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Fishing Seasons & Limits

Name: eRegulations
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All calendar dates are for 2024 unless noted otherwise. Season dates are inclusive unless otherwise noted.
Daily and possession limits are the same unless otherwise noted.
Most species have experimental or special regulations on some waters.
Different limits for Conservation Licenses apply.
Northern pike dark house spearing limits differ.
Some waters are seasonally closed to fishing to protect vulnerable concentrations of fish. Dates can vary from year to year but will be posted every spring at mndnr.gov/regulations/fishing.

Inland Seasons and Limits

SPECIES

OPEN SEASON

ZONE AND ANGLING POSSESSION LIMIT (SIZE)

Northern pike

May 11, 2024 -
Feb. 23, 2025

Northeast Zone: 2 (not more than 1 over 40" in possession, all
from 30-40" must be immediately released)
North-central Zone: 10 (not more than 2 over 26", all from 22-26"
must be immediately released) Southern Zone: 2 (minimum size 24")
See Zone Map on page 23 and page 24 for details on how possession limits apply across zones. Dark house spearing limits differ, see page 71.

SPECIES

OPEN SEASON

POSSESSION LIMIT (SIZE)

Walleye and sauger (and their hybrid)

May 11, 2024 - Feb. 23,
2025

6 combined total (not more than 1 walleye over 20" in possession)

Muskellunge/hybrid muskellunge

June 1 - Dec. 1

1 combined total
(minimum size 54")

SIZE EXCEPTION: the following Twin Cities area lakes: Eagle, Pierson and Wasserman, Carver County; Crystal and Orchard, Dakota County; Gervais, Island, Johanna, Phalen and Silver, Ramsey County; Bryant, Bush, Bde Maka Ska, Cedar, Crystal, Isles, Nokomis and Weaver, Hennepin County; Cedar, Scott County; Clear and Elmo, Washington County.

1 combined total
(minimum size 40")

SPECIES
Largemouth bass—Statewide
(except Northeast Zone)

OPEN SEASON
May 11 - 24

POSSESSION LIMIT (SIZE)
Catch-and-release only

May 25, 2024 - Feb. 23,
2025

6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass (when smallmouth season is open)

Largemouth bass—Northeast Zone (Pelican and Ash lakes in St. Louis County are part of the Northeast Zone for bass. See Zone Map on page 23.)

May 11, 2024 - Feb. 23, 2025

6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass

Smallmouth bass—Statewide
(except Northeast Zone)

May 11 - 24

Catch-and-release only

May 25 - Sept. 8

6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass

Sept. 9, 2024 - Feb. 23, 2025

Catch-and-release only

Smallmouth bass— Northeast Zone

May 11, 2024 - Feb. 23, 2025

6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass

Crappie (white or black and their hybrids)

Continuous

10 combined total

Sunfish
(bluegill, pumpkinseed, green, orangespotted, northern, warmouth, and their hybrids)

Continuous

20 combined total

Rock bass

Continuous

White bass

Continuous

Catfish
(channel and flathead)

Channel catfish: continuous
Flathead catfish: April 1 - Nov. 30

5 combined total. No more than 2 can be flathead (only 1 catfish over 24")

Perch

Continuous

20 daily, 40 in possession

Whitefish, cisco (tullibee), and burbot. Sport netting regulations effective each fall are available on the DNR website.

Continuous

No limit
EXCEPTION: On Leech
Lake Indian Reservation whitefish limit 25 and cisco (tullibee) limit 50.

Bowfin, buffalo, carp, carpsuckers, freshwater drum, goldeye, redhorse, and suckers

Continuous

No limit

Bullhead

Continuous

100

Gar

Continuous

SPECIES
Smelt

OPEN SEASON
Continuous

POSSESSION LIMIT (SIZE)
No limit

Lake or shovelnose sturgeon (See pages 58-68 for other sturgeon waters and regulations.)

Same dates every year: June 16 - April 14

Catch-and-release only; no tag needed.

Paddlefish

No open season

Lake trout (SUMMER) Statewide

May 11 - Sept. 30

Lake trout (WINTER) Outside or partly outside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW).

2024 Season:
Jan. 13 - March 31
2025 Season:
Jan. 18 - March 31

Lakes entirely within the BWCAW.

