Winter Trout Fishing Angler Survey

Last winter, I took part in the DNR’s winter angler survey and last week received the results of it in the mail.

To make a long story short, angler usage during the winter season is on the rise, especially compounded by an above average winter in terms of temperature and below average winter in terms of snowfall. Without a doubt, the Hayfield and Whitewater areas, which had the highest angler pressure, will be give a repreive, per say, with the expansion of many stream beginning March 1, 2003. Perhaps Hay Creek will still see that high angler pressure due to its close proximity to the Metro area.

This brings me to an error that is in the winter angler survey mailings, that is, if you received one. The mailing lists the streams that are open as of March 1, however, the problem lies in that there are several streams that would lead an angler to believe that they will open on January 1 instead of March 1. The streams that read this way in the Winona/Olmsted Co. areas in the mailing are: Garvin Brook, Trout Run Creek (WW State Park), Trout Valley Creek, Main Branch WW, Middle Branch WW, and North Branch WW.

Streams in Goodhue area that also read as if they are open as of January 1 instead of March 1 is Hay Creek. Granted, a portion of Hay Creek is open as of January 1, but the expanded zones, as is the case with the Whitewater streams, are not open until March 1, 2003.

I hope this makes sense to those reading this post.

so your saying that those streams are NOT open for the winter season?

weren’t they going to open a whole bunch of other streams on january 1st this year? do you know which ones those are?

The streams listed above will be open, but not on January 1 as the DNR mailing listed. Those streams and a whole bunch of others will be open as of March 1. I can post the streams later.

Streams that will be open for the winter angling season beginning March 1, 2003

Coolridge Creek (Winona County): Beginning at the mouth and continuing upstream for .13 miles.

Ferguson Creek (Winona County): Beginning at the mouth and continuing to the source – 1.25 miles.

Garvin Brook (Winona County): Beginning at the Arches (Farmer’s Park) and continuing downstream to the posted point at the end of the state forest land -1.0 miles.

Hemmingway Creek (Winona County): Beginning at the mouth and continuing upstream to the end of the state land – .83 miles.

West Branch Money Creek (Winona County): Beginning approximately .25 miles above county road 19 (.67miles above the mouth in southeast corner of section 8) continuing to the source of the stream in section 6 – 3.14 miles.

Pine Creek (Winona County): Beginning at the mouth and continuing upstream until .10 miles above Hemmingway Creek – 5.6 miles.

Rush Creek (Winona County): Beginning at county road 25 bridge and continuing upstream to the northern boundary of section 10 – 6.2 miles.

Trout Run Creek (Winona County): Beginning at the mouth and continuing upstream to the State Park property – 1.0 miles.

Main Branch Whitewater (Winona County): Beginning at the Wabasha-Winona county line and continuing upstream to the confluence of the Middle and North Branches of the Whitewater River – 11.9 miles.

Middle Branch Whitewater (Winona/Olmsted Counties): Beginning at the mouth upstream to the Olmsted county road 9 bridge crossing – 11.2 miles.

North Branch Whitewater (Winona/Olmsted Counties): Beginning at the mouth upstream to the confluence of Logan Creek – 7.7 miles.

Diamond Creek (Fillmore County): Beginning at Bridge 3 township road continuing upstream to the source of both branches – 5.6 miles.

Gribben Creek (Fillmore County): Beginning at highway 16 bridge and continuing upstream to the source – 3.8 miles.

North Branch Creek (Fillmore County): Entire stream – 2.59 miles.

South Fork Root River (Fillmore County): Beginning a the junction of Nepstad Creek and continuing upstream until the upper end of the wildlife management area – 7.6 miles.

Torkelson Creek (Fillmore County): Beginning at the mouth and continuing upstream to the source – 2.1 miles.

Wisel Creek (Fillmore County): Beginning at county road 18 bridge and continuing downstream to the junction with the South Fork of the Root River – 4.0 miles.

Hay Creek (Goodhue County): Beginning at the 325nd street bridge and continuing downstream to the posted end point at the boundary of the State Forest land in Section 12 – 7.6 miles.

West Beaver Creek (Houston County): Beginning at the mouth and continuing upstream to the posted boundary – 1.9 miles.

Bee Creek (Houston County): Beginning at the Minnesota state line and continuing upstream, until a driveway crossing in section 29 – 1.6 miles.

Crooked Creek (Houston County): Beginning at township road bridge in southeast corner of section 36 continuing upstream until the source – 6.4 miles.

South Fork Crooked Creek (Houston County): Beginning at the mouth and continuing upstream through first land parcel – 1.43 miles.

Daley Creek (Houston County): Beginning at highway 16 and continuing upstream until a driveway bridge crossing at the northern edge of section 8 – 2.5 miles.

Swede Bottom Creek (Houston County): Beginning at bridge 1 and continuing upstream to the source – 1.0 miles.

wow, that is quite a few.

i hope that you didn’t have to type all that. that would make my head hurt.

…but if you did type it all, we tip our collective hat to you for your efforts! Thank you.

I typed it in and put it on the regulations page of my web site. Seems to read a bit better than the DNR press release I got in the mail.

Did they change the dates for Whitewater?.Most of its always opened up on jan 1st..This would be the first year that it hasn’t

No, portions of Whitewater are open again as of January 1:

Beaver Creek (Wabasha and Winona Counties): On the posted 6.3 section from the mouth to the source.

Main Branch Whitewater (Winona County): On the posted 6.9 mile section from Winona County Road 30 bridge crossing upstream to the confluence of the Middle and North Branches of the Whitewater River.

Middle Branch Whitewater (Olmsted and Winona Counties): On the posted 4.2 mile section from the mouth upstream to the third State Highway 74 bridge crossing.

North Branch Whitewater (Winona County): On the posted 2.2 mile section from the mouth upstream to the first bridge crossing in Fairwater.

South Branch Whitewater (Winona County): On the posted 3.8 mile section from the mouth to one mile upstream of the closed County Road 112 bridge crossing (near Crystal Springs Hatchery).

However, Whitewater will see a significant expansion in the amount of water that will become available to fish as of March 1, 2003.

Thanks for all the work, It does read better than the regulation book. I am looking forward to fishing a couple of those streams this winter.

thanks alot D.A. you did a great job of explaining the where abouts to fish this winter. Maybe I’ll see you out there. MED