DNR May Reduce Sunfish Limits on Additional Lakes Area Lakes

(KNSI) – The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is seeking public comment before reducing the number of sunfish anglers can keep on dozens of lakes.

The changes are part of the Quality Sunfish Initiative which will reduce the harvest limits on sunfish from 20 sunfish a day to five or ten sunfish per day on around 50 lakes.

Lakes in Otter Tail and Becker counties that could see reduced limits under the proposal include Crystal, Island, Turtle and Venstrom, which is adjacent to South Lida. All would have daily limits reduced to 10 from 20.

The additional 50 lakes are added to nearly 100 that were included in the first phase of the Quality Bluegill Initiative, which went into effect in March 2021. Many of those lakes had their sunfish limit reduced to five, in an effort to increase quality fishing.

The proposed changes would go into effect in March 2022.

Comments can be submitted until October 31 through an online survey by contacting an area fisheries office or attending an in-person meeting this fall.