Fishing tournament permit application process

  • Permit applications for will be accepted starting Aug. 1 for the following year.
  • Applications and associated fees for fishing contests must be sent to the appropriate regional fisheries office. A map showing regional boundaries and addresses can be found in the fishing regulations book, on the online office locator, or on page 2 of the tournament permit application. The appropriate fee must be submitted along with the application.
  • Applications may also be submitted online. Permit fees, parking plans, tournament rules, and other required information must still be mailed or delivered to the appropriate regional manager. Applications are not considered to be complete until all materials have been received.
  • Parking plans are required as part of the application process.
  • Multiple-region contest applications should be sent to 500 Lafayette Rd., St. Paul, MN, 55155-4020.
  • There are limits on the number of contests held each month based on lake size.
  • If permit applications received from Aug. 1 through the last Friday in September exceed the monthly limits for a given water body, the DNR will notify the applicants that their application will be subject to a drawing. Applicants would then be given seven days to change their application, but could not change to a location and time period for which applications are already at or above the limit.
  • The DNR will conduct a drawing for all locations and time periods for which applications exceed limits. First preference in the drawings will be given to applicants for established or traditional fishing contests. Preference points will be given to contests based on the number of times they have been unsuccessful in previous drawings. Contests lose all accumulated preference points after being successfully drawn.
  • Results of the drawing and any applications received by 4:30 p.m. on the last Friday in September will be announced no later than Nov. 7.
  • Permit applications for the following year received after the last Friday in September, may be approved as long as the additional permits do not exceed the monthly limit on permitted fishing contests. These additional applications will be considered on a first-come, first-serve basis.
  • A person may not transfer a fishing contest permit to another person.
  • The contest fee is non-refundable except for applications denied following a drawing or withdrawn by the applicant prior to issuance of a permit. Once a permit has been issued, fees are not refundable.

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