Minnesota Special Regulations Waters

Every Minnesota lake and stream with special or experimental regulations in the 2026 booklet (470 waters), plus the spring seasonal closures.

Photo of Kabetogama Lake: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region, Public domain

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Lakes and streams

Waters with their own limits

Water	County	Rule
Agnes Lake	Douglas	Largemouth and smallmouth bass: all from 12-20" must be immediately released, only 1 over 20" allowed in possession.
Aitkin Lake including area known as Aitkin Flowage	Aitkin	See Big Sandy Lake.
Alexander Lake	Morrison	Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released. Possession limit 3, only 1 over 36".
Allen Lake	Crow Wing	Stream trout: winter fishing for stream trout is not allowed.
Amber Lake	Martin	See Fairmont Chain of Lakes.
Amelia Lake	Pope	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Andrew Lake	Douglas	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Andrusia Lake	Beltrami	See Cass Lake Chain.
Ann Lake	Carver	Largemouth bass: catch-and-release only. Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released. Possession limit 3, only 1 over 36".
Annie Battle Lake including inlet to Molly Stark Lake and outlet to Blanche Lake	Otter Tail	Use of gas and electric motors, powered augers, and other electronic fish-finding devices is prohibited. Sunfish: daily limit 5. Northern pike, largemouth and smallmouth bass: catch-and-release only. Crappie: possession limit 5.
Arrowhead Lake	Crow Wing	See Whitefish Chain.
Ash Lake	St. Louis	Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released, possession limit 3, only 1 over 36".
Ash River	St. Louis	See Kabetogama Lake.
Augusta Lake including connected Clearwater, Grass, Augusta, Otter, and Caroline lakes	Wright	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Bad Medicine Lake	Becker	Stream trout: winter fishing for stream trout is not allowed.
Balm Lake	Beltrami	Largemouth and smallmouth bass: all from 14-20" must be immediately released, only 1 over 20" allowed in possession.
Balsam Lake including connected Haskell and Scrapper lakes	Itasca	Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released. Possession limit 3, only 1 over 36".
Bass Lake near Burtrum north of Long Lake	Todd	Walleye: possession limit 2. Largemouth bass: possession limit 1. Northern pike: possession limit 3, all larger than 26" must be immediately released.
Bass Lake near Cohasset	Itasca	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Bass Lake near Underwood	Otter Tail	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Basswood Lake	Lake	Northern pike: all from 30-40" must be immediately released. Possession limit 2, only 1 over 40". Season is continuous. Special regulations apply only to Minnesota waters of Basswood Lake. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Battle Lake	Itasca	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Bear Creek Reservoir	Olmsted	See Rochester-Olmsted County Area Lakes.
Bear Head Lake	St. Louis	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Bear Lake	Itasca	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Beauty Lake	Todd	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Beaver Creek, East	Houston	Trout: all from 12-16" must be immediately released on the entire stream (Beaver Creek Valley State Park). See page 33 for special angling seasons within the boundaries of Beaver Creek Valley State Park.
Becker Lake	Stearns	See Sauk River Chain of Lakes.
Belle Creek	Goodhue	Trout: catch-and-release on a 7.3 mile posted section from the confluence with the Cannon River upstream to Highway 19.
Beltrami Lake	Beltrami	See Turtle River chain of lakes.
Bertha Lake	Crow Wing	See Whitefish Chain.
Beuber Lake	Cass	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Big Bass Lake	Beltrami	Largemouth and smallmouth bass: all from 14-20" must be immediately released, only 1 over 20" allowed in possession. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Big Floyd Lake	Becker	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Big Lake	Beltrami	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Big Mantrap	Hubbard	Crappie: daily limit 5. Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released. Possession limit 3, only 1 over 36".
Big Marine Lake	Washington	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Big Pine Lake	Otter Tail	Sunfish: daily limit 10. Walleye: all from 18-26" must be immediately released, only 1 over 26" allowed in possession. Crappie: daily limit 5.
Big Portage Lake and connected Rice and Deep Portage lakes	Cass	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Big Rice Lake	Beltrami	See Cass Chain.
