DNR Public Meeting – Smallies

The following is a notice of an important meeting for those interested in promoting the smallmouth bass fishery in SE MN. Currently only 2 river miles are under catch and release regulations in SE MN out of – well those of you who fish smallies down here know how many miles of smallie water there are. We have the potential, by attending this and follow up meetings, to vastly improve the smallie fishery by supporting increased catch and release regulations for smallmouth. Read on:

The DNR Division of Fisheries has scheduled public meetings to gather input on smallmouth bass regulations on the Zumbro River. The proposed regulation change would expand the current 2 mile catch and release regulation area to include an additional 10 mile stretch of the Zumbro River, from the Wabasha County Road 7 bridge, downstream to Zumbro Falls.

The DNR will host the first public meeting at 7 p.m. on Nov. 14 at the Ponderosa Supper Club in Mazeppa. DNR staff will present a brief overview of fisheries data and public comment from previous meetings. An open, facilitated discussion on the regulation proposal will follow.

Representatives from the DNR will also be available to take comments from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 27 at the DNR Fisheries central office located at 500 Lafayette Road in St. Paul. Persons interested in commenting on this regulation will be provided with an overview of fisheries data and public comment from previous meetings.

Written comments may also be submitted by Nov. 30 to the Lake City DNR Fisheries Office at 1801 South Oak Street, Lake City, MN 55041, or e-mail to [email protected].

Big Lew

Fish On!

I went to the meeting last night, and it sounds like there is very little opposition to this proposal so it should happen. The statistics from the creel surveys they did in 1999 make it look like there are very few smallmouth kept already. I had to leave the meeting early. Did anyone hear anything they thought was interesting? From my experience, the fishing on the zumbro has declined significantly over the last few years, including the current catch & release section. Anyone else have that same feeling? Hopefully the larger catch & release section will increase the numbers during the poor years and help the river recover quicker.

Also, they said they are willing to take comments on smallmouth management (slots, min sizes, catch & release, etc) on other waters as well. Write or e-mail them with your suggestions.

Thanks Markp!

I e-mailed Kevin Staufer about a month ago with no response!Hmmmmm. I had inquired about management programs for the Root River smallmouth, no response!

Thanks for the update!!! Sounds good for them Zumbro bruisers!!!

Jim W

The root river is managed by the Lanesboro office and not the Lake City office where Kevin Stauffer works. He said last night that he would forward any suggestions on the root river on to them. Maybe in the transfer they lost who the suggestion was from and that’s why you haven’t heard anything. Another possibility is that they are collecting all the responses and will forward them on after the collection period is over. I will give them the benefit of the doubt for now!!!

Ahhhhhhhhhh! tHANKYOU!!

mark p, I too was at last nights meeting and agree with your analysis. I do not have extensive experience on that stretch of the Zumbro, but I have also heard people remark on the lack of quality smallies in the Zumbro. One theory not discussed last night, but mentioned by others to me is the current existance of muskies in the waters. I have serious doubts about the muskie are eating the smallies, but maybe the smallies be leaving to find less competion for forage? Fish On!

Big Lew

Fish On!

it seems unlikely that musky and smallmouth compete for forage…. smallmouth ARE forage for Musky….. as is anything else small enough to attack and swallow…. however… they DO have their preferences…. and they prefer non spiny finned fish if they can get them…. and there should be a good supply of suckers and carp I would think……

I would imagine it to be either habitat or angler predation….. (and Im not familiar with the keep rules on the Zumbro… maybe thats not an issue?)

Just a note on a local fishery… It used to be an increadable fishery until 93 when it flooded enough to populate the water with pike. I am not sure where they came from but they thrived in this ecosystem. The fishing has dramatically declined however if you are a pike kind’a guy you happy. I am not sure if the pike feed on the smallies or if they consume far more than the smallies but my guess is that the smallies are now bait.

jc