Responsible catch-and-release fishing

With the fishing opener upon us, here are some great reminders for responsible catch-and-release fishing, which can help ensure continued quality fishing opportunities. Anglers can boost the odds of fish surviving catch and release by using methods that avoid internal damage caused by hooks, stress, and being pulled from deep water.

• Fish hooked in the mouth almost always survive. Set the hook quickly to avoid hooking a fish deeply. Jigs, circle hooks and active baits like crankbaits are more likely to hook a fish in the mouth.

• Don’t angle for fish in very deep water, unless you plan to keep what you catch. Fizzing of fish, or the act of inserting a needle into a fish intended to deflate the gas bladder, caught from deep water can do more harm than good and is not legal.

• Have pliers ready that work well for taking hooks out. Cutting the line and leaving the hook in the fish is also a good option.

• Quickly land a fish to minimize the fish's time out of water.

• Handle the fish firmly but carefully. Wet your hands before touching a fish to prevent removal of their protective slime coating. Rubberized nets help, too.

• Unhook and release the fish while it is still in the water, if possible, and support its weight with both hands or with a net when removed from the water. Never lift them vertically from the water.

• Do not place fish you plan to release on a stringer or in a live well.

• Revive a fish by cradling it under the belly and gently moving it forward in the water until it swims away.

• Do not release a fish that can be legally kept if it is bleeding heavily or can't right itself.
  

  And for those anglers looking to land a big one, here's a video from the MN DNR on handling large fish.

Weed Management, Transparency, and Communication

Weed and shoreline management is one of the most popular questions our Board receives, whether in the recently completed survey or conversations. It is critical that property owners manage their own frontage while the SRCLA simultaneously works on larger navigable and priority areas. Through collaboration, access can be maintained. We encourage you to use our website (srcl.org) to learn more about it and to communicate your questions and concerns with the Association. We're excited to share a new tool now available on our website!  Need to know where to treat, how to treat, whether you need a permit, etc.? This tool is made for you!

To learn more about weed management or things you can do, go to https://www.srcl.org/aquatic-plant-management.

For transparency and projects involving weed management that the SRCLA Board has done over the years, all the weed management activities since 2020 are documented at https://www.srcl.org/projects.

The SRCLA Board consists of 11 volunteers from across the Chain who meet monthly all year round. For further transparency and insights on the Board’s budget and decision-making process, see the minutes posted at https://www.srcl.org/board-1. In addition, the monthly meetings are open to the public and are posted on the calendar at https://www.srcl.org/calendar-1. Simply let a Board member know (https://www.srcl.org/contact) you would like to attend to observe, or time can be put on the agenda to hear your concern or issue. 

Despite Board members representing areas across the Chain, we can still miss concerns and issues. Communication is key. Reach out directly to a Board member by reviewing the area they work in and their contact information at https://www.srcl.org/contact, and give a call or send an email. If you don’t know who to contact, submit a message using the general contact form.  

Finally, anyone can be a Board member. Each Board member serves a minimum of two years, and about half of the Board needs to be elected each year at our annual meeting. If you are interested in being a Board member, go to https://www.srcl.org/join-the-board, and a Board member will contact you with more information. This year’s annual meeting is open to the public and is on Saturday, June 14, at Shady’s Long Shots at 9 am.

ANNUAL MEETING JUNE 14

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! The Sauk River Chain of Lakes Association Annual meeting is June 14, 9AM, at Shady's Long Shots. The agenda is on the calendar. Of special note is that we have several members rolling off the board and are looking for a few more people to fill these important positions. Interested? Either complete the online form or contact Brad Matuska, current SRCLA President, at bradmatuska@gmail.com.

New Requirement for Youth Water Operator’s Permit July 2025

Please consider attending the Minnesota Coalition of Lake Associations (MN COLA) meeting on May 20th, 6:30 PM at the Rockville City Hall. Full agenda here: https://www.srcl.org/calendar/mncola2025

A deputy from the Stearns County Water Patrol will review the new requirements concerning the operation of watercraft on Minnesota lakes. Starting July 1, 2025, the law will require operators 21 years and younger to possess a valid watercraft operator’s permit for motorboats and personal watercraft. The MN DNR offers online certification at https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/boatwater/education.html.

SRCLA Apparel Store Now OPEN!

Survey results were released earlier this week, and when we asked about your interest in SRCLA apparel, you said YES PLEASE!
From Huk® shirts to hats, there is something for EVERYONE!

The store will be open until midnight, May 11th.
Start your order here!

2024 Survey Results

Some greaThe SRCLA Board wanted to take a fresh approach to hearing from our Chain of Lakes lakeshore owners. In late 2024, we worked with St. Cloud State University and a group of their students to survey all SRCL lakeshore owners, both members and non-members. We're excited to share the results here (these are posted on the Projects pages as well)..

The feedback we gathered has already fueled some changes including how we communicate, and we plan to continue using it to help us make decisions. We hope to continue surveying on an ongoing basis.

We'll be sharing some of the positive comments throughout the summer and taking a couple of deep dives to address your concerns. Thank you to all who took the time to respond!