Big Sandy Lake and connected waters	Aitkin	Aitkin Lake including area known as Aitkin Flowage, Davis Lake including bay known as Steamboat Lake, Flowage Lake, Sandy River Lake, Prairie River from confluence with Tamarack River downstream to confluence with Big Sandy Lake, Sandy River from State Highway
Big Swan Lake	Todd	Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released. Possession limit 6, only 1 over 36".
Big Trout Lake	Crow Wing	See Whitefish Chain.
Black Bass Lake	Mille Lacs	Use of gas or electric augers, underwater cameras, and other electronic fish-finding devices is prohibited. Largemouth and smallmouth bass: catch-and-release only. Northern pike: catch-and-release only. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Blackduck Lake	Beltrami	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Blackduck Lake	St. Louis	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Blackwell Lake	Douglas	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Blueberry Lake	Wadena	Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released. Possession limit 3, only 1 over 36".
Bolfing Lake	Stearns	See Sauk River Chain of Lakes.
Boot Lake	Anoka	Closed to fishing.
Borden Lake	Crow Wing	Sunfish: daily limit 5. Crappie: daily limit 5.
Bowstring River	Itasca	See Sand Lake.
Boy Lake and connected Swift Lake	Cass	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Buck Lake near Burtrum	Todd	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Budd Lake	Martin	See Fairmont Chain of Lakes.
Buffalo Lake	Becker	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Camp Creek	Fillmore	Trout: catch-and-release on a 2.7-mile posted section from 0.8 miles above the confluence with the Root River, South Branch upstream 2.7 miles. Artificial lures and flies only. On the third Saturday in May, statewide regulations apply to the posted section of
Campbell Lake	Beltrami	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Canfield Creek	Fillmore	Trout: all from 12-16" must be immediately released on the entire stream. Artificial lures and flies only. See page 33 for special angling seasons within the boundaries of Canfield Creek in Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park.
Caribou Lake	Itasca	Lake trout: minimum size limit 20". Possession limit 1.
Carnelian Lake	Stearns	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Cascade Lake	Olmsted	See Rochester-Olmsted County Area Lakes.
Cass Chain including connecting waters Wolf, Ose, Andrusia, Big Lake Creek, Mississippi River, Cass, Fox Creek, Pike Bay, Windigo, Buck, Big Rice, Little Rice, Kitchi, Turtle River, and Pug Hole	Beltrami	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Cedar Island Lake	Stearns	See Sauk River Chain of Lakes.
Cedar Lake	Morrison	Walleye: possession limit 2. Crappie: daily limit 5. Northern pike: possession limit 3, all larger than 26" must be immediately released.
Cedar Lake north of Sauk Centre	Todd	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Center Lake, North and South	Chisago	Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released, possession limit 3, only 1 over 36".
Centerville Lake	Anoka	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Charley Lake	Ramsey	Closed to fishing.
Child Lake	Cass	Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released. Possession limit 3, only 1 over 36".
Chisago Lake	Chisago	Largemouth bass: all 12" and larger must be immediately released.
Christina Lake	Douglas	Closed to fishing.
Clamshell Lake	Crow Wing	See Whitefish Chain.
Clear Lake	Aitkin	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Clear Lake	Jackson	Yellow bass: daily limit 100, no possession limit, no closed season.
Clear Lake	Waseca	Largemouth and smallmouth bass: catch-and-release only.
Clearwater Lake including connected Caroline, Augusta, Grass and Otter lakes and connecting portions of the Clearwater River	Stearns and Wright	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Clitherall Lake	Otter Tail	Smallmouth bass: all from 14-20" must be immediately released, only 1 over 20" allowed in possession.
Coon Lake	Anoka	Walleye: minimum size limit 17".
Coon-Sandwick Lake	Itasca	Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released, possession limit 3, only 1 over 36".
Crane Lake including Vermilion Gorge and Echo River from mouth upstream to County Highway 424 bridge	St. Louis	Walleye: all from 18-26" must be immediately released, only 1 over 26" allowed in possession. Walleye and sauger: possession limit 6 combined, only 4 may be walleye.
Crawford Lake	Wright	Crappie: possession limit 5. Largemouth bass: catch-and-release only. Perch: possession limit 10. Sunfish: possession limit 5. Walleye: possession limit 2.
