Minn. R. agency 158, ch. 6262, GENERAL RESTRICTIONS, pt. 6262.0200
Fish may be taken in inland waters by angling during the time specified for each of the following species; however, certain waters of the state are subject to experimental or special regulations or are closed for taking and possessing fish. When the closing date of a season falls on a Saturday, the season extends through the following Sunday.
Species and Open Season | Daily and Possession Limits | |
A. | Largemouth and smallmouth bass. | 6 in aggregate. |
(1) | In all waters lying east and north of U.S. Highway 53 from Duluth to International Falls and Pelican and Ash Lakes, St. Louis County. Saturday two weeks before the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through 11:59 p.m. the last Sunday in February. | |
(2) | In all other waters. | |
From the Saturday two weeks before the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through 11:59 p.m. the Friday before Memorial Day, angling for bass is limited to catch and release only. Any bass must be immediately returned to the water. It is unlawful for anyone to have in possession, regardless of where taken, any bass while on or fishing in these waters. The Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through 11:59 p.m. the last Sunday in February is the harvest season. From the second Monday in September through the end of the season, angling for smallmouth bass is limited to catch and release only. Any smallmouth bass must be immediately returned to the water and it is unlawful for anyone to have in possession, regardless of where taken, any smallmouth bass while on or fishing in these waters. | ||
B. | Brook, brown, and rainbow trout and splake. Except as provided in part 6264.0400, subparts 35, 36, 37, and 117, the following restrictions apply. | |
(1) | In all streams in Houston, Fillmore, Mower, Dodge, Olmsted, Winona, Wabasha, Dakota, and Goodhue Counties. January 1 through 11:59 p.m. October 15. | 5 in aggregate from the second Saturday in April through 11:59 p.m. September 14. No more than 1 may be over 16 inches in length. Angling for trout is limited to catch and release only from January 1 up to but not including the second Saturday in April and from September 15 through 11:59 p.m. October 15. During these time periods, all trout must be immediately returned to the water. It is unlawful for anyone to have in possession, regardless of where taken, any trout while on or fishing in these waters. All legal methods of taking trout are allowed. |
(2) | In all other streams, except those in part 6262.0300, subpart 6, item C, for St. Louis, Lake, Carlton, and Cook Counties. Second Saturday in April through 11:59 p.m. September 30. | 5 in aggregate. No more than 1 may be over 16 inches in length. |
(3) | In lakes only: | 5 in aggregate. No more than 3 may be over 16 inches in length. |
(a) | Statewide. Saturday two weeks before Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through 11:59 p.m. October 31. | |
(b) | All lakes entirely within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. January 1, except when January 1 falls on a Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday, then opening day is the preceding Saturday (Saturday nearest January 1), through 11:59 p.m. March 31. | |
(c) | All lakes entirely or partly outside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Saturday nearest January 15 through 11:59 p.m. March 31. | |
(d) | Little Andrus (Snowshoe) Lake, Cass County; Allen and Pleasant Lakes, Crow Wing County; and Bad Medicine Lake, Becker County, are closed for the winter season. | |
C. | Lake trout. | 2 |
(1) | Statewide. Saturday two weeks prior to Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through 11:59 p.m. September 30. | |
(2) | All lakes entirely within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. January 1, except when January 1 falls on a Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday, then opening day is the preceding Saturday (Saturday nearest January 1), through 11:59 p.m. March 31. | |
(3) | All lakes lying entirely or partly outside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Saturday nearest January 15 through 11:59 p.m. March 31. | |
D. | Walleye and sauger. Saturday two weeks before the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through 11:59 p.m. the last Sunday in February. | 6 in aggregate. |
E. | Northern pike. Saturday two weeks before the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through 11:59 p.m. the last Sunday in February. The restrictions in this item do not apply to boundary waters, which are regulated under parts 6266.0100 to 6266.0700. | |
(1) | Northeastern management zone. | 2 |
