Fishing regulations

Also see:

• Current whitefish sport gill netting regulations
• 2009 Mille Lacs Lake Regulations
• Upper Red Lake: State Anglers Legal Fishing Boundary
• Exemptions and fishing licenses issued without a fee
• Experimental and special fishing regulations
• Mississippi River bluegill experimental regulation maps
  • Pool 5
  • Pool 5A
  • Pool 8
• Fishing tournament regulations
• Help Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers (30 sec mp3)
• Fishing licenses
• Help navigating and using PDF files

Changes effective July 1:

• Allows night bowfishing statewide from May 1 to the last Sunday in February, with limitations on noise and distance from structures.
• A resident may take fish by angling in a State Park without an angling license under certain conditions, except in waters where a trout stamp is required.
• Residents age 90 or older may take fish without a license.
• Fishing contests:
  • Allows 25 boat minimum for needing a fishing contest permit (currently 30 participants).
  • Exempts rough fish contests and contests with total prize value of $500 or less from needing permits.
  • Deletes the fee waiver for charitable organizations.
  • Cuts the current maximum contest fees in half.
  • Requires the commissioner to develop best practices certification for fishing contests to assure proper handling and release of fish.
  • Requires the commissioner to develop an online web-based fishing contest permit application process.
  • The commissioner may allow for live release weigh-ins at public accesses.
• Clarifies that a "shelter" in addition to fish and dark houses must be licensed.
• Permits a nonresident to take fish by spearing; establishes nonresident spearing and darkhouse fees.
• Extends the winter season for lake trout and stream trout in lakes located entirely within the BWCA to January 1 to March 31.
• Allows a resident under age 16 to net ciscoes or whitefish for personal consumption without a license.

Note:
This information is available in an alternative format upon request. E-mail the DNR Information Center at info@state.mn.us or call at (651) 296-6157 or (888) MINNDNR; TTY: (651) 296-5484 or (800) 657-3929.

This fishing regulations document contains a synopsis of the state fishing laws and regulations. For complete fishing laws and regulations, consult Minnesota Statutes and Rules of the DNR.