Minnesota Fishing Regulations 2026
Statewide limits and seasons by species, from the official MN DNR regulations
Limits and seasons by species
Each species page quotes the 2026 statewide rules verbatim and lists every lake with special regulations for that species. Species with no dates in the DNR seasons table are open year-round.
| Species | 2026 Season |
|---|---|
| Walleye | May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027 |
| Northern Pike | May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027 |
| Bass | Multiple seasons — see page |
| Crappie | Open year-round |
| Sunfish | Open year-round |
| Muskellunge | Jun 6, 2026 – Nov 30, 2026 |
| Trout | Multiple seasons — see page |
| Catfish | Varies — see page |
| Yellow Perch | Open year-round |
Proposed change to Minnesota's walleye limit: 6 to 4
The DNR has proposed reducing the statewide walleye limit from 6 to 4, planned for March 1, 2027. The comment period has closed; adoption has not yet been announced.
Follow the walleye limit changeWaters with special regulations
Special regulations are lake-specific rules — slot limits, reduced bags, catch-and-release stretches — that override the statewide limits on that water. The 2026 DNR list covers 469 Minnesota waters, 435 of them lakes on FishGrade. Every species page above lists its special-regulation lakes, and each lake page shows the exact rules.
Best-known special-regulation lakes, ranked by FishGrade score
- Excellent · 100Clitherall — Otter Tail County
- Excellent · 100Crystal — Otter Tail County
- Excellent · 100Franklin — Otter Tail County
- Excellent · 99Big Sandy — Aitkin County
- Excellent · 99Height of Land — Becker County
- Excellent · 99Blackduck — Beltrami County
- Excellent · 99Leech — Cass County
- Excellent · 99Hubert — Crow Wing County
- Excellent · 99Turtle — Itasca County
- Excellent · 99Lac Qui Parle — Lac qui Parle County