read in trying to understand the fisheries terminology used but it's vitally important that we do so.
We here on Muskie First all ooh and ahh over every beast caught in Lake Vermilion and dream that we'll be the next one so blessed. We debate lures, moon phases, locations, time of day, patterns, seasons, water temps, and on and on. But all that is for naught if the beasts aren't there. Here is our best chance to make sure that the beasts continue to be there for us to chase and dream about.
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!!
Edited by fishpoop 7/20/2017 6:24 AM
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