Minnesota Steelheader

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is making changes to the way it raises, stocks and manages trout under its statewide trout program. The changes will have minimal effect on anglers but will result in an immediate savings of about $70,000 in electrical and feed expenses, and up to $200,000 annually when changes are fully implemented. Effective this year, the DNR will close a portion of its French River Hatchery near Duluth, shift trout production among various hatcheries, and reduce or eliminate stocking in 60 lakes and streams. This will take place in areas where results have not met expectations or where self-sustaining trout populations have been established. The new approach follows an in-depth assessment by DNR staff and implements various aspects of the DNR’s Lake Superior and southeast Minnesota trout plans. Last year, the DNR stocked 2.2 million trout at a cost of $2.4 million. In recent years the DNR’s trout program has included 615 designated trout streams, ...

Thanks for all the kind emails regarding our presence on Kent Hrbek outdoors this week, we appreciate all who have contributed. For those who are not aware, our Steelhead filming last spring with KHO finally made it to the airwaves. Last summer we had a few false alarms, thinking one of the KHM episodes was the show. thankfully it was not as we just got a short couple minute spot. The show that is airing this weeks is a full show on North shore steelheading, featuring Minnesotasteelheader.com. You will see our founder, DB and field staffer, Andy. Pictured here is a shot from some pre-filming scouting. Can anyone guess the river? You can still check out the show, in fact, it is on tonight on the FSNorth network at 7PM. Check your local listings as it may air a bit earlier or later due to prior sporting events. You can also click here for more listing times. Tight lines real soon.

The past is prologue... I'm not sure which philosopher said that but he must have been a steelheader. I finally got a chance to plug the 2009 spring data into my historical data from the Brule River, so I thought I'd post it. Click thumbnail for larger image What you are looking at is a snapshot of the spring 2009 return data vs. the historical flow and return data for spring conditions on the Brule. Let's face it, the North Shore lags the South Shore by a period of time when it comes to steelhead runs, and lots of us can't wait to get a line in the water after a long winter. Now, keep in mind that this is NOT -repeat NOT- a prediction of when the run is going to occur. It is simply a representation of past flow, run return and ice-out activity. The complex interactions between flow, temperature, photoperiod (length of daylight), year-class strength, recruitment etc. all play a part in the year-to-year fluctuations in the size and actual timing of steelhead returns. Yet...

The 2010 Minneapolis Great Waters Flyfishing Expo will be held March 26-28th at the Sheraton Bloomington Hotel Minneapolis South. Perhaps not the greatest timing as I believe the 2010 South Shore/Brule River opener is that very same weekend. Either way, it's a great show if you've never attended. Vendors/Seminars TBA. NMF