2024 Season:
Dec. 30, 2023 -
March 31, 2024
2025 Season:
Jan. 1, 2025 -
March 31, 2025

Stream Trout Species Seasons and Limits (Streams)

WATERS	OPEN SEASON	POSSESSION LIMIT (SIZE)
Streams—Southeast Minnesota	Jan. 1 - April 12	Catch-and-release only
	April 13 - Sept. 14	5 combined total (not more than 1 over 16")
	Sept. 15 - Oct. 15	Catch-and-release only
	Jan. 1, 2025 - April 11, 2025	Catch-and-release only
	Sept. 15, 2023 - April 12, 2024	Catch-and-release only
	April 13 - Sept. 14	5 combined total (not more than 1 over 16"). See special regulations for these streams, pages 52-56.
	Sept. 15, 2024 - April 11, 2025	Catch-and-release only
Streams—Statewide Except Southeast Minnesota	April 13 - Sept. 30	5 combined total (not more than 1 over 16")

Stream Trout Species Seasons and Limits (Lakes)

WATERS

OPEN SEASON

POSSESSION LIMIT (SIZE)

Lakes (SUMMER) Statewide

May 11 - Oct. 31

5 combined total
(not more than 3 over 16")

Lakes (WINTER)
Outside or partly outside the BWCAW

2024 Season:
Jan. 13 - March 31
2025 Season:
Jan. 18 - March 31

5 combined total
(not more than 3 over 16")

Lakes entirely within the BWCAW

2024 Season: Dec. 30,
2023 - March 31, 2024
2025 Season:
Jan. 1 - March 31

5 combined total
(not more than 3 over 16")

Lakes
EXCEPTIONS:
Little Andrus (Snowshoe), Cass County; Allen and Pleasant, Crow Wing County; Bad Medicine, Becker County.

Winter season closed for stream trout.

Lake Superior and Tributaries Below Posted Boundaries

Including St. Louis River Estuary below the Minnesota–Wisconsin boundary cable and Lake Superior tributaries with no posted boundaries.

Calendar dates refer to 2024 unless noted otherwise. If fishing the St. Louis River Estuary and species are not listed below see Minnesota-Wisconsin border waters regulations (page 66). Otherwise, see inland waters regulations for any species not listed.

SPECIES

OPEN SEASON

POSSESSION LIMIT

SIZE LIMIT

Brook trout and splake April 13 - Sept. 2 1 (combined total brook Minimum size trout, splake, brown trout limit 20" and rainbow trout is 5).

Rainbow trout—clipped

Continuous

3 (combined total brook trout, splake, brown trout and rainbow trout is 5).

Minimum size limit 16"

Rainbow trout— unclipped

Continuous

Catch-and-release only

Brown trout

Continuous

5 (combined total brook trout, splake, brown trout and rainbow trout is 5).

Minimum size limit 10". Only 1
over 16".

Lake trout

Dec. 1, 2023 -
Oct. 6, 2024

Dec. 1, 2024 -
Oct. 5, 2025

Salmon (Chinook, coho, pink, and Atlantic)

Continuous

5 combined total (only 1 can be Atlantic salmon)

Minimum size limit 10"

Walleye

May 11, 2024 -
March 1, 2025

Minimum size limit 15"

Northern pike

May 11, 2024 -
March 1, 2025

Smelt

Continuous

No limit

Lake or shovelnose sturgeon Includes Lake Superior and the St. Louis River. (See pages 59-68 for other sturgeon waters and
regulations.)

Same dates every year: June 16 -
April 14

Catch-and-release only; no tag needed.

Lake Superior Tributaries Above Posted Boundaries

SPECIES

OPEN SEASON

POSSESSION LIMIT

SIZE LIMIT

Brook and brown trout

April 13 - Sept. 30

5 combined total

Not more than 1 over 16"

Rainbow trout

April 13 - Sept. 30

Catch-and-release only

Canada–Minnesota Seasons and Limits

SPECIES

OPEN SEASON

POSSESSION LIMIT (SIZE)

Walleye and sauger

May 13, 2023 -
April 14, 2024
May 11, 2024 -
April 14, 2025

6 combined total (not more than 1 over 20" in possession).

Walleye and sauger
EXCEPTION:
Lake of the Woods

March 1 - April 14 each year
May 11, 2024 -
April 14, 2025

6 (not more than 4 can be walleye; only 1 walleye over 28"; walleye 19½-28" must be immediately released).

