DNR east metro fisheries staff recently stocked about 4,200 10- to 13-inch rainbow trout into Cenaiko Lake in Coon Rapids, along with 180 larger adult rainbows. Cenaiko is a designated trout lake open to fishing only during lake trout season. It’s one of six metro region lakes stocked with catchable size trout for the winter trout season, which opens Jan. 14, 2017. Remember to buy a trout stamp; you’ll need it. Check east (http://bit.ly/EastMetro) and west metro (http://bit.ly/WestMetroFisheries

MDIFW fisheries biologist Frank Frost captured this fascinating footage of lake trout preparing to spawn on Eagle Lake in northern Aroostook county. Frost is overseeing a radio telemetry study of lake trout and brook trout in Eagle Lake, and had trapnetted several of these fish. These lake trout tipped the scales between 14 and 18 pounds. Lake trout are the largest and longest lived of our native freshwater fish, and usually are found in the depths of our deepest lakes and ponds. Come fall howev

Earlier this fall, Lanesboro fisheries staff sampled a stream using electrofishing to search for heritage brook trout. Electrofishing equipment sends a pulse of electricity through the water which temporarily stuns fish, allowing staff to easily collect and examine them. Brook trout are the only native trout in southeast Minnesota. Fisheries staff revealed through previous sampling efforts that 37 streams have brook trout with heritage genetics unique to the southeast. Two of these streams have