Minnesota Inland Waters Limits
Statewide DNR limits and seasons for inland waters, the three northern pike zones, bass seasons and the line, hook and possession rules.
Photo of International Falls: Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Limits and seasons on Minnesota inland waters
| Species | Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger (and their hybrid) | Inland waters (statewide) | 6 combined total (only 1 walleye over 20" in possession) | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Muskellunge | Inland waters (statewide) | 1 (minimum size 54") | June 6 – Nov. 30, 2026 |
| Tiger (hybrid) muskellunge | Inland waters (statewide) | 1 (minimum size 40") | June 6 – Nov. 30, 2026 |
| Largemouth bass | Southern and North-central zones (statewide except Northeast Zone) | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – May 22, 2026 |
| Largemouth bass | Southern and North-central zones (statewide except Northeast Zone) | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass (when smallmouth season is open) | May 23, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Smallmouth bass | Southern and North-central zones (statewide except Northeast Zone) | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – May 22, 2026 |
| Smallmouth bass | Southern and North-central zones (statewide except Northeast Zone) | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass | May 23 – Sept. 13, 2026 |
| Smallmouth bass | Southern and North-central zones (statewide except Northeast Zone) | Catch-and-release only | Sept. 14, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | Northeast Zone (north and east of U.S. Hwy 53 from Duluth to International Falls; Pelican | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – May 8, 2026 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | Northeast Zone (north and east of U.S. Hwy 53 from Duluth to International Falls; Pelican | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Crappie (white or black and their hybrids) | Inland waters (statewide) | 10 combined total | Continuous |
| Sunfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, green, orangespotted, northern, warmouth, and their hybrids) | Inland waters (statewide) | 20 combined total | Continuous |
| Rock bass | Inland waters (statewide) | 30 | Continuous |
| White bass and yellow bass | Inland waters (statewide) | 30 combined total | Continuous |
| Channel catfish | Inland waters (statewide) | 5 (only 1 over 24") | Continuous |
| Flathead catfish | Inland waters (statewide) | 2 (only 1 over 24") | April 1 – Nov. 30, 2026 |
| Yellow perch | Inland waters (statewide) | 20 daily, 40 in possession | Continuous |
| Lake whitefish | Inland waters (statewide) | 15 (over 7") | Continuous |
| Cisco (tullibee) | Inland waters (statewide) | 15 (over 7") | Continuous |
| Burbot (eelpout) | Inland waters (statewide) | 4 | Continuous |
| Bowfin, buffalo, carp, carpsuckers, freshwater drum, goldeye, redhorse, and suckers | Inland waters (statewide) | No limit | Continuous |
| American eel | Inland waters (statewide) | Catch-and-release only | Continuous |
| Bullhead | Inland waters (statewide) | 100 | Continuous |
| Gar | Inland waters (statewide) | 10 | Continuous |
| Smelt | Inland waters (statewide) | No limit | Continuous |
| Lake or shovelnose sturgeon | Inland waters (statewide; see border waters for other sturgeon waters) | Catch-and-release only; no tag/endorsement needed. | June 16 – April 14 (same dates every year) |
| Paddlefish | Statewide | No open season | No open season |
| Lake trout (summer) | Statewide inland lakes | 2 | May 9 – Sept. 30, 2026 |
| Lake trout (winter) | Lakes outside or partly outside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness | 2 | 2026 season: Jan. 17 – March 31; 2027 season: Jan. 16 – March 31 |
| Lake trout (winter) | Lakes entirely within the BWCAW | 2 | 2026 season: Jan. 1 – March 31; 2027 season: Jan. 1 – March 31 |
| Northern pike | Northeast Zone (north and east of U.S. Hwy 53 from Duluth to International Falls) | 2 (only 1 over 40" in possession, all from 30-40" must be immediately released) | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Northern pike | North-central Zone | 10 (not more than 2 over 26", all from 22-26" must be immediately released) | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Northern pike | Southern Zone | 2 (minimum size 24") | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations, pages 29 to 31.
