Check your boat and trailer, know the rules

I have been checked almost every time I have been fishing this year.

List of waters infested with aquatic invasive ... - Brainerd Dispatch

by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has updated its website to show the additional lakes and river sections that were newly designated as waters infested with invasive species. "The designation of waters ...and Loon Lake this summer. Although the DNR recently did some electrofishing and gill netting on the mainstream Little Sioux River and some associated aquatic basins, so far the DNR has not found any bighead or silver carp in this area.

TIP call leads to big Rainy River fishing violation catch | BrainerdDispatch.com | Brainerd, Minnesota

TIP call leads to big Rainy River fishing violation catch | BrainerdDispatch.com | Brainerd, Minnesota

2012 Loon Cam is up and running. Saw a couple of Loons hanging around it this morning.

About The 2012 Live Loon Cam: From MN Bound Website

The LIVE Loon Cam is a live webcam on the nest of a common loon. Located in central Minnesota, USA, this nest has been the site of many incredible moments. Larry Backlund is our resident loon expert and shares what he can see from his vantage point on the edge of his property. This nest is 100% wild and 100% natural!

A loon family has taken residency of Larry's nesting platform for over a decade ever since Larry first started putting one out. Again for 2012, we are bringing you sound and night vision. We also encourage you to follow along with Larry in his regularly updated blogs. If you want to interact, you can head to our Loon Chat Room and once again you can stay connected as a fan on Facebook.

 

Streaming live video by Ustream

Protect your home from Wildfire

DNR offers tips to protect homes from wildfires

by stcarrol

Spring is here and so too is the threat of wildfires. Because of that, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is encouraging homeowners throughout the state to take steps now to lower fire risk and ensure a rapid fire response.

Home and cabin owners should review their property to make sure firefighters are able to find it and have access to it. Homeowners often count on emergency responders being there when they need them; when help is critical, seconds may mean the difference between life and death. A little time spent now, reviewing property and addressing needs, can help protect lives and property should a wildfire occur in the future.

Reviewing entrance roads should include making sure house numbers or E911/Fire Numbers are visible from all directions of travel and during both day and night. Landowners should remove branches or vegetation that might hide the number. They should make sure the house numbers or signs have sufficient lighting or reflect enough to make them visible at night.

In rural areas, access can be an important consideration as well. While most driveways and access roads easily accommodate personal vehicles, they may not be wide enough or have sufficient clearance for large fire trucks or ambulances.

Some considerations include:

• Driveways should have a 12-foot surface of a firm substance so that, even during rainfall, the surface can support the weight of a large fire truck loaded with water.
• Vegetation over the road should be pruned to a height of 14 feet.
• Long driveways more than 150 feet should have space near the midpoint to allow vehicles to pass.
• Long driveways must have a place for the large vehicles to turn around once they get to the end. Review the area around the buildings; make sure a vehicle more than 40 feet long can turn around.

Every plan should consider that a gated driveway, locked or not, will slow down emergency responders. Homeowners need to weigh the value of keeping unwanted guests out against making sure needed services can get in.

Ice Out

Drove around to a few lake today and looks as the ice wet out with all the warm temperatures. The big rain the other night finally did it in. Open water fishing, are you ready?

Very Dry conditions

Rain last night should help with the conditions that have been in place the past few weeks

Grass fire season is here

by Jennifer Stockinger From the Brainerd Dispatch

Grass and wildfire season came early in the Brainerd lakes area as the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) fought five grass fires in the area since Saturday — including a 75-acre wild fire located about six miles east of Hackensack.

DNR program forester Mark Mortensen said Monday that fire danger in Brainerd is high and he advises people to use extreme caution with any burning in wooded or grassland areas. Mortensen said the lakes area is dry and the soil does not have moisture in it, making it easy for grass and wildfires to spread.

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Comments anyone–here is where to voice you onion

DNR fisheries seeks comments on Brainerd area management plans

by stcarrol

People interested in Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) strategies for managing Brainerd area lakes and streams have until Monday, March 19, to ask questions or submit comments.

“Management plans describe the past, present and desired future conditions of the waters,” said Marc Bacigalupi, Brainerd area fisheries manager. “The plans identify specific management activities planned for that lake or stream over the next five to 20 years.”

Every year DNR fisheries staff prepares or revises individual lake and stream management plans for several waters in each management area. In the Brainerd area, plans for the following lakes and streams will reviewed:

• Bay Lake.
• Black Hoof Lake.
• Sandbar (Horseshoe) Lake.
• Star Lake.
• Little Star Lake.

All waters included in this management plan are located in Crow Wing County.

People can review current plans for lakes and streams in the area as well as recent fish population assessment information at the DNR’s Brainerd area fisheries office, 1601 Minnesota Drive, Brainerd. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Individuals also may call 218- 828-2550, or email lori.snider@state.mn.us to request a copy of a plan or submit written comments.

Public comments on management plans for the five specified lakes may be submitted via mail or email through Monday, March 19.

Suggestions for management of any of the other lakes and streams in the Brainerd area are welcome at any time and will be considered when those plans are due for review.

The DNR’s lake management activities are largely funded through the sale of fishing licenses and the Federal Sport Fish Restoration Act.