Two more Minnesota lakes to be stocked with muskies

Muskies will be introduced this year in two of five Minnesota lakes that had been proposed for stocking by the DNR, under a controversial plan to increase muskie-fishing opportunities. Roosevelt Lake in northern Crow Wing County and the Sauk River chain of lakes in Stearns County southwest of St. Cloud will be stocked with muskies this fall. Stocking won't occur on three lakes that had been considered: Upper and Lower South Long lakes near Brainerd and Lake Tetonka near Waterville. Adding muskies to non-muskie lakes has been controversial. There was strong opposition at Tetonka and Upper and Lower South Long lakes. Opponents fear muskies will harm existing game fish species, though the DNR says impacts should be minimal. Officials said Upper and Lower South Long lakes were scrapped because they are too small and have public access issues. As for Tetonka, stocking "has been put on hold indefinitely pending resolution of local issues." The DNR's long-range muskie management plan calls for adding up to eight new waters by 2020. Lake Pokegama was the first to be added. About 80 percent of the 25,000 public comments received by the DNR last year on the issue supported stocking muskies in more lakes.