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: Tuesday, April 21, 2020 @ 10:45 am 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 15-May 31 |
| Bear Island River | Both sides of Highway 1 (T.62 R.12 S.23,26) | St Louis | April 25 - May 8 |
| Beaver River | Portion upstream of Bear Island Lake (T.62 R.13 S.35) | St. Louis | April 25 - May 8 |
| Birch River | Both sides of County Road 21 (T.61 R.13 S.26,27) | St. Louis | April 25 - May 8 |
| Blackduck River | County Rd 32 north to Red Lake Reservation boundary | Beltrami | April 18-May 8 |
| Burntside River | Both sides of County Road 88 at bridge (T.63 R.13 S.26) | St. Louis | April 25 - May 8 |
| Clearwater River | Below Clearwater Lake Dam for 900 feet | Clearwater | April 18-May 8 |
| Coburn Creek | State Highway 71 to Blackduck Lake T.151, R.32, S.11,12,13 | Beltrami | April 18-May 8 |
| Cross River (inlet to Gunflint Lake) | from the Gunflint Trail to Gunflint Lake | Cook | April 1-May 22 |
| Dittberner Creek | Lower tributary to Lake Miltona T.130, R.38, S.14,15,23,24 | Douglas | April 15– May 31 |
| Everett Creek | Between Everett Lake and Twin Lakes (T.64 R.12 S.31; (T.64 R.13 S.36) | St. Louis | April 25 - May 8 |
| Fall Lake | Both sides of both road crossings at Winton (T.63 R.11 S.17, 20) | Lake | April 25 - May 8 |
| Gull River | From the United States Army Corps of Engineers dam (Government Lot 1, S.20, T.134N, R.29W) downstream 250 feet. | Cass | May 9-May 22 |
| Hams Creek | Flowage between Lake Miltona to Lake Irene T.130, R.37, S.23,26,27 | Douglas | April 15-May 31 |
| Ida | Meathole T.129,R.38, S. 2 & 11 | Douglas | April 17-June 15 |
| Jewett Lake | Southwest shore | 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 | May 9-May 22 |
| Lake Maud | Southwest Bay | Becker | May 12-June 30 |
| Le Homme Dieu | Crestwood Hills Lagoon T. 28, R.37, S.4 &Perry Lang Bay T.128, R.37, S.5 | Douglas | April 17-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 |
| Miltona | Northeast Bay T.130, R.37, S.23 | Douglas | April 17-June 15 |
| Mississippi River | Below Ottertail Power Dam to County 12 | Beltrami | April 18-May 8 |
| 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 15-May 31 |
| Pelican River | Below Bucks Mill Dam to Buck Lake and from Big Detroit Lake Upstream to State Highway 34 | Becker | April 15-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 22 |
| Shagawa River | Both sides of both road crossings at Winton (T.63 R.11 S.19; (T.63 R.12 S.24) | Lake, St. Louis | April 25 - May 8 |
| Shotley Brook | State Highway 72 to Upper Red Lake | Beltrami | April 18-May 8 |
| 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 | May 9-May 22 |
| Tamarac River | From Upper Red Lake upstream to Beltrami- Koochiching county line | Beltrami | April 18-May 8 |
| Toad River | Toad River inlet to Big Pine Lake upstream to Co 13 | Otter Tail | April 10 - May 22 |
| Turtle River | Below Three Island Dam to Turtle River Lake | Beltrami | April 18-May 8 |
| Unnamed Creek | Flowage between Lake Ida and Lake Charlie T.129, R.38, S.25,26 | Douglas | April 15-May 31 |
| Unnamed Creek | Flowage between Lake Miltona and Lake Ida T.130, R.37,38, S.31,36 | Douglas | April 15-May 31 |
| Unnamed Creek | Flowage between Lake Aaron to Lake Moses T.130, R.39, S.16 | Douglas | April 15-May 31 |