Boarder Waters

This section covers Minnesota’s border waters with Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota, as well as the Canadian provinces of Ontario andManitoba. It does not include the waters of Lake Superior, which are not covered under border water rules. More details can be found on pages 34-36 for LakeSuperior. All calendar dates refer to 2025 unless noted otherwise.

Licensing

What license do I need to fish border waters?

• Minnesota residents must have a Minnesota license.
• Residents of a state bordering that water must have their state’s license.
• Other nonresidents may purchase a Minnesota or the bordering state’s nonresident license.

Can I fish anywhere on the border waters with a Minnesota license?

• In Canadian border waters, Minnesota residents or nonresidents fishing with a Minnesota nonresident license, may only fish the Minnesota portion of theCanadian border waters. To fish the Canadian portion, you must have a Canadian license and follow Ontario and Minnesota border crossing regulations and processes.
• In other border waters, Minnesota residents or nonresidents fishing with a Minnesota nonresident license, may fish throughout the defined waters bordering the two states.

What if I don’t see a particular regulation listed in this section?

Unless otherwise noted, all general regulations relating to angling methods, licensing, season, limits, fish possession and transportation apply to border waters (pages 37-44). Also, all fish must be within length limits regardless of where they were caught (more details can be found on page 40-41). Please check theExperimental and Special Regulations section (pages 46-64) for different regulations that may apply.

If fishing regulations differ between the border states, what regulations do I follow?

You must obey the regulations of the state in which you are fishing. More permissive regulations are limited to that state’s waters.

Can I launch my boat or transport my catch back home from the adjacent state’s boat launch?

Yes, you can launch your boat and transport your catch by the most direct route back to the state that you are licensed.

Do bowfishing regulations allowed for inland waters apply to border waters? The bowfishing regulations covered on page 78 are only allowed onMinnesota’s portion of the border waters. If the bordering state’s bowfishing regulations are the same, bowfishers may take legal fish shore to shore under aMinnesota license.

Lake Sturgeon Endorsements

Lake Sturgeon rules for the 2025 season were not final as of the printing deadline for this regulation book. Rules will be posted to the DNR website mndnr.gov/fishing.

Generally:

• An angler may take and possess only 1 lake sturgeon per calendar year.
• Lake sturgeon may not be possessed or transported without an tag/endorsement.
• Registration of a harvested sturgeon must be completed within 48 hours.
• Tags/endorsements are not transferable, and no duplicates will be issued.
• Lake sturgeon must be transported intact (gills and internal organs may be removed).
• Members of a fishing party may not take sturgeon for other anglers’ limits; party fishing is not allowed for sturgeon.

Canada–Minnesota

The seasons and regulations listed below apply to the Minnesota portions of the following waters. Daily and possession limits are the same unless otherwise noted.

Cook County: Clove Lake, Devils Elbow Lake, North Fowl Lake, South Fowl Lake, Gneiss (Round) Lake, Granite Lake, Granite River, Gunflint Lake, Little GunflintLake, Lily Lake (Fan, Vaseux), Magnetic Lake, Marabaeuf Lake, Moose Lake, Mountain Lake, North Lake, Little North Lake, Pigeon River, Pine River, Rat Lake, Rose Lake, Rove Lake, Saganaga Lake, South Lake, and Watap Lake.

Koochiching County: Big Fork River mouth to State Highway 11 bridge, Black River mouth upstream to State Highway 11 bridge, Little Fork River mouth upstream to State Highway 11 bridge.

Koochiching and Lake of the Woods counties: Rainy River.

Koochiching and St . Louis counties: Rainy Lake (including Black Bay).

Lake County: Basswood Lake (except Jackfish, Pipestone, Hoist, and Back Bays, which are considered inland waters), Basswood River, Birch Lake, Carp Lake,Cypress Lake, Knife Lake (except South Arm), Little Knife Lake, Knife River, Melon Lake, Seed Lake, Sucker Lake, and Swamp Lake.

Lake and St . Louis counties: Crooked Lake.

Lake of the Woods County: Baudette River up to State Highway 11 bridge, Bostic Creek mouth upstream to County Road 8 bridge, Kelly Creek mouth upstream to State Highway 172, Rapid River up to State Highway 11 bridge, Silver Creek mouth upstream to State Highway 11 bridge, Wabanica River mouth upstream toState Highway 172 bridge, Winter Road River mouth upstream to State Highway 172 bridge.

