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From the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - February 1, 2024

The MN DNR and other stakeholders recently released a legislative report which has recommendations on Minnesota’s bait supply, specifically regarding Minnesota-grown bait.

The following are some excerpts and recommendations from the report, which you can read in full on the Minnesota DNR website.

To prepare the report, the Minnesota DNR engaged with affected parties, drew on past reports and considered recommendations from members of the bait industry for increasing and stabilizing bait supply. This report builds off ongoing collaboration between members of the bait industry and DNR. Although no one action can fully resolve the concerns surrounding Minnesota-sourced bait supplies, we believe that the recommendations listed in this report have the greatest potential to improve bait availability.

Minnesota bait is mostly wild caught and bait supplies vary annually. Historic causes of supply variability include winterkill, drought, floods and access to minnow production areas. These factors have been exacerbated by land-use practices and bait harvest restrictions aimed at preventing spread of fish disease and invasive species. Increasing bait demand, especially due to an increase in winter angling, has caused some seasonal bait shortages. 

The DNR supports the private bait industry so that a Minnesota-grown bait supply can be secured to meet angler demands. The DNR held three meetings with bait producers, harvesters, and retailers, and other fishing interest groups. Discussions resulted in the recommendations to improve bait supply including some that would require changes in rule and/or permitting procedure by the DNR. Such as: Explore the use of artificial ponds and other rearing techniques to supplement wild harvest, VHS free zones, consider expanding minnow harvest gear, increase communication between DNR and minnow dealers, etc. The DNR believes that the recommendations listed in the report have the greatest potential to improve bait availability.

Recommendations:

• Explore opportunities to utilize artificial ponds and other minnow rearing techniques to supplement wild harvest.
• Continue watershed-based VHS testing to maintain VHS-free zones to facilitate minnow harvest.
• Increase availability of white sucker eggs to licensed producers.
• Maximize minnow harvest while maintaining minimal zebra mussel transfer risk.
• Facilitate minnow-harvest access to areas that may have been previously restricted or underutilized, such as trout waters, wildlife management areas, or other units of the Outdoor Recreation Act.
• Remove non-target species from minnow ponds.
• Consider expanding the types of gear or gear configurations to increase harvest efficiency and harvest in waters where current gear is ineffective.
• Establish and maintain regular communication between DNR and minnow harvesters and dealers.
• Research factors related to leech harvest decline.

For questions, contact Sean Sisler ([email protected]; 651-259-5213) or Neil Vanderbosch ([email protected]).