March is the month to connect with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ fisheries offices across the state. The agency is updating fisheries management plans for 197 lakes in 52 counties in 2026, and is inviting Minnesotans to reach out and share their input.
The DNR encourages people with thoughts on the future management of a lake with a scheduled plan update to call or email the area fisheries office for that water body before March 31. Area fisheries teams will consider the public’s observations and comments as they develop updates for each management plan.
“We’re inviting anyone interested in the health and quality of Minnesota’s fisheries to contact us during this critical part of the DNR’s fisheries lake management planning process,” said Ryan Maki, fisheries management consultant. “These plans establish fisheries management goals and objectives for each lake and define the work fisheries biologists do each year. Observations and input from a lake’s stakeholders are essential to the planning effort.”
A list of lakes scheduled for plan updates in 2026 is on the Minnesota DNR website. Fisheries management plans for Minnesota’s 10 largest lakes follow a similar but separate update process.
As people consider what input to share, they might want to consider:
- “What kind of fishing experience am I looking for?”
- “Are there fish habitat concerns I’d like to share?”
- “What kinds of fish do I like to catch?”
- “Do I like catching big fish or a lot of fish?”
- “Do I have concerns about the fishery’s draw or popularity among anglers or other social concerns?”
The DNR is also interested in comments from organizations or their representatives, including outdoors groups, conservations organizations, lake associations and local units of government.
Based on initial comments received and other considerations, area fisheries managers might request additional public feedback later in summer or fall before completing the update to a particular plan. The DNR will publicize opportunities for additional engagement regionally and post them on the DNR website. The webpage also includes general information about why and how the DNR develops and uses fisheries management plans for Minnesota’s 4,500 actively managed lakes.
The lakes, listed by county, scheduled for management plan updates in 2026 include:
Aitkin: Big Sandy, Hanson, Hill
Anoka: Peltier
Becker: Big Cormorant, Elbow, Melissa, Sallie
Beltrami: Sandy, South Twin
Blue Earth: Ballantyne, Crystal, Duck, Loon, Madison
Carlton: Little Hanging Horn
Carver: Parley
Cass: Boy, Little Wolf, Long, Swift
Chisago: Goose, Horseshoe, Kroon, Little, North Center, West Rush
Clearwater: Minnow
Cook: Bingshick, Cascade, Devil Track, Fay, Greenwood, Gull, Hog, Pike, West Pike, Red Rock, Little Saganaga, Sea Gull, Thompson, Tom, Two Island, Unnamed (Noname)
Crow Wing: Gladstone, Goodrich
Douglas: Rachel, Red Rock
Faribault: Bass, Unnamed
Freeborn: Freeborn
Grant: Cottonwood
Hennepin: Independence
Hubbard: Blue, Fifth Crow Wing, First Crow Wing, Fourth Crow Wing, George, Long, Second Crow Wing, Sixth Crow Wing, Spider, Third Crow Wing, Waboose
Isanti: Florence, Green
Itasca: Antler, Bear, Beatrice, Crooked, Deer, Hartley, Johnson, Lammon Aid, Little Bear, Sand, Split Hand, Swan, Trout, Twin, Wabana, Wolf
Kanabec: Fish, Knife
Kandiyohi: Eagle, East Solomon, Henderson, Long, Point, Ringo, Willmar
Koochiching: Clear
Lake: Ahsub, Conchu, Crooked Lake, Dan, Disappointment, Glacier Pond 1, Glacier Pond 2, Hare, Little Wilson, Ninemile, Wye
Le Sueur: Clear, East Jefferson, Emily , German, Gorman, Henry, Horseshoe, Middle Jefferson, Rays, Scotch, Volney, Washington, West Jefferson
Lincoln: Benton, Steep Bank
Lyon: McKay
Mahnomen: South Twin
Martin: Clear
McLeod: Bear, Marion
Meeker: Manuella, Stella, Washington
Morrison: Long, Peavy
Mower: East Side
Murray: Iron, Wilson
Olmstead: Zumbro
Otter Tail: East Battle, Fish, Lizzie, Marion, Pickerel, Rush, West Silent, Wall
Pennington: Red Lake River Reservoir
Pine: Grindstone
Pipestone: Split Rock Reservoir
Pope: Grove, Scandinavian
Ramsey: Bald Eagle
Rice: Cannon, Circle, Cody, Fox, French, Hunt, Dudley (Kelly-Dudley), Mazaska, Phelps, Roberds, Wells
Roseau: Hayes
St. Louis: Ban, Big Moose, Birch, Chant, Chub, Colby, Cub, Eagles Nest 1, Eagles Nest 2, Eagles Nest 3, Foss, Johnson, Jorgens, Joseph, Lower Pauness, Marion, Moose, Norberg, Oslo, St. Mary’s, Susan, Upper Pauness
Stearns: Cedar, Kings, Long
Steele: Beaver
Todd: Little Swan, Turtle
Waseca: Elysian, Lily, Reeds, St. Olaf
Washington: Elmo, Forest
Watonwan: St. James
Wright: French, Pulaski, Upper Maple
Yellow Medicine: Del Clark