Lake Levels and Dock Placement

Some great advice from Steve Weeres, who maintains the LAKESCOUT data buoy on Horseshoe:
With ice-out and landowners contemplating the installation of their docks and lifts, the lake level graph and historical data can be a guide to where to place their equipment.
* The lake level as of today (4/14) is 1087 feet.
* Based on history the lake will not go below 1086 feet, a maximum 1 foot drop.
* The highest level in 2024 was 1088.4 feet, an increase of about 1 1/2 feet.
* When placing the dock in the water plan on a potential increase of 1-2 feet if we experience a high precipitation event.
* When placing the lift in the water, assume a 1 foot drop if there is an extended dry period.
As always, you can use the https://www.srcl.org/water-levels-on-horseshoe to monitor.

2025 Curly-leaf Pondweed Treatment Maps

In 2024, the SRCLA had trouble securing DNR permits to do curly-leaf pondweed treatments in a timely fashion. This year, the DNR issued permits based on areas we permitted and inspected last year.

Please see these maps indicating the areas on Knaus, Horseshoe, Cedar Island (per the DNR, Cedar Island includes East and Koetter), Zumwalde, Krays, and Great Northern that will be treated in the coming weeks with 200 ppb of flumioxazin.

In addition, these maps of Long and Becker show the areas that will be mechanically harvested in the coming weeks.

Road Clean Up May 3

The Sauk River Chain of Lakes Association will be conducting its spring "Adopt a Highway Cleanup" on Saturday, May 3. We will meet at 9am at the Horseshoe Lake Public Landing just off Highway 22 in Richmond.  Our stretch of road cleanup extends from the public landing South to Cozy Corners Resort. We invite you to participate to help remove litter from this stretch of highway that borders five of the lakes on the chain.  With 10-15 volunteers, we can accomplish the cleanup process in less than 2 hours.  If you can participate, drop an email to Wayne Karg at ontraxtruckrepair@embarqmail.com  or 320-444-5619 so if any updates are necessary, you can be alerted. We look forward to having you join the crew!

Please watch this short educational video from the MN DOT prior to the cleanup day. This video is also on our SRCL Educational Videos page.

DNR proposes lowering MN daily walleye limit in 2026

The Minnesota DNR is considering a statewide change to the walleye limit, potentially reducing the daily limit from six to four, and is seeking public input on this proposal, with the possibility of implementing the change for the 2026 fishing season. 

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

• Proposed Change: The Minnesota DNR is exploring a reduction in the statewide daily walleye limit from the current six to four. 

• Rationale: Brad Parsons, DNR Fisheries Section Manager, suggests this change could provide more consistency in management across the state's 11,000+ lakes, and that Minnesota would be following the lead of neighboring states.

  Public Input: The DNR is seeking public feedback on the proposed change through surveys, community meetings, and a public comment period. 

• Timeline:  While the change is not yet finalized, the DNR is considering implementing it for the 2026 fishing season, which starts in March. 

• Current Regulations: The current statewide walleye/sauger aggregate limit is six, with no more than four being walleye. The current limit of six has been in place since 1956.   

DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen supports going ahead with the plan.

Spring Photo Contest!

Yes, it is April Fool's but did you know this is also known as National Fun Day?

And do we ever have a fun activity for you! It's time to celebrate the beauty of the Chain of Lakes through a Spring Photo Contest.

• All submissions must be your own image, be submitted on our Facebook page by commenting on this post, and be centered around the Chain of Lakes as the subject. No limit on the number of submissions.

• SRCLA members and non-members can submit.

• Submit your photos by April 15. Submissions after 11:59 on April 15 will not be considered.

What could you win? The SRCLA Board will select the top three submissions, and those three will have their choice of available SRCLA apparel. All submissions may be spotlighted on SRCLA.org, Facebook, and Instagram.

SRCLA and the SRWD

Did you know the SRCLA played a key role in establishing the Sauk River Watershed District? Specifically, by submitting a petition in 1986 with signatures from 400 landowners to the Minnesota Water Resources Board (WRB) for the establishment of the Sauk River Watershed District. In addition, there is a record of payments to attorneys in 1987 to finalize the watershed district formation plus funding a watershed district employee in 1988 ($6K), another $6k in 1989 and 1990 for projects, and then helped secure $190K in grants in 1993 (and started the water clarity monitoring program). In 1994, the SRCLA bought water testing equipment for the SRWD.

We are so grateful to those leaders who stepped up to make this change over 40 years ago!

Here's a great resource from the Sauk River Watershed District. It's a great way to learn more about the challenges of managing water quality within a watershed.

SRCLA Petition Urging Gov Walz to continue to fully fund AIS Grants

During the Richmond Fire Department’s Catfish Festival, we collected almost 100 signatures urging Governor Walz to continue to fully fund invasive weed control in our Minnesota lakes!  

Our Association (SRCLA) primarily uses funds from charitable gambling and memberships to fund weed control, but we also rely on some government funding. For 2025, government funding from county Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Aid (AISPA) totaled about $28,000.

