Every year, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) prepares or revises individual fisheries lake and stream management plans for several waters in each management area and seeks public comment on the plans.

In the Grand Marais area, plans for the following lakes and streams will revised through

March 2009:

• Axe – managed for walleye
• Bingshick (BWCAW) – stocked with brook trout, reviewing stocking strategy
• Caribou (near Clearwater; BWCAW) – reviewing walleye management options
• Carrot – stocked with brook trout, reviewing stocking strategies
• Christine – potential for panfish management
• Kemo – stocked with lake trout, reviewing stocking strategy
• Lima – stocked with brook trout, reviewing stocking strategy
• Logger – many small northern pike
• Marsh – a flowage on the Temperance River
• McDonald – walleye and northern pike fisheries
• Moses – little potential for game fish
• Mush – some potential for trout management
• Road – has been stocked with walleye, unsuccessfully
• Swamp River Reservoir – large numbers of small northern pike
• Trout – stocked with rainbow trout, and a natural lake trout lake.

Management plans describe the past, present, and desired future conditions of the waters. The plans identify specific management activities planned for that lake or stream in the next five to 20 years.

In addition to the lakes listed above, many BWCAW lakes plans are being revised solely to update survey and assessment scheduling. Those lakes are: Banadad, Bat, Blue Snow, Cam, Canoe, Caribou (near Poplar Lake), Carl, Echo, Fern, Gaskin, Honker, Howard, Jake, Jasper, Karl, Kingfisher, Kiskadinna, Little Trout, Middle Cone, Morgan, North Cone, Peter, Ray, Rose, Smoke, Snipe, South Cone, and Zephyr lakes.

The Grand Marais Fisheries office will also review stocking strategies on all stream trout lakes in the area. The intent of this review is to improve management efficiency and lower management costs, while maintaining historic levels of stream trout fishing opportunity and quality. Stocking strategies on several lakes may be modified, and some less effective stocking may be discontinued. Any feedback or suggestions for management of stream trout lakes in the area would be greatly appreciated.

Current plans for lakes in the area, and recent fish population assessment information, are available for review at the DNR Fisheries office at 1356 Hwy 61 E, Grand Marais. People may visit the office, call 218-387-3056, or e-mail steve [dot] persons [at] dnr [dot] state [dot] mn [dot] us to discuss any of these plans with fisheries staff. Grand Marais office hours are 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Public comment on management of BWCAW lakes will be taken through Dec. 15. Comments on all other lakes will be taken through March 1. Suggestions for management of any of the other lakes and streams in the Grand Marais area are welcome at any time, and will be considered when those plans are due for review.