Walleye and sauger
EXCEPTION:
Four Mile Bay (Southeast bay of Lake of the Woods)

March 1 - April 14 each year

Catch-and-release only.

May 11, 2024 -
Feb. 28, 2025

6 (not more than 4 can be walleye; only 1 walleye over 28"; walleye 19½-28" must be immediately released).

Walleye and sauger
EXCEPTION:
Namakan, Sand Point and Little Vermilion

May 13, 2023 -
April 14, 2024
May 11, 2024 -
April 14, 2025

6 (not more than 4 can be walleye; walleye from 18-26" must be immediately released; only 1 walleye over 26").

Walleye and sauger
EXCEPTION:
Rainy Lake

May 13, 2023 -
April 14, 2024
May 11, 2024 -
April 14, 2025

8 (not more than 4 can be walleye; walleye from 18-26" must be immediately released; only 1 walleye over 26").

Walleye and sauger
EXCEPTION:
Rainy River (Mouth to the dam at International Falls)

March 1 - April 14 each year

Catch-and-release only.

May 11, 2024 -
Feb. 28, 2025

6 (not more than 4 can be walleye; only 1 walleye over 28"; walleye 19½-28" must be immediately released).

SPECIES
Walleye and sauger
EXCEPTION: Saganaga Lake

OPEN SEASON
May 11, 2024 -
April 14, 2025

POSSESSION LIMIT (SIZE)
3 (17" minimum size limit. Only 1
walleye over 20").

Northern pike

Continuous

3 (only 1 over 30" in possession).

Northern pike
EXCEPTION: Lake of the Woods and Rainy River to the dam at International Falls

Continuous

3 (All from 30-40" must be immediately released. Only 1 over 40" allowed in possession.)

Northern pike
EXCEPTION: Basswood Lake (includes Jackfish, Pipestone, Hoist, and Back bays)

May 11, 2024 -
Feb. 28, 2025

3 (All northern pike from 24-36" must be immediately released. Only 1 over 36" allowed in possession.)

Muskellunge

June 15 - Nov. 30

1 (minimum size 50").

Largemouth and smallmouth bass

Continuous

6 combined total

Lake sturgeon
Immediately validate and attach your sturgeon tag. Register your sturgeon within 48 hours.
(See page 59.)

April 24 - May 7

1 per calendar year (fish must be 45-50" inclusive, or over 75").

May 8 - 15

Catch-and-release only. No tag needed.

Closed: May 16 - June 30

Closed

July 1 - Sept. 30

1 per calendar year (fish must be 45-50" inclusive, or over 75").

Oct 1 - April 23 of following year

Catch-and-release only. No tag needed.

Crappie

Continuous

Lake trout (SUMMER)

May 11 - Sept. 30

Lake trout (WINTER)
Lakes outside or partly outside the BWCAW

2024 Season:
Jan. 13 - March 31
2025 Season:
Jan. 18 - March 31

Lakes entirely within the BWCAW.

2024 Season:
Dec. 30, 2023 -
March 31, 2024
2025 Season:
Jan. 1 - March 31

Stream trout

May 4 - Sept. 30

5 (not more than 3 over 16").

All other species

Continuous

Inland limits apply.

Iowa–Minnesota Seasons and Limits

SPECIES

OPEN SEASON

POSSESSION LIMIT (SIZE)

Walleye

Continuous

Northern pike

Continuous

Largemouth and smallmouth bass

Continuous

3 combined total

Muskellunge

May 21 - Nov. 30

1 (minimum size 40")

Catfish

Continuous

8 combined total

Sunfish
(bluegill, crappie, pumpkinseed, green, orangespotted, northern, warmouth, and their hybrids)

Continuous

25 combined total

Perch

Continuous

White bass and yellow bass

Continuous

No limit

Bullhead

Continuous

No limit

Carp, sucker, redhorse, freshwater drum, buffalo, burbot, bowfin, and quillback

Continuous

No limit

Gar

Continuous

North Dakota–Minnesota Seasons and Limits

SPECIES

OPEN SEASON

POSSESSION LIMIT (SIZE)

Walleye and sauger

Continuous

3 combined total

Northern pike

Continuous

Sunfish
(bluegill, pumpkinseed, green, orangespotted, northern, warmouth, and their hybrids)

