Experimental fishing regulations pitched for lakes

To try to boost the average size of sunfish and crappies in several Itasca County lakes, bag limits would be cut dramatically under a proposal by the Department of Natural Resources.

The DNR is holding meetings next month to solicit public response.

A five-fish limit on sunfish is being proposed for Dixon, Sand and connected waters (near Max); Splithand, Little Splithand, Cut Foot Sioux and Little Cut Foot; and Blackwater, Jay Gould and Little Jay Gould.

On Sand and connected waters, Dixon, and Splithand, the proposal also includes a five-fish possession limit for crappie.

The first meeting is 6-8 p.m. Sept. 27 in Grand Rapids. The second is 6-8 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Sand Lake Community Center.

Meetings will be held on fishing regulation proposals for several other lakes around the state, including:

Anoka County: Cenaiko Lake (review new trout proposal), 7 p.m. Oct. 20 in the Coon Rapids Dam Visitor Center.

Hubbard County: Big Sand (review existing walleye regulation), 7-9 p.m. Sept. 28 in Park Rapids. Lester Lake (review existing regulation on all species), 7-9 p.m. Sept. 15, in Laporte.

Kandiyohi County: Long Lake (review existing largemouth bass regulation), 7-8:30 p.m. Sept 28 in New London.

St. Louis County: Vermilion (review existing regulation on walleye), 7 p.m. Sept. 29 in Tower. Kabetogama, Namakan, Sand Point, Crane and Little Vermilion (review existing regulation on walleye), 7 p.m. Oct. 27 in Kabetogama.

Wilkin County: Lawndale Creek (review new proposal for trout) 7-9 p.m. Sept. 28 in Barnesville.