While fall hunting seasons garner much of the attention each October and November, fall is also a busy time for DNR Fisheries staff to stock trout from the state’s four cold-water hatcheries. Each year, cold-water hatcheries in Altura, Lanesboro, Peterson and Remer raise 1.7 million trout annually which are stocked into 200 lakes and 100 streams throughout Minnesota. Trout going into lakes and streams can range in size from fingerlings, to yearlings, to brood stock depending on the location and

Southeast Minnesota is a popular trout fishing destination, and each spring and fall DNR staff survey key area streams to collect data on trout populations. Annual surveys help us understand how trout numbers are affected by short-term changes (such as a flood event or food availability) as well as long-term trends, like climate change. Looking to catch some trout in 2024? Due to the unique karst geology of the Driftless Area with its abundance of springs, Southeast Minnesota’s trout streams sta

Is a new trout rig on your holiday wish list? 🎣 Winter stream trout season opens January 14 for lakes outside the BWCAW. That’s only seven weeks away! DNR Fisheries staff have been busy stocking brookies and rainbows from the state’s four cold-water hatcheries before the ice forms on designated trout lakes. Long-term recordkeeping and test netting informs individual fish management plans and helps fisheries staff determine the timing, size, and numbers of fish stocked at each lake. Trout need c