The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is reviewing the current protected slot limit for walleye on Sand Lake, near Squaw Lake. This regulation may be extended, dropped or modified. Public input will be important to informing this decision.
The DNR will be hosting a public meeting to discuss the slot limit and take public comments, from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the Squaw Lake Community Center, in Squaw Lake. Comments may also be submitted by sending an email to [email protected], calling 218-328-8836 or mailing NE Regional Headquarters, Area Fisheries, 1201 East Highway 2, Grand Rapids, MN 55744.
Sand Lake has a long history of boom-and-bust angling cycles. The protected slot limit was implemented in 2016 with the goal of creating a more stable fish population and enhancing the angling experience. Since the protected slot limit’s implementation, surveys have been conducted in 2017, 2021 and 2023. Results show that the regulation is working as intended, with the walleye population stabilizing and including higher quantities of larger fish.
The current rules are:
- All walleye between 17 and 26 inches must be released. Anglers can keep one walleye over 26 inches.
- The bag limit is the same as the statewide limit of six fish with one allowed over 26 inches. There will be no changes to the bag limit.
The protected slot limit is set to expire at the end of this fishing season. The DNR is seeking public input on whether to keep the current regulation, modify the limit to a 20- to 24-inch protected slot, or revert to the statewide walleye regulation.