DNR Announces River Fishing Closures for Beltrami and Clearwater Counties

A number of river reaches in Beltrami and Clearwater counties will be closed to fishing until the 2016 fishing opener on May 14. All closures will be in effect April 18 through May 13 and are necessary to protect concentrations of spawning walleye, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said.

These are standard closures that occur annually, and include the following portions of the Mississippi, Tamarac, Clearwater, Turtle and other rivers:

Photo: Lakeland News / File

Closed April 18 – May 13

• Blackduck River – Beltrami County – County Road 32 north to Red Lake Reservation boundary.
• Clearwater River – Clearwater County – below Clearwater Lake Dam for 900 feet.
• Mississippi River – Beltrami County – below Otter Tail Power Dam to Big Wolf Lake.
• Shotley Brook – Beltrami County – State Highway 72 to Upper Red Lake.
• Tamarac River – Beltrami County – from Upper Red Lake upstream to Beltrami-Koochiching county line.
• Turtle River – Beltrami County – below Three Island Dam to Turtle River Lake.

No fishing will be allowed during these periods in the specified areas. Signs will be posted at access points within the closed areas.

“The closures are necessary to protect adult walleye that have concentrated around historic spawning sites,” said Gary Barnard, DNR Bemidji area fisheries supervisor. “Due to relatively early spring conditions we do not anticipate having to extend these closures beyond the fishing opener this year.”

Although closed to fishing, there are no restrictions on boat travel through these areas.

For more information, contact the Bemidji Area Fisheries office at 218-308-2332.