MN DNR News - July 2016

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Fishing date to remember
Monday, Sept. 12: Catch-and-release only for smallmouth bass begins, except in northeast Minnesota

Take advantage of great summer fishing – buy a license
Fishing has been excellent this season and snagging a fishing license opens the door to fishing opportunities throughout the state.
You can buy a fishing license at any DNR license agent, online with a mobile or desktop device, or by phone at 888-665-4236. Mobile buyers receive a text or email that serves as proof of a valid fish or game license to state conservation officers.
Visit the DNR website for more information about fishing licenses and regulations and the 2016 Minnesota Fishing Regulations booklet.

Bass anglers on Mille Lacs can provide data through partnership
Bass anglers on Mille Lacs Lake have the opportunity to share their fishing reports online by providing information through a partnership between the DNR and Minnesota BASS Nation.
The angler information when collected over a number of years complements information the DNR collects through lake surveys. The bass fishing on Mille Lacs Lake is excellent and along with the attention bass angling gets, the DNR wants to collect as much information as possible about the lake's bass and bass fishing.
Anglers can provide information on fish caught, fish size, angler effort and more, either after a fishing trip or while fishing. Once logged in, anglers can go back and see how they did on past trips, as the site will store that information for them. The DNR and Minnesota BASS Nation have partnered for more than 12 years to collect data from bass anglers. Anglers interested in bass fishing can also participate on any lake in the state.
Providing the information is voluntary and provides to DNR reliable estimates of size structure of bass in lakes these anglers fish. Size structure is the proportion of small bass to large bass, and this information is used as an indicator of growth and survival of bass.
More information on bass fishing is available on the DNR website.

Did you know? Preparation vital for catch-and-release
The most important thing to remember about how to release fish without injuring them is to be prepared. Have the necessary equipment readily available: needle-nose pliers, forceps, line clipper, a soft mesh or coated landing net, and your camera.
It is critically important to minimize the time the fish is out of the water. If possible, unhook the fish while it is in the water. If taking a picture, hold larger fish horizontally with the head and body supported. Do not hold large fish vertically or by the gills or eyes.
Play and land the fish as quickly as possible and moisten your hands with water to protect the fish's slime layer and prevent post-release infections. If the fish is deeply hooked, cut the line inside the fish's mouth. If it is deeply hooked and bleeding, consider keeping the fish to eat as long as it is of legal size in the open angling season for that species.
With the state record fish program now accepting applications for catch-and-release muskie, flathead catfish and lake sturgeon, anglers with a potentially record-setting catch are encouraged to quickly measure and take a picture of the fish before releasing it. Allowing state records to be set via catch-and-release presents an opportunity to recognize Minnesota's outstanding fishing opportunities for these species while also formally honoring the skill of anglers who catch and release a trophy muskie, flathead or sturgeon. Visit the DNR website for guidelines.