Welcome to 2026!
| Happy New Year!
2026 is going to be another great year for Minnesota fishing. And, yes, MN-FISH will again be bringing the strong voice of state anglers to St. Paul and across the state.
Before we begin to look forward, let’s take a short look back at MN-FISH highlights from 2025, achieved through your help and support.
Legislative Wins: 1. $6 Million—New rearing ponds, Waterville, MN Hatchery 2. $600,000—Rearing pond repair, Crystal Springs Hatchery 3. $1.8 Million—Public Water Access, Ottertail Lake 4. Continuous Bass Fishing Season—Worked with DNR to ensure bill passage 5. Leech Lake Muskie Survivability Study—Funded and develop with Bemidji State University, Minnesota DNR and Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
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Landmark Muskie Study Completes Year 1 on Leech Lake
The MN-FISH Muskie Movement and Survival Study has completed its first full open water field season on Leech Lake, marking a major milestone in this three-year collaborative effort between MN-FISH, the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) and Bemidji State University.
Together, these partners are working to better understand the movement, habitat use, and seasonal survival of Minnesota’s muskie population. Along with financial support from Muskies Inc.
To see the full report on 2025 go to: Muskie Study Report
To date, 21 Leech Lake Muskies have been equipped with surgically implanted acoustic tags, allowing researchers to track their seasonal movement throughout the lake.
St. Paul Hatchery Replacement Efforts
MN-FISH organized hatchery tours throughout 2025 for Legislators and MN-FISH members to see first-hand the need to not just replace the aged St. Paul hatchery, but to also rethink what our fish hatcheries management philosophy should be.
We are pushing for the state to build a state-of-the-art facility that not only increases critical stocking capacity, it offers opportunities for public educational tours and serves as a fisheries research center to ensure Minnesota prepared to meet future needs.
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In memory of Board Member Tom Mackin
Earlier this year, good friend and beloved former board member Tom Mackin passed away unexpectedly. As former president of Rapala, Tom brought tremendous knowledge to the MN-FISH board during the years he served. He was also an avid angler who was especially passionate about chasing big muskies.
With Tom’s passing, his family requested memorials in his honor to be donated to MN-FISH, adding to his already incredible contribution to the future of fishing in the state.
Other families also honored their loved ones with Memorial donations to MN-FISH this year, including Marcie Bowe, Steve Swiatek, Ron Elkins.
To each we say thank you. |
