DNR Fisheries hears from anglers during public meeting

OCTOBER 25, 2016 — Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fisheries personnel solicited comments from the public on several proposed Lake Vermilion walleye fishing regulation changes Tuesday evening. Nearly 20 people attended the event held at the Tower Civic Center.

Matt Hennen, the DNR’s Large Lake Specialist for Lake Vermilion, provided the bulk of information to interested anglers. He showcased data from creel surveys, gill nest testing, and other data collections from the last several years. The data shows an increase in the size of walleyes lake-wide and said, “we are seeing more 17 inch–plus fish on West Lake Vermilion,” The data from the east end of Lake Vermilion remains stable, although does not reflect any large size gains as experienced on the West end.

Chris Kavanaugh, Regional Fisheries Manager, Grand Rapids and Tower Fisheries Supervisor Edie Evarts were also on hand to answer questions.

Fisheries previously established a twenty person board comprised of stakeholders across Lake Vermilion, including people representing the Vermilion Guides League, The Lake Vermilion Association (Sportsman’s Club of Lake Vermilion), the resort association, area academia and local people as at-large members. This group has been working on updating the overall Lake Vermilion fisheries plan as well as looking at walleye fishing specifically, the subject of this informational meeting. It is expected that a December public information session will be held in Tower to discuss the overall fisheries plan, according to Kavanaugh.

“We are not trying to fix a problem,” Evarts emphasized. Because of the strong data “This is an opportunity to allow more harvest,” Evarts said. The regulation options would continue the four-fish bag limit while allowing increased harvest by changing the size ranges of fish anglers could keep. Under current regulations, anglers must release all walleye from 18-to 26-inches long, and are allowed to keep one walleye longer than 26 inches.

The DNR is considering one of several specific changes to the current regulations. The proposals include:

• Keeping the daily bag limit at four walleyes

• Release of walleye 18-to 22-inches long, or

• Release of walleye 20-to 26-inches long, or

• Allow anglers to keep one walleye longer than 18 inches out of four allowed.

Lake Vermilion, covering nearly 40,000 acres with over 340 miles of shoreline in northeastern Minnesota, has east and west basins that are substantially different. West end walleye grow faster and this has resulted in a larger proportion growing into the protected size range where they are no longer available for harvest.

The DNR has determined that the annual safe harvest level for boat anglers May through September is 65,000 pounds of walleye. In 2014 and 2015 based on angler creel surveys, harvest was at or below 45,000 pounds, indicating that the regulation could be adjusted to allow more harvest.

In recent DNR surveys of walleye populations, walleye have been showing up in numbers above historic averages.

“We created the larger fish through the slot limits. Now we can allow some to be harvested. it’s a great opportunity, Kavanaugh said.

Every who commented on the potential changes spoke favorably about the proposals.

Commenters agreed that the most commonly caught walleyes measured in at 24 inches. Because fish in the 24 inch size are currently protected in the 18 to 26 inch slot anglers have been largely disappointed with Lake Vermilion fishing. The proposed changes which could allow people to keep a fish in this size range will improve perception of Lake Vermilion walleye fishing. One resort owner said that his customers would be happy with the proposed changes as it would provided an opportunity to keep some fish of the most common size. “The ability to keep one larger fish is an immediate fix, for now” John Babiracki, Head O’ Lakes Resort, said.

Bob Benson, Lake Vermilion Fisheries Committee added, “One of the things we have discussed is stocking fingerlings on the west end of Lake Vermilion. I hope people will support this. Current proposals do not included a fingerling stocking program however. Benson said he believed that stocking fingerlings on the west end might improve the numbers of fish there. Currently fish grow larger faster on the west end, but the number of fish on the East end remains greater.

Following Tuesdays meeting, the public comment period will extend for 10 more days, closing on Friday, Nov. 4. Questions or comments may be directed to the Tower area fisheries office, 650 Highway 169, Tower, MN 55790, by calling 218-753-2580, or email to edie.evarts*AT*state.mn.us.