2015 Sturgeon Catch and Release Season

Sturgeon.
June 16
to
April 14
for catch and release only.
Closed April 15 to June 15.
When the closing date of a season falls on a
Saturday, the season does not extend through the
following Sunday.

*************
FYI there is no change to the St Croix or Lake of the Woods harvest season.

April seems a little early to close the season. I though spawning occured June/July timeframe.

and Nov 30 seems too late to close the flathead season.

True that.

Thanks for the update! Is this official to share?

Why even complicate it with a
season at all? SMH…

I can only speculate on the close months.

I’ve seen some videos of the sturgeon spawn and they are in very shallow water in very large numbers. I would guess the DNR is trying to leave them alone during the spawn to prevent undue stress. Even catch and release will stress a fish.

Until we have enough documentation that says C&R during spawn won’t hurt reproduction, I’m ok with a few months closed.

If a person catches one cat fishing, they are likely not spawning and would be C&R anyway.

Darrin, the above info was directly from the revisor page.

So, can I assume the c&r season officially opens on June 16? I was really hoping for next March/April.

So if the seasons on the Rainy river and St. Croix river are remaining the same as in the past, what bodies of water are going to be open in 2015 for Catch and release sturgeon starting in June?

mr. pike wrote:

So if the seasons on the Rainy river and St. Croix river are remaining the same as in the past, what bodies of water are going to be open in 2015 for Catch and release sturgeon starting in June?

All inland bodies of water in mn for catch and release only.

I know I can’t name all the waters holding Sturgeon, but there’s Ottertail and the St. Louis River to name a couple.

Remember, although the catch and keep season on the St Croix and LoTW’s will stay the same, they’ll be open to C&R though out the year.

I can only assume this new catch and release season will be statewide, so what about the short catch and release window on the Rainy that won’t be covered under this new season. Say from about April 14-20 (or when ever that harvest season opens up there)?

For those of us who’ve mostly only fished the river during the sturgeon season, do the sturgies stick to pretty much the same places year round (excluding the spawn) or do they have seasonal movement patterns like other fish?

Just use some of these strategies and you’ll find them new areas you haven’t fished before.

http://www.in-depthoutdoors.com/community/forums/topic/boating-big-sturgeon/

I’ve heard they stay in same general areas…Which, frankly, is spread out in the entire lower stretch of the ST. Croix…Stillwater south.