The northeastern management zone includes all inland waters lying east and north of U.S. Highway 53 from International Falls to Duluth. | When taking northern pike by angling, only 1 over 40 inches in length may be in possession; all northern pike from 30 to 40 inches in length must be immediately returned to the water. When taking northern pike by dark house spearing, only 1 over 26 inches in length may be in possession. | |
(2) | North-central management zone. | 10 |
The north-central management zone includes all inland waters lying west of U.S. Highway 53 from the Canadian border at International Falls to Duluth and north of a line described as follows: beginning at the South Dakota border, along U.S. Highway 12 to State Highway 7, thence south along State Highway 7 to State Highway 22, thence south on State Highway 22 to U.S. Highway 212, thence east on U.S. Highway 212 to State Highway 41, thence south on State Highway 41 to Hennepin County Road 61, thence east on Hennepin County Road 61 to Hennepin County Road 1, thence east on Hennepin County Road 1 to State Highway 5, thence east on State Highway 5 to U.S. Highway 10, thence south on U.S. Highway 10 to the Wisconsin border. The northcentral management zone does not include waters of the Minnesota or Mississippi Rivers where those waters create the southern boundary of the zone. | When taking northern pike by angling, only 2 over 26 inches in length may be in possession; all northern pike from 22 to 26 inches must be immediately returned to the water. When taking northern pike by dark house spearing, either: (a) only 2 over 26 inches in length and none from 22 to 26 inches in length may be in possession; or (b) only 1 from 22 to 26 inches in length and 1 over 26 inches in length may be in possession. | |
(3) | Southern management zone. | 2 |
The southern management zone includes all inland waters lying south of a line described as follows: beginning at the South Dakota border, along U.S. High 12 to State Highway 7, thence south along State Highway 7 to State Highway 22, thence south on State Highway 22 to U.S. Highway 212, thence east on U.S. Highway 212 to State Highway 41, thence south on State Highway 41 to Hennepin County Road 61, thence east on Hennepin County Road 61 to Hennepin County Road 1, thence east on Hennepin County Road 1 to State Highway 5, thence east on Highway 5 to U.S. Highway 10, thence south on U.S. Highway 10 to the Wisconsin border. | The minimum size is 24 inches in length, and includes northern pike taken by angling or dark house spearing. | |
(4) | Certain experimental and special management waters. This subitem applies to waters regulated under parts 6264.0300, subparts 74 and 76; and 6264.0400, subparts 19, 25, 54, 59, 71, 72, 73, 74, 76, 77, 79, 80, 94, 98, and 102. | 3 |
F. | Muskellunge. The first Saturday in June through 11:59 p.m. November 30. | 1. The minimum size limit is 54 inches in length. |
G. | Tiger muskellunge (northern pike-muskellunge hybrid). First Saturday in June through 11:59 p.m. November 30. | 1. The minimum size limit is 40 inches in length. |
H. | Rock bass. Continuous. | 30 |
I. | White and yellow bass. Continuous. | 30 in aggregate. |
J. | Crappies. Continuous. | 10 |
K. | Sunfish, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.015, subdivision 46. Continuous. | 20 |
L. | Flathead catfish. April 1 through 11:59 p.m. November 30. | 2. Only one over 24 inches may be in possession. |
M. | Channel catfish. Continuous. | 5. Only one over 24 inches may be in possession. |
N. | Perch. Continuous. | 20 daily; 40 in possession. |
O. | Bullheads. Continuous. | 100 |
P. | Lake and shovelnose sturgeon. June 16 through 11:59 p.m. April 14 for catch and release only. Closed April 15 through 11:59 p.m. June 15. | 0 |
Q. | Carp, bowfin, redhorse, sheepshead, suckers, goldeyes, buffalo, smelt. Continuous. | No limits. |
R. | American eel. Continuous catch and release only. | 0 |
S. | Burbot. Continuous. | 4 |
T. | Whitefish. Continuous. | 15. No more than 15 greater than 7 inches may be in possession. |
U. | Cisco. Continuous. | 15. No more than 15 greater than 7 inches may be in possession. |
V. | Paddlefish. No open season. Paddlefish are a state threatened species and may not be targeted, taken, bought, sold, or possessed. An incidentally caught paddlefish must be immediately returned to the water. | 0 |
W. | Longnose and shortnose gar. Continuous. | 10 in aggregate. |
Rainbow smelt may be taken by licensed anglers and those exempt from licensing at any time by angling and dip net. Smelt may be taken in inland lakes by minnow seines, not more than 25 feet in length or four feet in depth. Seines may not be used within 100 feet of any outlets or mouths of any stream that empty into or out of Grindstone Lake, Pine County. Live smelt may not be possessed or transported.
Minn. R. agency 158, ch. 6262, GENERAL RESTRICTIONS, pt. 6262.0200
Statutory Authority: MS s 14.388; 84.027; 97A.045; 97C.005; 97C.025; 97C.041; 97C.045; 97C.325; 97C.371; 97C.375; 97C.395; 97C.401; 97C.405; 97C.411; 97C.415; 97C.811