Lake of the Woods, Rainy River walleye limits may change
Jun 14, 2018 06:40AM ● By Editor
By John Myers from The Duluth News Tribune - June 12, 2018
The popular late winter and early spring walleye season on the Rainy River would become catch-and-release only, and the winter limit for sauger on Lake of the Woods would be reduced, under changes proposed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
The changes are part of a draft, long-term management plan the DNR unveiled this week that's out for public comment through July 11.
The DNR next week is expected to propose the reduced limits as part of an official rule change process that will include public meetings and signs at local boat landings.
The new management plan could be adopted later this year, but any change in state fishing rules likely wouldn't occur until 2019, said Phil Talmage, Lake of the Woods area fisheries supervisor for the DNR.
The goal of the proposed changes is to reduce the overall harvest of both walleye and sauger on the big border lake and the river that feeds into it. Harvest of both species has been well above target goals set by the DNR as safe for the long-term health of the fishery.
For more on this story, follow this link to the article on The Duluth News Tribune. http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/sports/outdoors/4459632-lake-woods-rainy-river-walleye-limits-may-c...
