East Metro area fisheries

East Metro area fisheries staff perform management, habitat and oversight work for 90 fishing lakes and 146 miles of rivers and streams in Anoka, Dakota, Ramsey and Washington counties.

Popular area waters are Forest and White Bear lakes and the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers.

The East Metro fisheries work area

Where to find us

1200 Warner Road
St. Paul, MN 55106
651-259-5831
[email protected]
News & notices

Trout stocked for 2024

Trout being dipped with a net as they are stockedBoth yearling and adult trout have been stocked in two popular east metro lakes for the 2024 trout opener on Saturday, Jan. 13. Variable ice conditions will require extreme caution.

What can I catch?

Measuring a walleye's lengthWondering what fish you can catch and when you can catch them? Seasons vary for different fish so use our fishing season listing to find out.

Fishing opportunities

Outlooks

Area lakes by county

Resources

Vermillion River Regulations

Within a 19.5 mile reach from the Highview Avenue bridge in Eureka Township in Farmington to the posted boundary 1.1 miles downstream from the U.S. Highway 52 Bridge, including all tributaries to their source (Dakota County). Brown Trout: Catch-and-release only. Rainbow Trout: Regular statewide regulations apply. From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, angling for Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout is allowed but catch-and-release only (all trout must be immediately released). The Vermillion River is not part of the Jan. 1 - April 15 catch-and-release season.

Lake management planning

Lakes scheduled for 2024

People who want to discuss the individual fisheries listed below must call or email this area fisheries office during February. Your observations and comments will be considered as updates begin on these fisheries lake management plans.

Comments from people interested in the health and quality of Minnesota’s fisheries are a critical part of the DNR’s fisheries lake management planning process. These plans establish fisheries management goals and objectives for each lake and guide the work fisheries biologists do each year.

Clicking lake links below take you to LakeFinder, where you can find various lake specific information, including past fisheries surveys. To submit input or learn more about each lake’s management plan, please contact this area office.

Lake (nearest city) County
Crooked Anoka
Lily Washington
Turtle Ramsey

How you can help

Comments about preferred experiences, observations or general concerns about the fishery – rather than suggestions on how DNR might accomplish a specific goal or objective – are the most helpful kinds of input.

Some questions to consider when formulating input could include:

  • What kind of fishing experience are you looking for?
  • Are there fish habitat concerns you’d like to share?
  • What species of fish are most important to you?
  • Do you like catching fewer big fish or a lot of smaller fish?

Individuals as well as representatives of lake associations, outdoors groups, conservations organizations and local units of government are encouraged to comment.

Talk with us

East Metro staff

Slide text left for phones & emails

Name
Position
Phone
Email
T.J. DeBates Area supervisor 651-259-5770 [email protected]
Jim Levitt Assistant area supervisor 651-259-5819 [email protected]
Eric Sanft Fisheries specialist 651-259-5758 [email protected]
Joel Stiras Large river specialist   651-259-5806 [email protected]
Tim Ohmann Fishing in the Neighborhood (FiN) 651-259-5787 [email protected]
Genevieve Furtner Hatchery manager 651-259-5801 [email protected]
James Stone Fisheries technician 651-259-5759 [email protected]
Kayla Stampfle Invasive carp specialist   651-259-5865 [email protected]
Brian Glasow Invasive carp specialist   - [email protected]
Mandy Anzaldi Office administrative specialist 651-259-5761 [email protected]
Will French Fisheries research 651-259-5750 [email protected]
Mark Nemeth Trout habitat specialist 651-259-5786 [email protected]

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