News release: Whitefish and Cisco sport gillnetting to open on select Grand Marais area lakes

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has set dates for recreational netting of whitefish and cisco, also known as tullibee, on six lakes in the Grand Marais area in Cook County.

• Greenwood Lake: open to netting Friday, Nov. 3, through Sunday, Dec. 17 (minimum 1.75-inch mesh size).
• Devil Track and Poplar lakes: open to netting Friday, Oct. 27, through Sunday, Dec. 17 (minimum 3.5-inch mesh size).
• Brule and East Pike lakes: open to netting Friday, Oct. 13, through Sunday, Dec. 3 (minimum 1.75-inch mesh size).
• Caribou Lake: open to netting Friday, Oct. 13, through Sunday, Dec. 3 (minimum 3.5-inch mesh size).

About 700 people obtain special permits to net for whitefish and cisco (tullibee) each year. Fishing regulations require netters to purchase both a whitefish netting license and an angling license.

The Minnesota DNR bases netting schedules on expected water temperatures, fish abundance and the vulnerability of game fish. As the water temperature cools, whitefish and cisco come to shallow water for fall spawning. Other species head to deeper water, so there is little chance their populations will be harmed by recreational netting in shallow water at that time. Fish other than cisco and whitefish incidentally taken in nets must be returned to the water immediately.

Complete information about sport gill netting by lake, minimum mesh sizes, and fishing regulations can be found on the Minnesota DNR website or by contacting the Minnesota DNR’s Grand Marais area office, 1356 Highway 61 East, Grand Marais, MN 55604, or calling 218-387-6021.