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.
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.
Current closures
Last update: Wednesday, April 21, 2021 @ 03:14 pm CDT
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| Name | Location | County | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baugh's Creek | Lower tributary to Lake Osakis (T.129 R.35 S.34) | Todd | April 10 - May 21 |
| Bear Island River | Both sides of Highway 1 (T.62 R.12 S.23,26) | St Louis | April 24-May 14 |
| Beaver River | Portion upstream of Bear Island Lake (T.62 R.13 S.35) | St. Louis | April 24-May 14 |
| Birch River | Both sides of County Road 21 (T.61 R.13 S.26,27) | St. Louis | April 24-May 14 |
| Blackduck River | County Rd 32 north to Red Lake Reservation boundary | Beltrami | April 10 - May 14 |
| Burntside River | Both sides of County Road 88 at bridge (T.63 R.13 S.26) | St. Louis | April 24-May 14 |
| Clearwater River | Below Clearwater Lake Dam for 900 feet | Clearwater | April 10 - May 14 |
| Coburn Creek | State Highway 71 to Blackduck Lake T.151, R.32, S.11,12,13 | Beltrami | April 10 - May 14 |
| Cross River (inlet to Gunflint Lake) | from the Gunflint Trail to Gunflint Lake | Cook | April 1 - May 28 |
| Dittberner Creek | Lower tributary to Lake Miltona (T.130 R.38 S.14,15,23,24) | Douglas | April 10 - May 21 |
| Everett Creek | Between Everett Lake and Twin Lakes (T.64 R.12 S.31; (T.64 R.13 S.36) | St. Louis | April 24-May 14 |
| Hams Creek | Flowage between Lake Miltona to Lake Irene (T.130 R.37 S.23,26,27) | Douglas | April 10 - May 21 |
| Jewett Lake | Southwest Shore (T.134, R.43, S.23) | Otter Tail | April 10 - June 30 |
| Junco Creek | From the first log dam above County Road 57 downstream to Devil Track Lake, including Devil Track Lake within 300 yards of the mouth of the Junco River (T.62 R.1 S.21,28) | Cook | No 2021 closure |
| Lake Ida | Meathole (T.129,R.38 S. 2 & 11) | Douglas | April 15 - June 15 |
| Lake Le Homme Dieu | Crestwood Hills Lagoon (T. 28 R.37 S.4 & Perry Lang Bay (T.128 R.37 S.5) | Douglas | April 15 - June 15 |
| Lake Maud | Southwest Bay | Becker | April 15 - June 15 |
| Lake Miltona | Northeast Bay (T.130 R.37 S.23) | Douglas | April 15 - June 15 |
| Little Gunflint-Little North channel | The channel between Little Gunflint and Little North Lakes, including Little Gunflint Lake within 300 yards of the channel mouth, and Little North Lake within 100 yards of the channel head (T.65 R.2 S.16). | Cook | April 1 - May 31 |
| Maligne River (also known as Northern Light Rapids) | On the Ontario side of Saganaga Lake | Cook | April 1 - May 31 |
| Mississippi River | Below Ottertail Power Dam to County 12 | Beltrami | April 10 - May 14 |
| Moody’s Creek | Upstream from County Road 432 approximately 0.5 mile (T.53, R.25, S.16,17,20-22) | Itasca | April 10 -May 31 |
| Pelican River | 500 feet upstream and 500 feet downstream from Dunton Locks Bridge between Muskrat Lake and Lake Sallie | Becker | April 5-May 31 |
| Pelican River | Below Bucks Mill Dam to Buck Lake and from Big Detroit Lake upstream to State Highway 34 | Becker | April 5-May 31 |
| Saganaga Falls | On the Minnesota?Ontario border where the Granite River enters Saganaga Lake | Cook | April 1 - May 31 |
| Sea Gull River | Sea Gull Lake through Gull Lake to Saganaga Lake approximately 1/3 north of the narrows | Cook | April 1-May 28 |
| Shagawa River | Both sides of both road crossings at Winton (T.63 R.11 S.19; (T.63 R.12 S.24) | St. Louis, Lake | April 24-May 14 |
| Shotley Brook | State Highway 72 to Upper Red Lake | Beltrami | April 10 - May 14 |
| Tait River | From the Forest Road 340 crossing, downstream to White Pine Lake, including White Pine Lake within 200 yards of the mouth of Tait River (T.61 R.3 S.17,19,20) | Cook | No 2021 closure |
| Tamarac River | From Upper Red Lake upstream to Beltrami- Koochiching county line | Beltrami | April 10 - May 14 |
| Toad River | Inlet to Big Pine Lake upstream to County Road 13 (T.137, R.38, S.32) | Otter Tail | April 6 - May 21 |
| Turtle River | Below Three Island Dam to Turtle River Lake | Beltrami | April 10 - May 14 |
| Unnamed Creek | Flowage between Lake Ida and Lake Charlie (T.129 R.38 S.25,26) | Douglas | April 10 - May 21 |
| Unnamed Creek | Flowage between Lake Miltona and Lake Ida (T.130 R.37,38 S.31,36) | Douglas | April 10 - May 21 |
| Unnamed Creek | Flowage between Lake Aaron to Lake Moses (T.130 R.39 S.16) | Douglas | April 10 - May 21 |
| Unnamed Stream | Between Big Sand Lake and Emma Lake (T.141, R.34, S.23) | Hubbard | April 24 - UFN |