U.S. fishing limits may be dramatically reduced

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will be holding public meetings across the state to discuss special regulations proposals for walleye, bass, northern pike, crappie, sunfish and trout on 54 lakes and the Rainy River
Of special interest to local anglers are Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River, where new regulations are being proposed to protect and improve walleye and sauger. If implemented anglers could see dramatic reductions in limits.
A meeting is scheduled for 7-9 p.m. Sept. 30 at Rainy River Community College, International Falls, to discuss to discuss proposals on walleye and sauger for the Rainy River in Koochiching and Lake of the Woods counties. A meeting is also scheduled for 7-9 p.m. Sept. 29 at Roseau High School, Roseau, to discuss the walleye/sauger proposal.
These new regulations are referred to as the fisheries “toolbox regulations.”
The toolbox includes the following regulation options:
*Walleye: 17-inch minimum size limit; three fish possession limit; or 17-26 inch protected slot limit.
*Bass: 12-inch maximum size limit; catch and release; or either option with a one over 20-inch possession limit.
* Northern Pike: 30-inch minimum size limit; 40-inch minimum size limit; or 24-36 inch protected slot limit.
* Crappie: 10-inch minimum size limit; five fish possession limit; or combination of both.
* Sunfish: five fish possession limit.
Lakes chosen for these toolbox regulations or for other types of regulations will be monitored over a 10- to 15-year period to evaluate the effectiveness of the regulations in improving fish populations. Currently, the DNR has special or experimental regulations in effect for walleye in 32 lakes, bass in 37 lakes, northern pike in 98 lakes, crappie in 14 lakes and sunfish in 20 lakes. Much has been learned from these and earlier attempts to improve fish populations with length and/or bag limits, according to the DNR.
There will also be an open house on Sept. 28, 7-9 p.m., at Lake of Woods School, Baudette; Lake/river in Koochiching, Lake of the Woods and Roseau counties is Lake of the Woods/Rainy River (walleye/sauger).