Governor Walz announced a planned cut of 50% of government funding to treat invasive weeds.  The proposed reduction in funding would greatly hinder our ability to treat our lakes.  In addition to this petition, we’ve also sent a letter directly to Governor Walz to express our disappointment and concern about this initiative.  Thank you for making your voice heard through this petition!

See the one page summary below to learn more about how Minnesota’s county AISPA has been a game-changer in invasive species prevention and what you can do to let our state leaders know how important this is to continue funding these programs.  For even more information, go to this post on MN Lakes & Rivers.

If you were unable to sign the petition, MN Lakes and Rivers has this Legislative Action Center available for making your voice heard: https://www.congressweb.com/MLRA/77/

2025 Fishing Licenses Required 3/1

Today is the last day fishing licenses issued in 2024 are valid. To ice fish on Saturday, 3/1/25, you must have a 2025 fishing license. To learn more and to purchase a license, go to the DNR Fishing licenses website: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/fishing/index.html

Catfish Fest Drawing

We can't say enough good things about the Richmond Fire Dept.'s Catfish Fest. They put on an incredible event! We're definitely excited to be a part of it in 2026!

We'd also like to congratulate @Dean Foley, our 50 QT cooler winner! Thanks to everyone who stopped by our table and a special thank you to those who signed up as new members for 2025!

2025 Youth Watercraft Operator Permit & Water Safety Class

Sponsored by Stearns County Coalition of Lake Associations (COLA)

Stearns COLA is pleased to announce the scheduling of youth Watercraft Safety Classes for 2025.  The COLA helps supervise the classes and provides refreshments including pizza for all participants.  There are only 20 slots for each class. 

Event: Sauk River Chain of Lakes Youth Watercraft Operator Permit & Water Safety Class
Date: Wednesday, June 18th, 2025
Time: Time: 7:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Shady's Long Shots - 17467 Fairway Circle, Cold Spring, Minnesota 56320

For details and requirements of this program and to register for this event click HERE. If you sign up and decide you cannot attend please cancel your reservation so others can attend. 

For more information: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/boatwater/index.html

Sustaining Our Lakes, One Property at a Time: A Call for Collective Action

The water may be frozen, but there is action happening beneath the surface of icy lakes and rivers. Under the thick layers of ice, aquatic ecosystems are preparing for the spring melt. You can too - read Lake Steward Coordinator, Lily Carr's blog post "Sustaining Our Lakes, One Property at a Time: A Call for Collective Action" to learn more about the simple actions to take and plans you can make to give back to Minnesota's unique waterways.

As Lake Stewards look forward to warmer days by the shore, now is the time to plan how you'll do your part to keep our waters clean. It all starts at the shore. Lawns to Legumes Grants for Fall 2025 have just opened. Apply to reimbursement-based funding of up to $400 for your shoreline restoration - deadline to apply is May 15, 2025 Click here to apply.

To learn more about becoming a Lake Steward on the Chain and funding a significant portion of your shoreline restoration, visit the SRCLA Lake Steward page and/or contact our Land Use program chair, Richard Gallea, at rjgallea@gmail.com.

2024 Water Quality Report Available

The 2024 Water Quality report is now available: click here or go to the Projects page. It is the product of the Sauk River Watershed District (SRWD) in partnership with the Sauk River Chain of Lakes Association (SRCLA). The SRWD produces this more detailed report every five years. Unsurprisingly, the Sauk River Chain of Lakes still carries an excessive nutrient load, particularly phosphorus, and the SRCLA will continue to advocate for programs to reduce the nutrient load. For ways you can help, please contact our Land Use program chair, Richard Gallea, at rjgallea@gmail.com.

Save County AIS Prevention Aid Funding

An important message from MLR’s Executive Director, Jeff Forester:

As you probably know, Gov. Walz, in his 2025 Budget Recommendations released in January, proposes cutting the County AIS Prevention Aid Formula.

We have put out a few Action Alerts, and I know there is a lot of interest in this and also a number of questions about what individuals can do to protect this funding in the face of significant budget constraints.

We will be hosting a Legislative Update to provide more information on the process, the next steps, and some practical advice on how you and your organization can move the needle on this issue. We will also be able to answer your questions.

Monday, February 10th, 4:00 – 5:00pm

Time zone: America/Chicago

Video Link: https://meet.google.com/zie-wdvq-kha

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 219-390-9911‬ PIN: ‪563 532 205‬#

NOTE: this is a virtual only event hosted by MN Lakes and Rivers. The SRCLA receives about $30k through this program.

Plan Ahead: Shoreline Weed Treatment Permits

Hey SRCLA members! Are you ready to keep your shoreline accessible this season? Now’s the time to apply for your 2025 shoreline weed treatment permits—don’t wait until spring!
Getting your permit early ensures you’ll be ready to tackle aquatic weeds and maintain access when the season starts. Early applications help avoid delays and ensure a smooth treatment process.
💻 Learn more: https://www.srcl.org/chainlinksp24/battling?rq=weeds
Let’s work together to protect and preserve the Sauk River Chain of Lakes!