Minnesota Fishing Laws

Anybody who is over the age of 16 and fishes in Minnesota needs a license to do so. The license allows anglers to fish for any species, but a special stamp is needed to fish for trout and salmon and a special tag is needed to harvest sturgeon. There are a number of license types available from those that last for 24 hours to a week or an entire fishing season. Anglers must have their licenses with them while they are fishing.

There are limits to the number of fish of a particular species anglers can keep. For some, like carp and whitefish, there are no limits. But there are limits for most of the popular game fish in the state: walleyes (six), northern pike (three), muskies (one), largemouth and smallmouth bass (six), crappies (10), sunfish (20), channel and flathead catfish (five) and perch (20). Anglers should keep in mind that some lakes have different limits. For a list of these lakes, see the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources fishing regulations.

Anglers are permitted to use only one hook--and one rod and reel at a time--during the open water fishing season. Artificial lures, even if they contain multiple hooks, are considered one hook. During the winter when they are fishing through the ice, however, anglers can use two rods and reels at a time. It is illegal to fish with an unattended line.

Even though game fish species might eat other game fish species, fishermen in Minnesota are not allowed to use whole or parts of game fish for bait. They also cannot use goldfish or carp for fishing bait.

Fishermen cannot use artificial lights to attract fish, but they can use lighted fishing lures, provided those lures are artificial and have hooks.

For species like crappies and sunfish, the fishing season never ends. But for others, including walleyes, pike, muskies and bass, the season is closed for a certain amount of time each year. The season dates change slightly each year, so it is best to check the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources fishing regulations for season dates. It is unlawful to intentionally target a species of fish if the season for that species of fish is closed.

Anglers cannot intentionally snag fish--nor can they keep a snagged fish--and they cannot use things like explosives, guns, chemicals or electricity to take fish.