Crooked Lake	Anoka	Largemouth bass: catch-and-release only.
Crooked Lake	Stearns	Largemouth bass: all from 12-20" must be immediately released, only 1 over 20" allowed in possession.
Crooked Lake and connected Welsh Lake	Cass	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Cross Lake Reservoir	Crow Wing	See Whitefish Chain.
Cross Lake and connected waters including the Snake River under the I-35 bridges downstream to the Cross Lake Road/County Road 9 bridge	Pine	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Crow Wing Lakes, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th including the Crow Wing River from County Road 109 upstream to Crown Point Road	Hubbard	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Crow Wing Lakes, 5th and 6th	Hubbard	Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released, possession limit 3, only 1 over 36".
Crow Wing Lakes, 8th, 9th, and 10th	Hubbard	Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released, possession limit 3, only 1 over 36".
Crystal Lake	Otter Tail	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Cut Foot Sioux Lake and connected Little Cut Foot Sioux Lake, First River Flowage, and Egg Lake	Itasca	See Winnibigoshish.
Daggett Lake	Crow Wing	See Whitefish Chain.
Dam Lake and connected Lily Lake and Dam Brook	Aitkin	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Davis Lake	Aitkin	See Big Sandy Lake.
Deep Lake	Ramsey	Closed to fishing.
Deer Lake	Beltrami	Largemouth and smallmouth bass: all from 14-20" must be immediately released, only 1 over 20" allowed in possession. Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released, possession limit 3, only 1 over 36". Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Deer Lake including Otter Tail River	Otter Tail	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Deer Lake near Effie	Itasca	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Demontreville Lake	Washington	Largemouth bass: catch-and-release only.
Devil Track River	Cook	Fish sanctuary: mile 1.1 to mile 1.6 open to fishing from June 1 – August 31 only.
Diamond Lake	Kandiyohi	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Dixon Lake	Itasca	See Winnibigoshish.
Dutch Lake	Hennepin	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Dyers Lake	Cook	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Eagle Creek	Scott	Trout: catch-and-release only.
East Lost Lake including Otter Tail River	Otter Tail	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
East Twin Lake	Crow Wing	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Echo River	St. Louis	See Crane Lake.
Edward Lake	Crow Wing	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Elephant Lake	St. Louis	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Elliot Lake	St. Louis	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Eunice Lake	Becker	Sunfish: daily limit 5. Crappie: minimum size limit 10". Daily limit 5. Largemouth and smallmouth bass: all from 12-20" must be immediately released, only 1over 20" allowed in possession.
Fairmont Chain Of Lakes including George Lake, Sisseton Lake, Budd Lake, Hall Lake, and Amber Lake	Martin	Yellow bass: daily limit 100, no possession limit, no closed season.
Farm Island Lake	Aitkin	Walleye: all from 16-19" must be immediately released, only 1 over 20" allowed in possession.
Farm Lake	Lake	Walleye: (includes the North Branch Kawishiwi River from Farm Lake 4.8 miles east to the long portage) all from 17-26" must be immediately released, only 1 over 26" allowed in possession.
First River	Itasca	See Winnibigoshish Lake.
Fish Lake Reservoir	St. Louis	Walleye: all less than 13" or greater than 17" must be immediately released, except 1 over 26" allowed in possession. Possession limit 3. Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Fish Lake near Parkers Prairie	Otter Tail	Sunfish: daily limit 5. Crappie: daily limit 5.
Fish Lake near Weetown	Otter Tail	Sunfish: daily limit 5. Crappie: daily limit 5.
Fish Trap Lake	Morrison	Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released, possession limit 3, only 1 over 36".
Fladmark Lake	Otter Tail	Sunfish: possession limit 10. Northern pike, largemouth and smallmouth bass: catch-and-release only. Crappie: possession limit 5.
Florida Lake	Kandiyohi	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Flour Lake	Cook	Smallmouth bass: all from 14-20" must be immediately released, only 1 over 20" allowed in possession.
Flowage Lake	Aitkin	See Big Sandy Lake.
