Artist Scot Storm of Sartell, Minn., has won the 2017 Minnesota Pheasant Habitat Stamp contest. His painting was selected by judges from among 15 submissions for the annual contest sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Storm’s painting will be featured on the 2017 pheasant habitat stamp. His artwork has previously been featured on the pheasant stamp in 2011, 2006 and 2000; and on the waterfowl stamp in 2015, 2009 and 2004.
Trout lakes to be treated
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will be chemically rehabilitating three designated stream trout lakes in Northeastern Minnesota this week to remove undesirable fish species.
Treatment of North Shady Lake in Cook County and Beetle and Redskin lakes in Lake County should be completed by the end of the week, DNR officials said.
This rehabilitation is being done jointly by the DNR and Trout Unlimited, using Trout Stamp, Game and Fish Fund and Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage funding.
Treatments will be done aerially and are expected to kill all fish in the three lakes. The chemical used, Rotenone, kills fish but is not toxic to birds or mammals at the concentrations used in these lakes. While aquatic invertebrate populations will be affected, effects are minimized by the low treatment concentrations, and invertebrates quickly become re-established, DNR officials said.
Stocking of trout in Beetle and Redskin lakes will resume in the spring of 2017 when both will receive brook trout yearlings. Stocking of North Shady will probably not begin until the fall of 2017, when the lake will be stocked with fingerling brook trout.
Anglers fishing these and other stream trout lakes in the area should follow regulations banning the use or possession of live minnows on designated stream trout lakes. Minnows from bait shops or natural sources are often contaminated with undesirable species such as yellow perch or bullheads. When these species become established in a trout lake, the lake’s ability to maintain high quality fisheries is greatly reduced.
Questions about the rehabilitation of North Shady can be directed to the DNR fisheries office in Grand Marais at (218) 387-6021, or to the Grand Marais area fisheries supervisor, Steve Persons, at
steve.persons@state.mn.us
.
Questions about the rehabilitation of Beetle Lake or Redskin Lake can be directed to the DNR fisheries office in Finland at (218) 353-8857, or to the Finland area fisheries supervisor, Dean Paron, at
dean.paron@state.mn.us
.
Guided hike planned
The Superior Hiking Trail Association will offer a guided hike on Saturday. The 5.7-mile hike from Oberg Mountain to Britton Peak in the Tofte area will begin at 10 a.m. Hikers will pass through maple forests with overlooks of Lake Superior. Meet at the Britton Peak Trailhead.
For more information and directions, call the Superior Hiking Trail Association at (218) 834-2700 or visit shta.org. Click on “News & Events,” then “Guided Hikes.” The hike is free.
