For a complete list of fishing seasons please check the fishing regulations.
Fishing licenses are effective from March 1 to the last day of February of the following year. A fishing license for the current 2023-24 license year is effective until Feb. 29, 2024.
Seasons for waters entirely within Minnesota
Scroll table right to see more »
| 05/14/22 - 02/26/23 | Northern pike | Minnesota waters | |
| 05/14/22 - 02/26/23 | Sauger | Minnesota waters | |
| 05/14/22 - 02/26/23 | Walleye | Minnesota waters | |
| 12/31/22 - 03/31/23 | Lake and Stream Trout - Winter (entirely within the BWCA) | ||
| 03/01/23 - 02/29/24 | Bullhead | Minnesota waters | |
| 03/01/23 - 02/29/24 | Burbot (eelpout) | Minnesota waters | |
| 03/01/23 - 02/29/24 | Channel catfish | Minnesota waters | |
| 03/01/23 - 02/29/24 | Cisco (tullibee), whitefish | Minnesota waters | |
| 03/01/23 - 02/29/24 | Crappie | Minnesota waters | |
| 03/01/23 - 02/29/24 | Gar | Minnesota waters | |
| 03/01/23 - 02/29/24 | Other | Minnesota waters | |
| 03/01/23 - 02/29/24 | Perch | Minnesota waters | |
| 03/01/23 - 02/29/24 | Rock bass | Minnesota waters | |
| 03/01/23 - 02/29/24 | Smelt | Minnesota waters | |
| 03/01/23 - 02/29/24 | Sunfish | Minnesota waters | |
| 03/01/23 - 02/29/24 | White bass | Minnesota waters | |
| 04/01/23 - 11/30/23 | Flathead catfish | Minnesota waters | |
| 05/13/23 - 09/30/23 | Lake trout | Minnesota waters | |
| 05/13/23 - 02/25/24 | Largemouth bass | Northeastern Minnesota | |
| 05/13/23 - 05/26/23 | Largemouth bass - catch-and-release | Statewide except the northeast | |
| 05/13/23 - 02/25/24 | Northern pike | Minnesota waters | |
| 05/13/23 - 02/25/24 | Sauger | Minnesota waters | |
| 05/13/23 - 02/25/24 | Smallmouth bass | Northeastern Minnesota | |
| 05/13/23 - 05/26/23 | Smallmouth bass - catch-and-release | Statewide except the northeast | |
| 05/13/23 - 02/25/24 | Walleye | Minnesota waters | |
| 05/27/23 - 02/25/24 | Largemouth bass | Statewide except the northeast | |
| 05/27/23 - 09/10/23 | Smallmouth bass | Statewide except the northeast | |
| 06/03/23 - 12/01/23 | Muskellunge | Minnesota waters | |
| 06/16/23 - 04/14/24 | Sturgeon - catch-and-release | Minnesota waters | |
| 09/11/23 - 02/25/24 | Smallmouth bass - catch-and-release | Statewide except the northeast | |
| 12/30/23 - 03/31/24 | Lake trout | Lakes entirely within the BWCA | |
| 01/13/24 - 03/31/24 | Lake trout | Lakes partially or completely outside the BWCA |