Lake of the Woods and Roseau counties: Lake of the Woods.

Roseau County: Swift ditch mouth up to County Road 8 culvert, Warroad River mouth upstream to State Highway 11 bridge.

St . Louis County: Bottle Lake, Iron Lake, Lac La Croix, Loon Lake, Loon River to Loon River Falls, Namakan Lake, Sand Point Lake, and Little Vermilion Lake.

Canada–Minnesota Regulations

• 1 line per angler is allowed, except 2 lines may be used when ice fishing.
• Parts of Saganaga, Little Gunflint, and Little North lakes are closed to fishing in May. For current dates, call Grand Marais Area Office: 218-387-6021.
• While in Minnesota, anglers may not possess more than a Minnesota limit of fish from Canada–Minnesota border waters. Fish from Canadian inland waters may be possessed in Minnesota in excess of the Minnesota limit only if the angler has proof—such as lodging receipts or verification through U.S. Customs—that the fish were taken from inland Canadian waters.
• A person cannot possess or use a gaff while fishing on the Rainy River.
• Sauger without head and tail intact will be counted as walleye.
• Bowfishing (Minnesota’s portion of the waters only) see page 78.
• Dark houses, fish houses and shelters, see pages 81-83.
• Dark house spearing season November 15, 2025 - February 22, 2026. Canada– Minnesota border water possession limits apply.

Canada–Minnesota Seasons and Limits

Iowa–Minnesota

The seasons and regulations listed below apply to the following waters:

• Jackson County: Little Spirit Lake.
• Jackson and Nobles counties: Iowa Lake.
• Martin County: Okamanpeedan (Tuttle), Iowa, and Swag lakes.

Daily and possession limits are the same. All species not listed are covered by the inland regulations of the state where taken.

Iowa–Minnesota Regulations

• Anglers may use up to 2 lines with 2 hooks per line.
• Setlines, trotlines, or unattended lines are unlawful.
• Spearing may be used anytime to take carp, buffalo, freshwater drum, bowfin, gar, or quillback.
• Spearing game fish is unlawful.
• Bowfishing regulations, page 78.
• Dark house spearing, ice angling, and ice shelter regulations, pages 81-83.

Iowa–Minnesota Seasons and Limits

North Dakota–Minnesota

Seasons and regulations apply to the Bois de Sioux River and the Red River of the North. Daily and possession limits are the same. All species not listed are covered by the inland regulations of the state where taken.

North Dakota–Minnesota Regulations

• Anglers may use 2 lines with up to 2 hooks per line.
• Dark house spearing is legal; however, catfish may not be speared at any time. Rules regarding dark house spearing, ice angling and shelters found on pages81-83.
• It is unlawful to possess a spear, spring gaff or bow and arrow on or adjacent to any waterbody where the spearing and archery season is closed.
• Carp, buffalo, freshwater drum, suckers, redhorse, bowfin, and gar may be taken by spearing between sunrise and sunset from May 1 through December 31.
• The bowfishing regulations on page 78 are allowed only on Minnesota’s portion of the border waters when they differ from those of the border state. If thebowfishing regulations are the same, then they may be exercised from shore to shore.
• Culling is not allowed. However, at the end of your fishing day you may release live fish before leaving the water.
• Anglers fishing from the North Dakota shoreline must possess a North Dakota fishing license.

North Dakota–Minnesota Seasons and Limits

South Dakota–Minnesota

The seasons and regulations listed below apply to the following waters:

• Big Stone County: Big Stone Lake.
• Lincoln County: Hendricks Lake.
• Traverse County: Lake Traverse, Mud Lake, Bois de Sioux River to North Dakota border, and Mustinka River from the mouth to the Minnesota StateHighway 117 bridge.

Daily and possession limits are the same unless otherwise noted. All species not listed are covered by the inland regulations of the state where taken.

