The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is considering several experimental and special fishing regulations for the 2027 fishing season.
Each year, the DNR proposes several experimental and special fishing regulations. Experimental regulations have a set evaluation period (typically 10 years), after which the DNR must determine whether the change should become permanent.
Special regulations are selected from a suite of regulation toolbox options that have proven effective at achieving specific goals. Special regulations do not have an end date although DNR reviews their performance as part of an individual lake’s management planning cycle.
For more information on current proposals or to provide input, click the "Take our survey" tab below. Upcoming public input meetings will be listed when scheduled later this summer.
- Proposed regulations & public meetings
Area office Lake County Species Existing regulation Proposed regulation Proposal goal Meeting date Meeting location Meeting address Meeting time Sauk Rapids Sauk Rapids Cedar Lake near Annandale Wright Sunfish Statewide inland 20 combined total, with only 5 over 8" Protect larger sunfish while allowing harvest of smaller sunfish TBD TBD TBD Brainerd Brainerd Cuyuna State Recreation Area mine pits: Huntington, Portsmouth, Sagamore, Pennington, Mahnomen, Alstead and Arco Crow Wing Northern pike Statewide inland Possession limit of 10 with no restriction on length Allow increased northern pike harvest opportunities in mine pits actively managed for trout TBD TBD TBD Fergus Falls Fergus Falls German Lake Otter Tail Sunfish Statewide inland 20 combined total, with only 5 over 8" Protect larger sunfish while allowing harvest of smaller sunfish TBD TBD TBD Walker Walker Hovde Lake Cass Sunfish Statewide inland 20 combined total, with only 5 over 8" Protect larger sunfish while allowing harvest of smaller sunfish TBD TBD TBD Sauk Rapids Sauk Rapids Mink Lake and Somers Lake Wright Sunfish, walleye, minnows Sunfish: daily limit 5; walleye: possession limit 3, minimum size limit 17", only 1 over 20"; Possession or use of live minnows prohibited. Repeal sunfish, walleye and minnow rules. Implement sunfish: 20 combined total, with only 5 over 8". Current regulations are no longer needed. Proposed sunfish regulation: protect larger sunfish while allowing harvest of smaller sunfish TBD TBD TBD International Falls International Falls Namakan Reservoir Lakes St. Louis Walleye Possession limit of 6 walleye and sauger combined, only 4 can be walleye, all from 18-26" must be immediately released, only 1 over 26" in possession Implement as a special regulation Maintain harvest at or below target harvest. TBD TBD TBD Fergus Falls Fergus Falls North Ten Mile Lake and South Ten Mile Lake Otter Tail Sunfish Statewide inland 20 combined total, with only 5 over 8" Protect larger sunfish while allowing harvest of smaller sunfish TBD TBD TBD Walker Walker Pine Lake Cass Northern pike Statewide inland Possession limit of 3, all from 24-36" must be immediately released, 1 over 36" allowed in possession Maintain northern pike population with large fish present TBD TBD TBD Sauk Rapids Sauk Rapids Pleasant Lake Stearns Sunfish Daily limit 5 Repeal sunfish regulation, revert to statewide limit Regulation did not meet the intended goal of improving size structure TBD TBD TBD Fergus Falls Fergus Falls Rush Lake Otter Tail Sunfish Statewide inland 20 combined total, with only 5 over 8" Protect larger sunfish while allowing harvest of smaller sunfish TBD TBD TBD - Take our survey