The following waters in the portions designated are closed to the taking of all fish during the periods specified to protect fish spawning areas. Look for signs at access sites and in the areas as noted. All dates are inclusive.
Additional closures or openings may be posted here up to 48 hours prior to the law taking effect.
Current closures
| Name | Location | County | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basswood lake | Portion of Pipestone Bay south of a direct line from Kosulainen Point to Gary Island to Caribou Point | Lake | 5/12-5/18 |
| Baugh’s Creek | Tributary to Lake Osakis, 210th Street to Lake Osakis | Todd | 4/28-6/30 |
| Bear Island River | Both sides of Highway 1 | St. Louis | 4/28-5/11 |
| Beaver River | Upstream of Bear Island Lake | St. Louis | 4/28-5/11 |
| Birch River | Both sides of County Road 21 | St. Louis | 4/28-5/11 |
| Blackduck River | County Rd 32 north to Red Lake Reservation boundary | Beltrami | 4/28-5/11 |
| Burntside River | Both sides of County Road 88 at bridge | St. Louis | 4/28-5/11 |
| Clearwater River | Below Clearwater Lake Dam for 900 feet | Clearwater | 4/28-5/11 |
| Coburn Creek | State Highway 71 to Blackduck Lake | Beltrami | 4/28-5/11 |
| Cross River (inlet to Gunflint Lake) | Gunflint Trail to Gunflint Lake | Cook | 4/1-5/25 |
| Dead River | Downstream from Hwy 14 bridge to mouth of Walker Lake. | Otter Tail | 5/7-UFN |
| Dittberner Creek | Tributary to Lake Miltona, Co. Rd 14 to Lake Miltona | Douglas | 4/28-6/30 |
| Everett Creek | Between Everett and Twin Lakes | St. Louis | 4/28-5/11 |
| Fall Lake | Below Hydropower facility | Lake | 4/28-5/11 |
| First River Flowage | From William’s Narrows upstream to Egg Lake, including Little Cut Foot Sioux Lake. | Itasca | 5/12-5/18 |
| Hams Creek | Flowage between Lake Miltona and Lake Irene | Douglas | 4/28-6/30 |
| Johnson Lake | Panfish spawning areas on the south end of the lake, northern bay, and small bay on west shore. | Itasca | 5/3-6/30 |
| Junco Creek | First log dam above County Road 57 downstream to Devil Track Lake, and including a portion of Devil Track Lake near the river mouth. | Cook | 5/12-5/25 |
| Lake Burgen | Northwest shore | Douglas | 5/5-6/30 |
| Lake Ida | Northwest side (“meathole”) | Douglas | 5/5-6/30 |
| Lake Miltona | Northwest bay | Douglas | 5/5-6/30 |
| Le Homme Dieu Lake | Perry Lang Bay Crestwood Hills Lagoon | Douglas | 5/5-6/30 |
| Maligne River (also known as Northern Light Rapids) | The Ontario side of Saganaga Lake. | Cook | 4/1-5/31 |
| Maud Lake | Southwest Bay | Becker | 5/12-6/30 |
| Mississippi River | Below Ottertail Power Dam to Wolf Lake | Beltrami | 4/28-5/18 |
| Moody's Creek | Walleye spawning area from county road 432 upstream 1/2 mile. | Itasca | 5/3-5/30 |
| Pelican River | 500 feet upstream and 500 feet downstream from Dunton Locks Bridge between Muskrat Lake and Lake Sallie | Becker | 4/21-5/31 |
| Pelican River | Below Bucks Mill Dam to Buck Lake and from Big Detroit Lake upstream to State Highway 34 | Becker | 4/21-5/31 |
| Round Lake | (Near Lawrence Lake), panfish spawning areas in two bays on south side of the lake. | Itasca | 5/3-5/30 |
| Saganaga Falls | On the Minnesota-Ontario border where the Granite River enters Saganaga Lake. | Cook | 4/1-5/31 |
| Shagawa River | Both sides of both road crossings at Winton | St. Louis | 4/28-5/11 |
| Shagawa River | Both sides of both road crossings at Winton | Lake | 4/28-5/11 |
| Shotley Brook | State Highway 72 to Upper Red Lake | Beltrami | 4/28-5/11 |
| Tait River | White Pine Lake to Forest Road 340 crossing including a portion of White Pine Lake. | Cook | 4/25-5/12 |
| Tamarac River | Upper Red Lake upstream to Beltrami-Koochiching county line | Beltrami | 4/28-5/11 |
| Toad River | Inlet to Big Pine Lake upstream to Co. Rd. 13. Legal description: T. 137, R. 38, S. 32 | Otter Tail | 4/24-5/25 |
| Turtle River | Below Three Island Dam to Turtle River Lake | Beltrami | 4/28-5/11 |
| Unnamed channel | Between Little Gunflint and Little North Lakes on the Minnesota-Ontario border. | Cook | 4/1-5/31 |
| Unnamed creek | Lake Ida Outlet Dam to Lake Charley | Douglas | 4/28-6/30 |
| Unnamed creek | Flowage between outlet of Lake Aaron to Lake Moses | Douglas | 4/28-6/30 |
| UFN = Until Further Notice. End date to be determined based on the status of walleye spawning. | |||
Why closures are necessary
Seasonal closures help protect fish when they are concentrated in areas during their spawning season. The number of spawning area closures is highest on years when winter persists longer than normal.