Public input requested on fisheries management plans for 197 Minnesota lakes

St. Paul — March is the month to connect with Minnesota DNR fisheries offices across the state. The agency is updating fisheries management plans for 197 lakes in 52 counties in 2026, and is inviting Minnesotans to reach out and share their input.

The DNR encourages people with thoughts on the future management of a lake with a scheduled plan update to call or email the area fisheries office for that water body before March 31. Area fisheries teams will consider the public’s observations and comments as they develop updates for each management plan.

“We’re inviting anyone interested in the health and quality of Minnesota’s fisheries to contact us during this critical part of the DNR’s fisheries lake management planning process,” said Ryan Maki, fisheries management consultant. “These plans establish fisheries management goals and objectives for each lake and define the work fisheries biologists do each year. Observations and input from a lake’s stakeholders are essential to the planning effort.”

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A list of lakes scheduled for plan updates in 2026 is on the Minnesota DNR website. Fisheries management plans for Minnesota’s 10 largest lakes follow a similar but separate update process.

As people consider what input to share, they might want to consider:

“What kind of fishing experience am I looking for?”

“Are there fish habitat concerns I’d like to share?”

“What kinds of fish do I like to catch?”

“Do I like catching big fish or a lot of fish?”

“Do I have concerns about the fishery’s draw or popularity among anglers or other social concerns?”

The DNR is also interested in comments from organizations or their representatives, including outdoors groups, conservation organizations, lake associations and local units of government. Even those who come from out of state to utilize Minnesota lakes are encouraged to give input.

“If the Minnesota DNR doesn’t have the input then it’s hard to assess whether we’re providing what is desired or helping the public deal with concerns that they have,” Maki said.

Based on initial comments received and other considerations, area fisheries managers might request additional public feedback later in summer or fall before completing the update to a particular plan. The DNR will publicize opportunities for additional engagement regionally and post them on the DNR website.

The webpage also includes general information about why and how the DNR develops and uses fisheries management plans for Minnesota’s 4,500 actively managed lakes.

After the public input ends, most of the lakes on the list will have their management plans finished within few months, with some finalized next winter.

The lakes, listed by county, scheduled for management plan updates in 2026 include:

Aitkin: Big Sandy, Hanson, Hill

Anoka: Peltier

Becker: Big Cormorant, Elbow, Melissa, Sallie

Beltrami: Sandy, South Twin

Blue Earth: Ballantyne, Crystal, Duck, Loon, Madison

Carlton: Little Hanging Horn 

Carver: Parley

Cass: Boy, Little Wolf, Long, Swift

Chisago: Goose, Horseshoe, Kroon, Little, North Center, West Rush

Clearwater: Minnow

Cook: Bingshick, Cascade, Devil Track, Fay, Greenwood, Gull, Hog, Pike, West Pike, Red Rock, Little Saganaga, Sea Gull, Thompson, Tom, Two Island, Unnamed (Noname)

Crow Wing: Gladstone, Goodrich     

Douglas: Rachel, Red Rock

Faribault: Bass, Unnamed

Freeborn: Freeborn

Grant: Cottonwood

Hennepin: Independence

Hubbard: Blue, Fifth Crow Wing, First Crow Wing, Fourth Crow Wing, George, Long, Second Crow Wing, Sixth Crow Wing, Spider, Third Crow Wing, Waboose

Isanti: Florence, Green

Itasca: Antler, Bear, Beatrice, Crooked, Deer, Hartley, Johnson, Lammon Aid, Little Bear, Sand, Split Hand, Swan, Trout, Twin, Wabana, Wolf

Kanabec: Fish, Knife

Kandiyohi: Eagle, East Solomon, Henderson, Long, Point, Ringo, Willmar

Koochiching: Clear

Lake: Ahsub, Conchu, Crooked Lake, Dan, Disappointment, Glacier Pond 1, Glacier Pond 2, Hare, Little Wilson, Ninemile, Wye

Le Sueur: Clear, East Jefferson, Emily , German, Gorman, Henry, Horseshoe, Middle Jefferson, Rays, Scotch, Volney, Washington, West Jefferson

Lincoln: Benton, Steep Bank

Lyon: McKay

Mahnomen: South Twin

Martin: Clear 

McLeod: Bear, Marion

Meeker: Manuella, Stella, Washington

Morrison: Long, Peavy

Mower: East Side      

Murray: Iron, Wilson

Olmstead: Zumbro

Otter Tail: East Battle, Fish, Lizzie, Marion, Pickerel, Rush, West Silent, Wall

Pennington: Red Lake River Reservoir

Pine: Grindstone

Pipestone: Split Rock Reservoir        

Pope: Grove, Scandinavian

Ramsey: Bald Eagle

Rice: Cannon, Circle, Cody, Fox, French, Hunt, Dudley (Kelly-Dudley), Mazaska, Phelps, Roberds, Wells

Roseau: Hayes

St. Louis: Ban, Big Moose, Birch, Chant, Chub, Colby, Cub, Eagles Nest 1, Eagles Nest 2, Eagles Nest 3, Foss, Johnson, Jorgens, Joseph, Lower Pauness, Marion, Moose, Norberg, Oslo, St. Mary’s, Susan, Upper Pauness

Stearns: Cedar, Kings, Long

Steele: Beaver

Todd: Little Swan, Turtle

Waseca: Elysian, Lily, Reeds, St. Olaf

Washington: Elmo, Forest

Watonwan: St. James

Wright: French, Pulaski, Upper Maple

Yellow Medicine: Del Clark