Forestville Creek	Fillmore	Trout: all from 12-16" must be immediately released on the entire stream. See page 33 for special angling seasons within the boundaries of Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park.
Foster-Arend Lake	Olmsted	Trout: continuous season. Possession limit 3, only 1 over 16" allowed in possession. Sunfish, crappie, yellow perch, largemouth and smallmouth bass, see Rochester-Olmsted County Area Lakes.
Fox Lake	Beltrami	See Turtle River chain of lakes.
Franklin Lake	Otter Tail	Crappie: minimum size limit 10", daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
French River	St. Louis	Fish sanctuary: all fishing closed from the river’s mouth at Lake Superior to the State Highway 61 four-lane expressway, including that portion of old Highway 61 that crosses the French River.
Gamehaven	Olmsted	See Rochester-Olmsted County Area Lakes.
Garden Lake	Lake	Walleye: all from 17-26" must be immediately released, only one over 26" allowed in possession.
Garfield Lake	Hubbard	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Garvin Brook	Winona	Trout: all from 12-16" must be immediately released from the Highway 14 crossing to the source. Artificial lures and flies only.
Gauthier Creek	Cook	Fish sanctuary: entire stream open to fishing from June 1 – August 31 only.
George Lake	Hubbard	Northern pike: all from 24"-36" must be immediately released. Possession limit 3, only 1 over 36". Largemouth and smallmouth bass: all 14-20" must be immediately released, only 1 over 20" allowed in possession.
George Lake	Kandiyohi	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
George Lake	Martin	See Fairmont Chain of Lakes.
Gilbert Lake	Crow Wing	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Gilchrist Lake	Pope	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Girl Lake	Cass	Northern pike: all from 24"-36" must be immediately released. Possession limit 3, only 1 over 36".
Gladstone Lake	Crow Wing	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Goodrich Lake	Crow Wing	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Goose Lake	Chisago	Crappie: daily limit 5. Walleye: minimum size limit 17".
Grass Lake	Wright	See Clearwater Lake.
Grave Lake	Itasca	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Great Northern Lake	Stearns	See Sauk River Chain of Lakes.
Green Lake	Chisago	Walleye: minimum size limit 17", only 1 over 20" allowed in possession.
Green Lake	Kandiyohi	Walleye: possession limit 3.
Green Prairie Fish Lake	Morrison	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Green Prairie Lake	Morrison	Sunfish: possession limit 10.
Green Water Lake	Becker	Closed to fishing.
Gribben Creek	Fillmore	Trout: all from 12-16" must be immediately released on the entire stream. Artificial lures and flies only.
Grindstone Lake	Pine	Smelt: seines may not be used within 100' of any inflow or outflow of the lake.
Grove Lake	Pope	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Gull Lake	Beltrami	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Gull Lake	Cook	Walleye: see Saganaga Lake.
Gull Lake Chain including connected Gull, Upper Gull, Margaret, Ray, Love, Nisswa, Roy, and Round lakes	Crow Wing, Cass	Northern pike: all from 30-40" must be immediately released, possession limit 2, only 1 over 40".
Gun Lake	Aitkin	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Half Moon	Crow Wing	See Mississippi River.
Hall Lake	Martin	See Fairmont Chain of Lakes.
Haskell Lake	Itasca	See Balsam Lake (Itasca).
Hay Creek	Goodhue	Trout: all from 12-16" must be immediately released on a 4-mile posted section from 325th Street downstream. Artificial lures and flies only.
Height Of Land Lake	Becker	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Henry Lake	Douglas	Largemouth and smallmouth bass: all from 12-20" must be immediately released, only 1 over 20" allowed in possession.
Hooper Creek mouth upstream to State Highway 172 bridge	Lake of the Woods	Northern pike: see Lake of the Woods.
Horseshoe Lake	Cass	Near Backus. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Horseshoe Lake	Stearns	See Sauk River Chain of Lakes.
Horseshoe Lake and connected Minnewawa Lake	Aitkin	Walleye: possession limit 3. Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Hovde Lake	Cass	Largemouth bass: catch-and-release only.
