Minnesota Department of Natural Resources officials are reminding fishing contest organizers that they need to begin planning now for contests in 2002. The DNR began accepting applications for the 2002 tournament season on Sept. 1 and will continue to accept them through Oct. 27.

This year, the DNR tightened some restrictions regulating fishing contests. The new restrictions grew from meetings among tournament organizers, angling clubs, recreational anglers, boaters, lakeshore property owners and DNR officials. The meetings were held to address increasing complaints by many lake users that fishing tournaments disturb their fishing, swimming, boating and other water recreation.

The restrictions on the number and frequency of fishing contests held on lakes each month were created to redistribute tournaments held on Minnesota's busiest waters. In this first year under the new regulations, fishing tournament complaints from the public to the DNR have dropped substantially, indicating that the regulations are having the desired effect, DNR officials said.

Among the restrictions are limits on the number of tournaments allowed per month based on lake and tournament size. On lakes with fewer than 2,000 acres, only two tournaments will be allowed per month, and none can have more than 50 boats or 100 participants. Lakes with 15,000 to 55,000 acres can have five contests per month, but only three of those can have more than 100 participants. There are no limits for lakes larger than 55,000 acres.

If the number of applications exceeds monthly limits, the DNR will conduct a lottery to allocate available permits, similar to the system used for wildlife hunting permits.

Organizers planning a tournament in 2002 for a lake and time period that they anticipate might exceed the new limits should consider submitting their applications this fall, according to the DNR. Applications received from Sept. 1 through Oct. 27 will be eligible for any necessary lottery drawing.

Tournaments with a history established for a particular lake and time period will have preference over others. Applications received after Oct. 27 will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis through the 2002 tournament season.

For a complete summary of the tournament regulations, call the DNR Information Center at (651) 296-6157 from the Twin Cities metro area or call toll free (888) MINNDNR (646-6367) in greater Minnesota, or view the summary on the DNR web site at www.dnr.state.mn.us.