June 13, 2003

The rule applies to all federal waters, including the Mississippi River and Corps’ reservoirs. Corps’ reservoirs in the St. Paul District include Cross, Gull, Lac qui Parle, Leech, Orwell, Pokegama, Sandy, Traverse and Winnibigoshish lakes in Minnesota. For more information regarding this new Coast Guard ruling, see: http://uscgboating.org, or call (651) 290-5108.

Lake locations include Lake Minnetonka, Gull Lake, and Pelican Lake in Minnesota, and Red Cedar Lake near the city of Rice Lake, in Wisconsin. For more information, visit Crystal-Pierz online at: www.crystalpierz.com, or call (763) 533-1655.

This year, a total of 224 permits are available in 30 zones in the northeastern part of the state for the “once-in-a-lifetime” hunt. The season dates are Sept. 27 through Oct. 12. Moose hunters must apply in parties from two to four individuals, and an application fee of $3 per individual must be included with

Most of the time, if you keep your bait near the bottom, you will have it riding in the walleye strike zone. But there are times when walleye suspend off the bottom. Sometimes they’re searching for a water temperature they prefer. Other times they may suspend because there is not sufficient oxygen in the depths.

Editor Aitkin, Minn. Mille Lacs walleye anglers harvested 15,000 pounds of fish in May 2003, down significantly from a year ago, when anglers harvested 43,000 pounds for the same time period. Combined with 10,000 pounds of hooking mortality, total walleye kill for May was 25,000 pounds compared to 87,000 pounds of kill in May 2002,

Applicants must be licensed peace officers or be eligible to become license peace officers by Dec. 15, 2003. For more information, contact the DNR Human Resources office at (651) 296-6493.

Associate Editor St. Paul Officials from Minnesota’s Board of Water and Soil Resources hope to expand on the success of the state’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program by adding another 100,000 acres to the inventory. Kevin Lines, conservation easement section manager for BWSR, said the agency this week would pitch a proposal to Gov. Tim Pawlenty

ALEXANDRIA AREA Not much has changed here. Lake Mary and Reno Lake continue to produce numbers of walleyes in 12 to 15 feet of water. The bigger lakes in this area such as Le Homme Dieu, Miltona, and Ida are giving up a few fish in deeper water, but it hasn’t been nearly as consistent.

Editor Plymouth, Minn. Multiple chapters of the Minnesota Waterfowl Association will convene a private meeting of delegates and chapter presidents this Saturday in St. Cloud to discuss the future of the nonprofit conservation group. Jim Knudson, one of several chapter leaders calling for the meeting, said its intent is to determine potential candidates who can