Hubert Lake	Crow Wing	Largemouth and smallmouth bass: all 12" and larger must be immediately released. Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Hungry Jack Lake	Cook	Smallmouth bass: all from 14-20" must be immediately released, only 1 over 20" allowed in possession.
Imogene Lake	Martin	Yellow bass: daily limit 100, no possession limit, no closed season.
Indian Lake	Wright	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Inguadona Lake and connected Rice Lake	Cass	Sunfish: daily limit 10. Crappie: daily limit 5.
Irene Lake	Douglas	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Island Lake	Becker	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Island Lake Reservoir including Cloquet River from mouth of Island Reservoir upstream 0.5 miles to rapids and Otter River from mouth of Island Reservoir upstream to Boulder Reservoir dam	St. Louis	Walleye: all from 15-20" must be immediately released. Possession limit 10, only 1 over 20".
Island Lake near Deer River	Itasca	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Island Lake near Northome	Itasca	Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released. Possession limit 3, only 1 over 36". Walleye: all from 17-26" must be immediately released, only 1 over 26" allowed in possession.
Island Lake near Ponto Lake	Cass	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Island-Loon Lake	Crow Wing	See Whitefish Chain.
Itasca Lake	Clearwater	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Jane Lake	Washington	Largemouth bass: catch-and-release only.
Jay Gould including Little Jay Gould and Blackwater Reservoir upstream to Highway 6	Itasca	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Julia Lake	Beltrami	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Kabekona Lake	Hubbard	Walleye: all from 20-26" must be immediately released. Possession limit 4, only 1 over 26" allowed in possession.
Kabetogama Lake including Sullivan Bay and Ash River to Ash River Falls	St. Louis	Walleye: all from 18-26" must be immediately released, only 1 over 26" allowed in possession. Walleye and sauger: possession limit 6 combined, only 4 may be walleye.
Kadunce River	Cook	Fish sanctuary: mile 0.2 (lower falls) to mile 0.4 open to fishing from June 1 – August 31 only.
Kalmar Reservoir	Olmsted	See Rochester-Olmsted County Area Lakes.
Kedron Creek	Fillmore	Trout: catch-and-release only on the entire stream. Artificial lures and flies only.
Kerbs	Otter Tail	See Little McDonald Lake.
Kitchi Lake	Beltrami	See Cass Lake Chain.
Knaus Lake	Stearns	See Sauk River Chain of Lakes.
Knife Lake	Kanabec	Walleye: all from 18-24" must be immediately released, only 1 over 24" allowed in possession. Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released, possession limit 3, only 1 over 36" allowed in possession.
Knife River	St. Louis and Lake	Fish sanctuary: between the signs from the top of the second falls 100 feet downstream, and from State Highway 61 bridge downstream to the sign below the fish trap is permanently closed to fishing.
Krays Lake	Stearns	See Sauk River Chain of Lakes. L LA SALLE LAKE (Hubbard) Walleye: possession limit 2. Largemouth and smallmouth bass: catch-and-release only. Northern pike: possession limit 1. Black crappie: possession limit 5. Sunfish: possession limit 5. Yellow perch: posse
Lac Qui Parle Lake upstream to Marsh Lake Dam, including the Watson Sag upstream to the diversion dam	Lac qui Parle and Chippewa	Walleye: possession limit 4, only 1 over 20". Crappie: daily limit 5.
Lady Lake near Grey Eagle	Todd	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Lake of the Woods and tributaries	Lake of the Woods and Roseau	See pages 67-70.
Lawndale Creek	Wilkin	Brook trout: catch-and-release only for brook trout on a 3.5-mile posted section within Atherton Wildlife Management Area. Artificial lures and flies only. All hooks must be barbless.
Leech Lake	Cass	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5. Walleye: possession limit 4, only 1 over 20".
Lester Lake	Hubbard	All species: catch-and-release only.
Lester River	St. Louis	Immediately downstream from the Superior Street bridge to the bottom of the first falls is closed to fishing.
Leven Lake	Pope	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Lida Lakes, South and North, including Mud Lake	Otter Tail	Crappie: minimum size limit 11". Walleye: all from 17-26" must be immediately released, only 1 over 26" allowed in possession. Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Lily Lake and connected Long Lake	Todd	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Lind Lake	Cass	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Little Andrus	Cass	Stream trout: winter fishing for stream trout is not allowed.
