REGIONAL—The Department of Natural Resources is inviting anglers and others interested in fisheries management in the Tower area to comment on management plans for several lakes through April 10.
The DNR uses fisheries management plans to identify specific management activities planned for designated lakes over the next five to 20 years. The plans include background information such as water chemistry characteristics, water temperature information, species presence, stocking, regulations and historic catch rates from previous fisheries surveys.
The plans also can identify biological and social factors that may limit a fishery’s potential, and seek to address these limiting factors by prescribing science-based management tools when biologically, fiscally and socially appropriate.
Comments and suggestions from the public are important for planning and evaluating the success of activities laid out in management plans.
Fisheries information and management activities are being updated for the following lakes in St. Louis and Lake counties.
St. Louis County:
• Burntside: Maintains walleye stocking and ends lake trout stocking (last stocked in 2010). 
• Camp: Maintains walleye fishery with post-winterkill fry stocking if necessary.
• Ge-Be-On-Equat: Lowered walleye fry stocking rate.
• Heikkilla: Establishes first management plan for this lake.
• Little Elbow: First plan since trout stocking was discontinued in 2010.
• Long (near Eveleth): Continues current management.
• McInnis (Unnamed): Establishes first management plan for this lake.
• Purvis (Sparrow): Lowered walleye fry stocking rate.
• Trout: Ends lake trout stocking (last stocked in 2018).
Lake County:
• Moose: Continues current management.
• Topaz: Establishes first management plan for this lake.
People can contact the Tower area fisheries office by calling 218-300-7802 or emailingtower.fisheries@state.mn.us to receive an electronic copy of any of the draft plans.
Comments and suggestions for managing other lakes and streams in the Tower work area are welcome at any time and will be considered when those plans are due for review.