Vermilion Lake Ice Fishing Rod Investigation Begins
Anglers on Vermilion Lake may be invited to participate in the first winter lake trap survey since 1984. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources trap employees will walk and snowmobile the lake to interview fishermen. on their harvest until February 27.
Trap clerks will ask fishermen a few questions about their day’s fishing trip and record information on the species of fish caught. Trap clerks can ask to record the measurements of the fish that the fishermen keep. MNR pilots and a local contractor will conduct aerial counts in the coolers to gain information on the angling effort.
Fishery managers rely on trap surveys to gather information on fishing pressure, catch, harvest and size distribution of several important fish species in Vermilion Lake, including walleye. The data, when combined with other data collected by MNR biologists, helps guide fish management, such as length limits and possession limits.
The participation of anglers is an essential element of this study, which is why the MRN asks the fishermen to be patient with the clerks in the trap and to provide information as precise as possible. Since 1984, 13 trap surveys have been conducted on Vermilion Lake, all during the summer open water season.
For more information, contact Matt Hennen in the DNR Tower Fisheries Office at 218â€300â€7810 or [email protected]