South Dakota–Minnesota Regulations

• Anglers may use 2 lines with up to 3 hooks per line.
• Setlines, trotlines, or unattended lines are unlawful.
• Carp, buffalo, freshwater drum, suckers, redhorse, bowfin, burbot (eelpout), and gar may be taken by spearing from sunrise to sunset from May 1, 2025through March 1, 2026.
• The bowfishing regulations on page 78 are allowed only on Minnesota’s portion of the border waters when they differ from those of South Dakota. If the bowfishing regulations are the same, then they may be exercised from shore to shore.
• It is unlawful to possess a spear, spring gaff, or bow and arrow on or adjacent to any body of water where the spearing and archery season is closed.
• Spearing game fish is unlawful except northern pike (season and limit in table below) and catfish may be speared from a dark house. For other rules regarding dark house spearing, ice angling, and ice shelters see pages 81-83.
• Catfish may not be taken by spearing anytime on the Bois De Sioux River from White Rock Dam to the North Dakota border.
• Culling is not allowed on the Bois de Sioux River from the White Rock Dam to the North Dakota border. However, at the end of your fishing day you may release live fish before leaving the water.

South Dakota–Minnesota Seasons and Limits

Aquatic Plant Permit Requirements

Water plants such as bulrushes are essential for healthy lake ecosystems. They reduce wave erosion, provide fish and wildlife habitat, and purify water.Because lake plants can interfere with swimming and boating by lakeshore owners—but are also vital to lake health—the DNR allows removal under the following conditions.

DNR permit is NOT required to cut or pull submersed (underwater) plants as long as:

• The area does not extend along more than 50 feet of your shoreline or one-half the length of your frontage, whichever is less;
• The total area is less than 2,500 square feet (except for boat channels); and
• The plants are immediately and permanently disposed of on high ground where they can’t re-enter the water.

DNR permit IS required to:

• Remove emergent plants (such as bulrushes, cattails, and wild rice).
• Use herbicides or algicides in Minnesota lakes.
• Install or use an automated device such as the Crary WeedRoller^®
• Remove water lilies (other than in a narrow channel extending to open water).
• Remove plants in an area larger than 2,500 square feet or wider than 50 feet.

A person who illegally destroys plants can be cited and made to pay for the restoration of those plants.

For more information, call your regional DNR office (page 98) or visit our website at mndnr.gov/apm/aquatic-plant-management-permits.

Wisconsin–Minnesota

The seasons and regulations listed below apply to the following waters: Mississippi River (downstream of the Highway 10 bridge in Prescott, Wisconsin and all waters between the Burlington Northern [Wisconsin] and Canadian Pacific [Minnesota] railroad tracks). Lake Pepin, St. Croix River, Lake St. Croix and St. Louis River Estuary.

Daily and possession limits are the same. All species not listed are covered by the inland regulations of the state where a fish is taken. Anglers may fish shore to shore with either a Minnesota or Wisconsin fishing license.

Wisconsin–Minnesota Regulations

• 2 lines with a single lure or bait on each are permitted. If fishing with 1 line, you may use 2 baits.
• Fish hooked in any part of the body, except the mouth, must be returned to the water immediately.
• Anglers must be within 400 feet of their tip-ups.
• Native rough fish and common carp may be taken by spearing and dip-netting between sunrise and sunset from May 3, 2025 - March 1, 2026. Dip net hoops cannot exceed 24" in diameter.
• Spearing game fish is prohibited. It is unlawful to have a spear on or adjacent to any body of water where the spearing season is closed.
• Dark house spearing, ice angling, and ice shelter regulations, pages 81-83.
• The bowfishing regulations on page 78 are allowed only on Minnesota’s portion of the border waters when they differ from those of Wisconsin. If the bowfishing regulations are the same, then they may be exercised from shore to shore.
• Fish sanctuaries, no fishing allowed:
  • Mississippi River: no fishing allowed within 300 feet below Lock and Dam 3 (near Red Wing) and Lock and Dam 4 (Alma, Wisconsin) from March 1 - April30.
  • ⁕NEW—St. Croix River: no fishing allowed by bank or boat from March 2 through June 15 from the Taylors Falls (St. Croix Falls) dam to the upstream side of the Highway 8 bridge.
  • St. Louis River Estuary: no fishing allowed at any time from the Fond du Lac Dam downstream to the Minnesota–Wisconsin boundary cable. No fishing allowed from the boundary cable downstream to the Highway 23 bridge from March 1 - May 18.

Wisconsin–Minnesota Seasons and Limits