Little Bowstring Lake	Itasca	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Little Boy Lake	Cass	Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released, possession limit 3, only 1 over 36". Walleye: all from 18-26" must be immediately released, possession limit 4, only 1 over 26".
Little Cormorant Lake	Becker	Sunfish: daily limit 5. Crappie: minimum size limit 10". Daily limit 5. Walleye: minimum size limit 17", only 1 over 20" allowed in possession.
Little Cutfoot Sioux	Itasca	See Winnibigoshish.
Little Floyd Lake	Becker	Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released, daily limit 3, only 1 over 36".
Little Mantrap Lake	Hubbard	Largemouth bass: all from 12-20" must be immediately released, only 1 over 20" allowed in possession.
Little McDonald Lake including Kerbs Lake	Otter Tail	Walleye: all from 17-26" must be immediately released, only 1 over 26" allowed in possession.
Little Pine Lake	Crow Wing	See Whitefish Chain.
Little Pine Lake including Mud Lake west of County Hwy 51 and up to 425th Avenue	Otter Tail	Walleye: all from 18-26" must be immediately released, only 1 over 26" allowed in possession. Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Little Rabbit Lake	Crow Wing	See Mississippi River.
Little Sauk Lake	Todd	Sunfish: possession limit 5. Crappie: possession limit 5.
Little Splithand Lake	Itasca	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Little Sugar Bush Lake	Becker	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Little Toad Lake	Becker	Sunfish: daily limit 10. Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released, possession limit 3, only 1 over 36".
Little Trout Lake	St. Louis	Lake trout: catch-and-release only.
Little Turtle Lake	Beltrami	See Turtle River chain of lakes.
Little Turtle Lake near Marcell	Itasca	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Little Vermilion Lake including Loon River to Loon River Falls portage	St. Louis	Walleye: all from 18-26" must be immediately released, only 1 over 26" allowed in possession. Walleye and sauger: possession limit 6 combined, only 4 may be walleye.
Little Webb Lake	Cass	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Little Woman Lake	Cass	Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released. Possession limit 3, only 1 over 36".
Logan Creek	Olmsted	Trout: all from 12-16" must be immediately released on the entire stream from the confluence with the Whitewater River, North Branch, upstream to the source. Artificial lures and flies only.
Long Lake including connected Lily Lake	Todd	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Long Lake near Burtrum	Todd	Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released, possession limit 3, only 1 over 36".
Long Lake near Clearwater	Stearns	Largemouth bass: all from 12-20" must be immediately released, only 1 over 20" allowed in possession.
Long Lake near Hawick	Kandiyohi	Largemouth bass: all from 14-20" must be immediately released, only 1 over 20" allowed in possession. Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Long Lake near Spaulding	Todd	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Long Lake near Vergas	Otter Tail	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Long Lake south of Richmond	Stearns	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Loon River		See Little Vermilion Lake.
Love Lake	Cass	See Gull Chain.
Low Lake	St. Louis	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Lower Hay Lake	Crow Wing	See Whitefish Chain.
Mahnomen Mine and connected Alstead and Arco Mines	Crow Wing	Lake trout: minimum length limit 20". Possession limit 1.
Mahoods Creek	Fillmore	Trout: all from 12-16" must be immediately released on the entire stream.
Mandall Lake	Chisago	Crappie: daily limit 5. Walleye: minimum size limit 17", only 1 over 20" allowed in possession.
Manor Woods Pond	Olmsted	See Rochester-Olmsted County Area Lakes.
Maple Lake	Douglas	Crappie: minimum size limit 10". Daily limit 5.
Maple Lake	Todd	Sunfish special regulation repealed.
Maple Lake, Upper	Wright	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Margaret Lake	Cass	See Gull Chain.
Marion Lake	Dakota	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Martin Lake	Anoka	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Mary Lake	Hubbard	Largemouth and smallmouth bass: all from 14-20" must be immediately released, only 1 over 20" allowed in possession. Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Mary Lake	Todd	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Maud Lake	Becker	Sunfish: daily limit 5. Crappie: size limit 10". Daily limit 5. Largemouth and smallmouth bass: all from 12-20" must be immediately released, only 1 over 20" allowed in possession.