Pike zones
The three northern pike zones
- North and east of U.S. Highway 53 from Duluth to International Falls.northeast
- From the South Dakota border, State Highway 7 at Ortonville, east past Hutchinson, south on State Highway 22 to Glencoe, east on U.S. Highway 212 to Chaska, south on State Highway 41 to the Minnesota River, to the Mississippi River, to the Wisconsin border. Waters of the Minnesota or Mississippi rivers forming the boundary are in the Southern Zone.north central southern boundary
- The maximum number of northern pike that you may possess is 10 fish. Zone possession limits apply to where the fish was harvested, not where it is possessed.statewide max possession
- Waters with special regulations and border waters are not covered by the zone regulations; the special regulation is in effect for both spearing and angling.special and border waters
Lines and hooks
Line, hook and possession rules
- You may use only 1 line during the open water season except 2 lines may be used in the Minnesota River downstream of the Granite Falls Dam and in the Mississippi River downstream of St. Anthony Falls.lines
- You may use 2 lines through the ice except on designated trout lakes and streams.lines
- On designated trout lakes and streams, only 1 line is allowed at any time.lines
- More than 1 line may be allowed on border waters and Lake Superior.lines
- Only 1 artificial bait/lure or 1 single tackle configuration can be used at the end of your line for it to be considered a single line.hooks
- NEW: Up to 3 single- or multiple-pronged hooks may be used as a single tackle configuration. The total distance between hooks cannot exceed 18" measured along the line. Only 1 live, artificial, preserved or dead bait is allowed per line.hooks
- "Umbrella" style rigs may be used provided only 1 wire contains hooks.hooks
- Up to 3 artificial flies are allowed on 1 fishing line when fishing for bass, crappie, rock bass, sunfish, or trout.hooks
- Unless fishing on a designated trout stream or lake, you may add 1 additional "stinger" hook as part of a single artificial bait/lure, within 3" of the lure.hooks
- Some waters have reduced daily limits but statewide possession limits, which means an angler can keep 1 limit per day from that water but can’t exceed the statewide possession limit at any time.possession
- Processed fish (e.g. pickled, smoked) still count towards your limit.possession
- Once you reach your daily or possession limit for a species, you may keep fishing but all fish of that species must be immediately released and no culling is allowed.possession
- You can’t possess any fish outside the legal length limits of the waters on which you are traveling or fishing, unless the fish was legally taken from a connected water body or packaged by a licensed fish packer, you are traveling back to lodging or docking by the most direct route, and you are not possession
- Intentionally fishing for a species during its closed season.not allowed
- Using an artificial light to lure, attract or spot fish (lighted artificial lures allowed; batteries must not contain mercury).not allowed
- Leaving your fishing line with hooks attached in the water unattended. Receiving electronic notifications is not considered attending your fishing line.not allowed
- Using explosives, firearms, chemicals (not including a scented bait), or electricity to take fish.not allowed
- Taking fish by hand (noodling) or by snagging.not allowed
In photos
Minnesota waters, pictured
Photo: Lorne Sunley, CC BY 3.0
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Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region, Public domain
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Photo: Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Photo: P199, CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers
Asked about the Minnesota Inland Waters Limits page
What is the Minnesota walleye limit?
6 combined walleye and sauger on inland waters, only 1 walleye over 20 inches; Mille Lacs, Upper Red and other listed waters differ.
How many northern pike can I keep in Minnesota?
It depends on the zone: 2 in the Northeast Zone with 30-40 inches protected, 10 in the North-central Zone with 22-26 inches protected, and 2 of at least 24 inches in the Southern Zone.
How many crappie and sunfish can I keep?
Statewide inland limits are 10 crappie and 20 sunfish a day, lower on many listed lakes.
Can I keep bass in Minnesota year-round?
Bass have a catch-and-release season most of the year and a harvest season from the opener; dates differ by zone.
How many lines can I use in Minnesota?
One line in open water and two through the ice, except one line on designated trout waters.
What is the yellow perch limit?
20 daily and 40 in possession on inland waters.
What does protected slot mean?
Fish inside the size range must be released immediately.
Which booklet sets these Minnesota limits?
The 2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations booklet, effective March 1, 2026 to Feb. 28, 2027.
More
Other Minnesota limits pages
- Minnesota Ice Fishing Ruleslines, shelters, removal dates and spearing
- Minnesota Border Waters RulesCanada, Wisconsin, Iowa and the Dakotas
- Minnesota Trout and Lake Superior Rulesstream trout seasons, stamp and Lake Superior limits
- Minnesota Special Regulations Waterslakes and streams with their own limits
- License and feeswho needs one, prices