Minn. DNR Launches New App For Anglers
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- After a long, harsh winter, summer is finally around the corner -- at least fishing season is. And now that the Walleye Opener is coming up this weekend, anglers will have a new tool.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources just launched a new mobile-friendly website Wednesday that includes all of the complicated rules and regulations for each lake, in one easy-to-understand place.
They sell just about everything at Vados Bait Shop in Spring Lake Park, but one of the most popular items is the book of State Fishing Regulations, so co-owner Greg Fisher was thrilled to see the new, mobile-friendly, Fish Minnesota site.
"With all the people that walk around with phones and technology, with tablets, it's going to be very useful," he said. "They'll fly right through it, I'm sure."
The DNR says it has all the information from the book. arranged on an easy-to-find website, and the folks we talked to agree.
"A lot easier than the old website," Jerred Speller, of Blaine, said.
The lake finder includes maps, facts and information, and lake-specific fishing regulations.
"The different regulations on the different lakes are hard to keep track of," said Speller. "So, this makes it easy to know whether or not your legal."
Fisher was also pleased to see fishing piers, boat landings, and lake depths on the site -- everything in the rule book, and a whole lot more.
"You put it all together," he said, "and it's quite a package."
The DNR says the site includes most "frequently asked questions" including a link to buy a fishing license online.