Continuous

Perch

Continuous

Crappie

Continuous

Largemouth and smallmouth bass

Continuous

3 combined total

Lake sturgeon

March 1 - April 14

Catch-and-release only

April 15 - June 15

Closed

June 16, 2024 -
April 14, 2025

Catch-and-release only

Muskellunge

Continuous

1 (minimum size 50")

Rock bass

Continuous

Bullhead

Continuous

100

Catfish

Continuous

5 (only 1 over 24")

Carp, sucker, redhorse, freshwater drum, buffalo, burbot, bowfin, and white bass

Continuous

No limit

Gar

Continuous

South Dakota–Minnesota Seasons and Limits

SPECIES

OPEN SEASON

POSSESSION LIMIT (SIZE)

Walleye and sauger

Continuous

4 combined total
(only 1 walleye over 20")

Northern pike angling

Continuous

Northern pike spearing

Nov. 15, 2024 - Feb. 23, 2025

Largemouth and smallmouth bass

Continuous

6 combined total

Crappie

Continuous

Sunfish
(bluegill, pumpkinseed, green, orangespotted, northern, warmouth, and their hybrids)

Continuous

10 combined total

Rock bass

Continuous

SPECIES
Bullhead

OPEN SEASON
Continuous

POSSESSION LIMIT (SIZE)
100

Perch

Continuous

15 daily and 30 in possession

Catfish
(channel and flathead)

Channel catfish: continuous
Flathead catfish: April 1 - Nov. 30

5 combined total. No more than 2 can be flathead (only 1 catfish over 24").

Lake sturgeon

March 1 - April 14

Catch-and-release only

April 15 - June 15

Closed

June 16, 2024 - April 14, 2025

Catch-and-release only

Carp, sucker, redhorse, freshwater drum, buffalo, burbot, bowfin, and white bass

Continuous

No limit

Gar

Continuous

Wisconsin–Minnesota Seasons and Limits

SPECIES

OPEN SEASON

POSSESSION LIMIT (SIZE)

Walleye and sauger
St. Louis River Estuary

May 11, 2024 -
March 1, 2025

2 combined total (15" minimum size for walleye)

Walleye and sauger
St. Croix River

May 4, 2024 -
March 1, 2025

6 combined total (15" minimum size for walleye)

Walleye and sauger
Mississippi River, border water portion of Pool 3 and Pools 4-8 including Lake Pepin

Continuous

4 combined total (15" minimum size for walleye, only 1 walleye or sauger over 20")

SPECIES
Walleye and sauger continued
Mississippi River downstream of Lock and Dam 8

OPEN SEASON
Continuous

POSSESSION LIMIT (SIZE)
6 combined total (15" minimum size for walleye, all walleye from 20-27" must be immediately released, only 1 walleye over 27")

Largemouth and smallmouth bass
St. Louis River Estuary

May 25, 2024 -
March 1, 2025

5 combined total
(14" minimum size)

Largemouth and smallmouth bass
St. Croix River upstream of Taylors Falls Dam

May 25 - Sept. 8

5 (14" minimum size)

Sept. 9 - March 1,
2025

Catch-and-release only

Largemouth and smallmouth bass
St. Croix River downstream of Taylors Falls Dam to
U.S. Hwy. 10 Bridge

May 25, 2024 -
March 1, 2025

5 (14" minimum size)

Largemouth and smallmouth bass
Mississippi River and Lake Pepin

Continuous

5 (14" minimum size)

Northern pike
St. Louis River Estuary

May 11, 2024 -
March 1, 2025

St. Croix River

May 4, 2024 -
March 1, 2025

Mississippi River and Lake Pepin

Continuous

3 (only 1 over 30")

Muskellunge

May 25 - Nov. 30

1 (50" minimum size)

Perch
Mississippi River and Lake Pepin

Continuous

St. Louis River Estuary and St. Croix River

Continuous

Catfish (channel and flathead) Mississippi River and Lake Pepin

Channel catfish: continuous
Flathead catfish: April 1 - Nov. 30

10 combined total
(only 1 catfish over 30")

St. Louis River Estuary and St. Croix River

Channel catfish: continuous
Flathead catfish: April 1 - Nov. 30

10 combined total

Rough fish (not including gar)

