These management plans serve as the framework for how individual bodies of water are maintained. “These plans establish fisheries management goals and objectives for each lake and define the work fisheries biologists do each year,” stated Ryan Maki, fisheries management consultant, in a DNR press release.

For 2026, the DNR has identified 15 specific lakes within Cook County and six in Lake County that are scheduled for management plan updates.

Cook County lakes: 

• Bingshick
• Cascade
• Devil Track
• Fay
• Greenwood
• Gull
• Pike
• West Pike
• Red Rock
• Little Saganaga
• Sea Gull
• Thompson
• Tom
• Two Island
• Unnamed (Noname)

Lake County lakes:

• Crooked Lake
• Hare Lake
• Hog Lake
• Little Wilson Lake
• Ninemile Lake
• Wye Lake

Local fisheries teams use these updates to determine biological priorities and set measurable goals for fish populations. According to the MN DNR, input from stakeholders, including individual anglers, lake associations, and conservation organizations, is "essential to the planning effort."

The DNR provides a list of questions to consider that helps provide the most helpful feedback. These questions focus on personal observations and desired fishing experiences. According to the MN DNR, contributors should consider the species of fish most important to them and whether they prefer catching a higher volume of fish or a smaller number of large fish.

To provide input on the 2026 management plans for the Cook County lakes listed above, the DNR requests interested parties contact the Grand Marais area fisheries office for Cook County lakes via phone (218-387-6022) or email ([email protected]), and the Finland area fisheries office for Lake County lakes via phone (218-353-8855) or email ([email protected]) before March 31.

Editor's note: This article has been updated to include the request for feedback for six lakes in Lake County.