Working on a few changes in the MN Cast Net Rules for 2018

To cover the background, 3 years ago our MN Catfish Workgroup, working with the DNR had a temporary rule to allow the use of cast nets on the Mississippi and St Croix Rivers (MN side only) to harvest gizzard shad.

We were allowed to use a 3.5 radius cast net in the season that would end November 30th each year. Reports needed to be emailed to the DNR each month on how many shad were caught each time out along with any bi catch. Bi catch was to be returned to the water immediately.

To receive a permit, we needed to watch a 30ish minute video on AIS and then have our nets tagged by a DNR employee.
Other rules applied but this is an overview. See link at the bottom of this post for more details.

This rule had a sunset of this last December. In our Workgroup meeting last week, our DNR took our suggestion and will be entering them in one of this bills. Assuming all goes well with the legislature we won’t see an interruption in using the nets in 2018 (although the paper rulebook may state that cast nets are no longer legal to use because of the time they go to press)

The changes we are hoping to see are:
Increased size from 3.5′ radius to 5′ radius.
Individual owners tagging their nets as opposed to going to a DNR office.
Annual reporting as opposed to monthly.
Adding the Minnesota River to the list of rivers cast nets are permitted.

Enforcement didn’t have any issues with the three year program and the bicatch rate was around the 1-3% range with most fish being released unharmed.

Again, as of this writing MN is not allowing the use of cast nets, but if all goes as planned the new law (without a sunset) will be in place prior to July 1st 2018 when the season starts.

2017 Complete Cast Net/Gizzard Shad Regulations

PS Gizzard Shad is like popcorn to channel cats and like popcorn with extra butter to Lake Sturgeon.

I’m curious to what species was typically found in the bi catch?

I’ll see if I can find out Nick. Holidays will delay that.
I personally have only caught shad.

Thanks Brian, the bigger size net and self tagging would be nice. Has there ever been any talk about allowing a cast net on the Minnesota River for shad?

Oh Doah!! Yes, that will be in the new law as well now that it’s been deemed infested.

How about a Christmas miracle…multiple rods on inland rivers?

Regardless, I’ll be a happy catfisherman if I can use a cast net on the Minnesota River!

Ryan Speers wrote:

#1739504
How about a Christmas miracle…multiple rods on inland rivers?

It’s an uphill battle that the Catfish Workshop Group has on the front burner. We are up to 15 members in our group. I believe there’s 7 new members this year.

I’ve been advocating two lines (at least) on the Minnesota..well, I don’t know for how long.

…but don’t hold your breath. Then again, never say never about the rivers!

How does one go about becoming a member of the group and what is the time commitment?

The DNR will make an announcement that they are accepting applications. Here’s the one from last year. Fisheries Workgroup App

Although the catfish wg is filled, if your interested you might want to apply now in case we have someone drop out before thier term is up. (one fella had twins and became rather busy).

Time commitment varies. We have 3 meetings per year. “Normally” one in Hutchinson, one at a members location that includes fishing and one conference call. If we don’t have a member volunteer to host a meeting, we’ll have two conference calls. So at a minimum 3 to 4 hours per year.

Now is we have a project we’re working on let’s say cast nets…and you’re willing to help with collecting data….well the time can go up considerably.

Steve DeMars is retired and put in the most time with the cast net change. I don’t know if he tracked his hours, but I’m going to guess it was like a full time job at least part of the year for him.

I’ve caught carp, smallmouth bass, white bass, northern pike, suckers and one gar

Hi Guys – In response to the question about how much time is involved with the Catfish Work Group the answer is it all depends. I was really passionate about a few issues so I got pretty involved at times. As my wife says “What ever can be done can be overdone”.

The Catfish Work Group has taken on some pretty complex issues over the past few years. Here are a few of the things we attempted to tackle: Effort to allow the use of cast nets to harvest Gizzard Shad; Efforts to allow the use of Sunfish for bait for personal use; Efforts to allow the use of two lines. We were successful with the cast net issue but fell short on the use of sunfish and on two lines.

The amount of time you will spend is all up to you. I’m retired and I have a lot of time on my hands especially this time of year. I spent a lot of time doing basic research on the issues and drafting detailed issue papers for the Work Group to consider. I would send them out to the group and collect the responses to the proposals and then rework the drafts until we had a consensus issue paper. When we were done then Jack Lauer – the DNR Work Group leader would walk our proposals through the MN DNR staff for consideration. Most of these issues went all the way up to the senior leadership for consideration. We won some and we lost some. At least you knew they heard us and I at least felt like they gave each issue due consideration.

Thanks guys I’ll definitely look into it, I’m originally from Kansas so some of our MN regulations are extremely frustrating to me. I truly appreciate your efforts on all these issues.

I’m born and raised in MN and some of the regulations are extremely frustrating to me!

However I’ve said this many times, just because I think a law change in the area I fish is good (and it might be), I need to look at the big picture and see how it affects other areas with other species.

One thing I can say for sure and I’m sure I can say this for all the catfish workgroup members… It’s great our DNR is reaching out and listening to us. They might not give us everything we want but they hear us and take the time to understand where we’re coming from.

Thanks Steve for explaining.

“As my wife says “What ever can be done can be overdone”.”

Steve… That’s pretty funny. I appreciate the work and time you spend doing it. I think a lot of the other fishing folk here can as well.

nhamm wrote:

I’m curious to what species was typically found in the bi catch?

Here’s what was recorded Nick.

It looks like sunfish (BLG and BLC) were the highest bycatch. (2015: 13; 2016: 14; 2017: 29) Except one year someone caught some golden shiners (2016: 21).

White Bass (WHB) was the second highest except.

WHB: 2015: 8; 2016: 6; 2017: 8)

Sean Sisler
MN DNR