Continuous

No limit

Bullhead

Continuous

No limit

Gar

Continuous

White bass and yellow bass
Mississippi River and Lake Pepin

Continuous

10 combined total

Continued on next page

Border Waters 67

White bass and yellow bass St. Louis River Estuary and St. Croix River

Continuous

25 combined total

Crappie
Mississippi River and Lake Pepin

Continuous

Crappie
St. Louis River Estuary and St. Croix

Continuous

Rock bass

Continuous

Sunfish
(bluegill, pumpkinseed,
green, orangespotted, northern, warmouth, and their hybrids)
Mississippi River and Lake Pepin

Continuous

Sunfish
St. Louis River Estuary and St. Croix

Continuous

Paddlefish

No open season

Lake sturgeon
St. Louis River Estuary and the Mississippi River below the Red Wing dam and Lake Pepin

March 1 - April 14
June 16, 2024 -
April 14, 2025

Catch-and-release only; no tag needed.

Lake sturgeon
Mississippi River above the Red Wing dam to the mouth of the St. Croix River

June 16, 2024 -
March 1, 2025

Catch-and-release only; no tag needed.

Lake sturgeon
St. Croix River above Taylors Falls

June 16, 2024 -
March 1, 2025

Catch-and-release only; no tag needed.

Lake sturgeon
St. Croix River below Taylors Falls to mouth including Lake St. Croix

June 16 - Sept. 1

Catch-and-release only; no tag needed.

Sept. 7 - 30

1 per calendar year (60" minimum size). A sturgeon tag is needed to harvest a lake sturgeon. Details on page 59.

Oct. 1, 2024 -
March 1, 2025

Catch-and-release only; no tag needed.

Shovelnose sturgeon
St. Croix River including Lake St. Croix and Mississippi River above Red Wing dam

June 16, 2024 -
March 1, 2025

Catch-and-release only

Shovelnose sturgeon Mississippi River below Red Wing dam

Continuous

Bowfishing Seasons and Limits

SPECIES

SEASONS (DAY AND NIGHT)

POSSESSION LIMIT

Bullhead

2024 Early Season: Feb. 26 - April 26, 2024
Regular Statewide: April 27, 2024 - Feb. 23, 2025
2025 Early Season: Feb. 24 - April 25, 2025
(Early Seasons are south of Hwy 210, only on lakes and on Minnesota, Mississippi, or St. Croix rivers. You must bowfish from a boat during the early season.)

100

Sucker and redhorse

50 each

Carp, buffalo, freshwater drum, bowfin, goldeye

No limit

Gar

Spearing, Harpooning and Dip Nets Seasons and Limits

SPECIES

SPEARING SEASON (SUNRISE TO SUNSET)

HARPOONING, DIP NET AND SEINE SEASON (SUNRISE TO SUNSET)

POSSESSION LIMIT

Sucker

April 27, 2024 -
Feb. 23, 2025

May 1, 2024 -
Feb. 16, 2025

Bullhead

April 27, 2024 -
Feb. 16, 2025

May 1, 2024 -
Feb. 16, 2025

100

Redhorse

April 27, 2024 -
Feb. 16, 2025

May 1, 2024 -
Feb. 16, 2025

Carp, buffalo, freshwater drum, bowfin

April 27, 2024 -
Feb. 16, 2025

May 1, 2024 -
Feb. 16, 2025

No limit

Gar

April 27, 2024 -
Feb. 16, 2025

May 1, 2024 -
Feb. 16, 2025

Dark House Spearing Seasons and Limits

SPECIES

SPEARING SEASON (SUNRISE TO SUNSET)

ZONES AND POSSESSION LIMIT (SIZE)

Northern pike Angling limits differ, see page 21.

Nov. 15, 2024 - Feb.
23, 2025 except where prohibited.

See Zone Map on page 23. For border waters or special regulations, refer to those sections.
Northeast Zone: 2 (not more than 1 northern
pike over 26")
North-central Zone: 10 (either 2 northern pike over
26" and none from 22 to 26" or
1 from 22 to 26" and 1 over 26")
Southern Zone: 2 (minimum size 24")

Catfish

Nov. 15, 2024 -
Feb. 23, 2025 except where prohibited.

5 (only 1 over 24") (not more than 2 flathead); flathead catfish can only be speared from
Nov. 15 - Nov. 30.

Whitefish

Nov. 15, 2024 -
Feb. 23, 2025 except where prohibited.

No limit