MARSHALL — A pair of area lakes are on the list to have their fisheries management plans updated this year, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said. Lake Shaokatan in Lincoln County and Clear Lake in Lyon County are among about 151 lakes statewide that will have their plans updated.

In a news release, the DNR said fisheries offices will be looking for public input on fisheries lake management plans in the month of March.

“People interested in the health and quality of Minnesota’s fisheries are a critical part of the DNR’s fisheries lake management planning process,” said Shannon Fisher, DNR fisheries populations and regulations manager. “These plans establish fisheries management goals and objectives for each lake and define the work fisheries biologists do each year. Observations and input from a lake’s stakeholders are essential to the planning effort.”

The DNR manages fisheries in 4,500 lakes across Minnesota. Fisheries lake management plans are updated on a regular basis. Management plans for Minnesota’s 10 largest lakes have their own separate update process.

The full list of lakes scheduled for plan updates in 2025, as well as contact information for their area fisheries offices, is available on the DNR’s website at mndnr.gov/lakemanagement. Lyon County has only one lake on the list, Clear Lake near the city of Russell. Lake Shaokatan in Lincoln County will also have its fisheries plan updated this year.

Some of the other lakes in the region scheduled for plan updates include Big Stone Lake and Lac qui Parle. Andrew, Florida, Games and Norway Lakes in Kandiyohi County are also on the list.

The DNR said it is encouraging people to call or email fisheries with comments on future lake management before March 31. Area fisheries teams will consider the comments as they develop updated fisheries management plans.

“We want to hear from anyone interested in these fisheries,” Fisher said. “Comments about experiences, observations, concerns and wishes for the fishery — rather than suggestions on how the DNR might accomplish a specific goal or objective — are the most helpful kinds of input.”

The DNR suggested that commenters consider factors like kind of fishing experiences they are looking for on lakes, the species of fish that are most important to them, and fish habitat concerns.