Minnesota Walleye Limit 2026
Statewide walleye limits and seasons
Quoted verbatim from the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations. These inland rules apply unless a lake's special regulation or a border-water rulebook overrides them.
Walleye and Sauger
Season: May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027
6 combined, not more than one walleye over 20"
Proposed change to the statewide walleye limit: 6 to 4
The DNR has proposed reducing the statewide walleye limit from 6 to 4, planned for March 1, 2027 — adoption has not yet been announced. The limits quoted above are current.
Follow the walleye limit changeLakes with special walleye regulations
70 lakes carry special walleye regulations in the 2026 DNR list — lake-specific rules that override the statewide limits above. Each lake page quotes the exact rules.
- Upper Red Lake — Beltrami Countychanges mid-season
- Cedar — Morrison County
- Vermilion — St. Louis County
- Coon — Anoka County
- Big Pine — Otter Tail County
- Little Boy — Cass County
- Green — Kandiyohi County
- Lake of the Woods — Lake of the Woods Countychanges mid-season
- Trout — Itasca County
- Waconia — Carver County
- Little Pine — Otter Tail County
- Little Vermilion — St. Louis County
- Mink — Wright County
- Round — Itasca County
- Somers — Wright County
- Goose — Chisago County
- Mule — Cass County
- Split Hand — Itasca County
- Sugar — Itasca County
- Crane — St. Louis County
- Fish Lake Flowage — St. Louis County
- Kabetogama — St. Louis County
- Osakis — Todd County
- Moose — Itasca County
- Sand Point — St. Louis County
- Green — Chisago County
- Island — Itasca County
- LaSalle — Hubbard County
- Mille Lacs — Mille Lacs Countychanges mid-season
- Swan — Itasca County
- South Lida — Otter Tail County
- Leech — Cass County
- Saganaga — Cook County
- Horseshoe — Aitkin County
- Little McDonald — Otter Tail County
- Winnibigoshish — Cass County
- Dixon — Itasca County
- Farm Island — Aitkin County
- Little Sand — Itasca County
- Rainy — St. Louis Countychanges mid-season
- Cut Foot Sioux — Itasca County
- North Lida — Otter Tail County
- Crawford — Wright County
- Lac Qui Parle — Lac qui Parle County
- Little Cormorant — Becker County
- Wabedo — Cass County
- White Iron — St. Louis County
- Rabour — Chisago County
- Sea Gull — Cook County
- South Farm — Lake County
- Mandall — Chisago County
- Farm — Lake County
- Namakan — St. Louis County
- Kabekona — Hubbard County
- Aitkin — Aitkin County
- Garden — Lake County
- Little Cut Foot Sioux — Itasca County
- Minnewawa — Aitkin County
- Sand — Itasca County
- Bird's Eye — Itasca County
Showing the top 60 by FishGrade score — 10 more lakes carry special walleye regulations. Each lake's own page lists its rules.
10 more waters — river and stream sections without a lake page — also carry special walleye regulations; see the official DNR booklet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many walleye can you keep in Minnesota?
Under the 2026 Minnesota regulations, the statewide inland limit for walleye and sauger is: 6 combined, not more than one walleye over 20". 70 Minnesota lakes carry special walleye regulations that override the statewide limit — check your lake on this page before keeping fish. Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.
What is the walleye size limit in Minnesota?
Statewide, the only size rule is part of the limit itself: 6 combined, not more than one walleye over 20". There is no statewide minimum length, but many well-known walleye lakes add slot or size limits through special regulations — check your lake before keeping fish.
When does walleye season open in 2026?
The 2026 inland walleye and sauger season runs May 9, 2026 through Feb 28, 2027. Border waters and some special-regulation lakes have different season dates.
Is Minnesota's walleye limit dropping from 6 to 4?
Not yet. The Minnesota DNR proposed reducing the statewide inland walleye limit from 6 to 4 on January 12, 2026, with a planned effective date of March 1, 2027. The public comment period closed March 5, 2026, and the DNR has not announced adoption of the rule. The current statewide limit under the 2026 Minnesota regulations remains: 6 combined, not more than one walleye over 20". Border waters and lakes with special regulations would keep their own limits.