Anglers frustrated by minnow shortage

DEER RIVER, Minn. (AP) -- A shortage of spottail shiner minnows is causing a ripple effect across north-central Minnesota, frustrating anglers and worrying bait dealers who rely on the fish for a significant portion of their revenue.

Spottail minnows are prized as walleye bait and sell for about twice as much as more common fathead minnows. But there's a shortage this year due to a late thaw and a ban on harvesting spottails from Lake Winnibigoshish, the region's most productive source of spottails in the area.

The effect is being felt across the region. Minnow trappers are desperate to catch anything, bait dealers are missing out on big dollar and anglers are grumpy about the lack of supply.

"There's a following with these shiners and walleyes," said Jonny Petrowske, a minnow trapper and fishing guide. "(Anglers) truly believe this is all there is. It's almost a cult following."

Petrowske said competition has become so intense among trappers that he's begun putting iron bars and padlocks over his traps so other bait dealers can't raid them in the middle of the night.