Special fishing regulations input

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is considering several experimental and special fishing regulations for the 2026 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 egulations & public meetings

Area office	Lake	County	Species	Existing regulation	Proposal goal	Proposed regulation	Meeting date	Meeting location	Meeting address	Meeting time
Bemidji	Rabideau Lake	Beltrami	Sunfish	Statewide	Maintain or improve size quality; distribute harvest	Daily limit 5.	Sep. 15	Ten Lake Town Hall	2142 Mission Rd SE, Cass Lake, MN (Beltrami County)	TBD
Fergus Falls	Jewett Lake	Otter Tail	Sunfish	Statewide	Maintain or improve size quality; distribute harvest	"Daily limit 20, only five over 8"""	Oct. 1	Fergus Falls DNR Conference Room	1509 1st Ave N, Fergus Falls, MN 56537	6:00pm to 7:30pm
Fergus Falls	North and South Ten Mile Lake	Otter Tail	Sunfish	Statewide	Maintain or improve size quality; distribute harvest	"Daily limit 20, only five over 8"""	Oct. 1	Fergus Falls DNR Conference Room	1509 1st Ave N, Fergus Falls, MN 56537	6:00pm to 7:30pm
Fergus Falls	German	Otter Tail	Sunfish	Statewide	Maintain or improve size quality; distribute harvest	"Daily limit 20, only five over 8"""	Oct. 1	Fergus Falls DNR Conference Room	1509 1st Ave N, Fergus Falls, MN 56537	6:00pm to 7:30pm
Fergus Falls	Rush Lake	Otter Tail	Sunfish	Statewide	Maintain or improve size quality; distribute harvest	"Daily limit 20, only five over 8"""	Oct. 1	Fergus Falls DNR Conference Room	1509 1st Ave N, Fergus Falls, MN 56537	6:00pm to 7:30pm
Grand Rapids	Sand Lake	Itasca	Walleye	"17-26 PSL, 1 over 26"""	Stabilize walleye population, provide consistent catch of large fish	Reviewing experimental regulation.	Oct. 15	Squaw Lake, MN	51272 State Hwy 46, Squaw Lake, MN 56681	6pm to 8 pm
International Falls	Rainy Lake	St. Louis, Koochiching	Walleye	"18-26 PSL, 1 over 26"""	Maintain high quality fishery; provide catch of large fish	Reviewing experimental regulation.	Oct. 16	Virtual	Virtual	6-7:00 pm
Little Falls	Platte Lake	Crow Wing, Morrison	Sunfish	Daily limit 10	Maintain or improve size quality; distribute harvest	Reviewing experimental regulation.	Oct. 16	Virtual	Virtual	6-7:00 pm
Little Falls	Green Prairie Fish Lake	Morrison	Sunfish	Daily limit 10	Maintain or improve size quality; distribute harvest	Reviewing experimental regulation.	Oct. 16	Virtual	Virtual	6-7:00 pm
Little Falls	Long (Higgins) Lake	Todd	Sunfish	Daily limit 10	Maintain or improve size quality; distribute harvest	Reviewing experimental regulation.	Oct. 16	Virtual	Virtual	6-7:00 pm
Little Falls	Moose Lake	Todd	Sunfish	Daily limit 10	Maintain or improve size quality; distribute harvest	Reviewing experimental regulation.	Oct. 16	Virtual	Virtual	6-7:00 pm
Little Falls	Maple Lake	Todd	Sunfish	Daily limit 10	Maintain or improve size quality; distribute harvest	Reviewing experimental regulation.	Oct. 16	Virtual	Virtual	6-7:00 pm
Little Falls	Sullivan Lake	Crow Wing, Morrison	Sunfish	Daily limit 10	Maintain or improve size quality; distribute harvest	Reviewing experimental regulation.	Oct. 16	Virtual	Virtual	6-7:00 pm
Windom	Amber	Martin	Yellow Bass	Statewide; 30 fish daily combined with White Bass	Allow expanded harvest for a prolific species that is invasive in nature.	Daily limit 100 fish	Sep. 10	Fairmont Public Library	110 N. Park Street; Fairmont	6-7:30 p.m.
Windom	Budd	Martin	Yellow Bass	Statewide; 30 fish daily combined with White Bass	Allow expanded harvest for a prolific species that is invasive in nature.	Daily limit 100 fish	Sep. 10	Fairmont Public Library	110 N. Park Street; Fairmont	6-7:30 p.m.
Windom	Clear	Jackson	Yellow Bass	Statewide; 30 fish daily combined with White Bass	Allow expanded harvest for a prolific species that is invasive in nature.	Daily limit 100 fish	Sep. 10	Fairmont Public Library	110 N. Park Street; Fairmont	6-7:30 p.m.
Windom	George	Martin	Yellow Bass	Statewide; 30 fish daily combined with White Bass	Allow expanded harvest for a prolific species that is invasive in nature.	Daily limit 100 fish	Sep. 10	Fairmont Public Library	110 N. Park Street; Fairmont	6-7:30 p.m.
Windom	Hall	Martin	Yellow Bass	Statewide; 30 fish daily combined with White Bass	Allow expanded harvest for a prolific species that is invasive in nature.	Daily limit 100 fish	Sep. 10	Fairmont Public Library	110 N. Park Street; Fairmont	6-7:30 p.m.
Windom	Imogene	Martin	Yellow Bass	Statewide; 30 fish daily combined with White Bass	Allow expanded harvest for a prolific species that is invasive in nature.	Daily limit 100 fish	Sep. 10	Fairmont Public Library	110 N. Park Street; Fairmont	6-7:30 p.m.
Windom	Sisseton	Martin	Yellow Bass	Statewide; 30 fish daily combined with White Bass	Allow expanded harvest for a prolific species that is invasive in nature.	Daily limit 100 fish	Sep. 10	Fairmont Public Library	110 N. Park Street; Fairmont	6-7:30 p.m.