Canisteo Mine Pit to open for liberalized fishing
Itasca County, MN (NNCNOW.com) — The Canisteo Mine Pit north of Coleraine and Bovey will open to liberalized fishing before mining activity resumes in the area.
According to the Minnesota DNR, the liberalized fishing regulations at the mine pit will go into effect on October 17th and will end on December 1st.
Mining activity is set to resume in the area as Magnetation, LLC begins construction on a processing plant near the water access site, currently operated by Itasca County. The water access will close December 1st.
The pit has been managed by the DNR for lake trout through stocking and natural reproduction. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill and cisco are also present in the pit.
Liberalized fishing regulations will allow the public to harvest and use these fish before access to the pit is no longer available. Under liberalized fishing regulations, residents may take fish without any bag or size limits, in any manner except by use of seines, hoop nets, fyke nets, and explosives. Any fish taken from the mine pit are to be used for personal use only, except rough fish which may be sold.
An informational meeting has been scheduled for Monday, October 14th at the Mount Itasca ski chalet from 6:30 to 8 p.m. to answer any questions about liberalized fishing regulations.
DNR fisheries staff, DNR conservation officers and Magnetation representatives will be at the meeting.