Mazaska Lake	Rice	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Medicine Lake	Beltrami	Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released. Possession limit 3, only 1 over 36". Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Medicine Lake	Hennepin	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Melissa Lake	Becker	Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released, possession limit 3, only 1 over 36".
Middle Lake	Otter Tail	Largemouth bass: all from 12-20" must be immediately released, only 1 over 20" allowed in possession. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Mill Creek	Fillmore and Olmsted	Trout: special catch-and-release season October 16 – December 31 on posted reach in Chatfield from the confluence with the North Branch Root River upstream to Sprau’s tributary.
Mill Lake	Douglas	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Mille Lacs		(See mndnr.gov/millelacslake).
Minerva Lake	Clearwater	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Mink-Somers Lake near Maple Lake	Wright	Sunfish: daily limit 5. Crappie: daily limit 5. Walleye: minimum size limit 17". Possession limit 3, only 1 over 20". Largemouth bass: all from 12-20" must be immediately released, only 1 over 20" allowed in possession. Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be i
Minnewashta Lake	Carver	Largemouth bass: catch-and-release only.
Minnewaska Lake	Pope	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Minnewawa Lake and connected Horseshoe Lake	Aitkin	Walleye: possession limit 3. Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Minnie Belle Lake	Meeker	Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released, possession limit 3, only 1 over 36". Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Mission Lakes, Lower and Upper	Crow Wing	Crappie: daily limit 5. Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released, possession limit 3, only 1 over 36". Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Mississippi River	Beltrami, Cass, and Itasca	See Winnibigoshish Lake.
Mississippi River	Dakota	From the Hastings dam downstream to the Minnesota-Wisconsin border (inland waters of Pool 3) Walleye: minimum size limit 15".
Mississippi River	Sherburne, Stearns and Wright	Smallmouth bass: all from 12-20" must be immediately released from the confluence of the Crow River upstream to the St. Cloud Dam, including tributaries to the posted boundaries. Possession limit is 3, only 1 over 20".
Mississippi River Valley	Ramsey, Washington, Hennepin, and Dakota	Walleye, sauger, smallmouth bass, and largemouth bass: catch-and-release with a continuous season in the following stretches: a) Minnesota River downstream from the Mendota Bridge; b) Minnehaha Creek downstream from Minnehaha Falls; and c) Pool 2 of the Missis
Mississippi River from Blandin Dam downstream to Coon Rapids Dam	Itasca, Aitkin, Crow Wing, Morrison, Benton, Sherburne, Wright, Anoka, and Hennepin	Muskellunge: catch-and-release only.
Mississippi River from Brainerd Dam upstream to Highway 6 including Rice, Little Rabbit, and Half Moon Lakes and connected backwaters	Crow Wing	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Mitchell Lake	Crow Wing	Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released, possession limit 3, only 1 over 36".
Moccasin Lake	Cass	Largemouth bass: catch-and-release only. Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Moody Lake	Crow Wing	All species: catch-and-release only.
Moon Lake	Douglas	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Moose Lake	Todd	Largemouth bass: all 12" and larger must be immediately released. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Moose Lake near Deer River	Itasca	Walleye: all from 20-24" must be immediately released, only 1 over 24" allowed in possession.
Moosehead Lake	Carlton	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Mound Lake	Todd	Crappie: possession limit 5.
Movil Lake including Turtle River	Beltrami	See Turtle River chain of lakes.
Mukooda Lake	St. Louis	Lake trout: catch-and-release only.
Mule Lake	Cass	Walleye: possession limit 3.
Namakan Lake	St. Louis	Walleye: all from 18-26" must be immediately released, only 1 over 26" allowed in possession. Walleye and sauger: possession limit 6 combined, only 4 may be walleye.
Nest Lake	Kandiyohi	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Nisswa Lake	Crow Wing	See Gull Chain.
North Long Lake	Crow Wing	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
North Star Lake including Little North Star Lake	Itasca	Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released, possession limit 3, only 1 over 36".
North Turtle Lake	Otter Tail	Largemouth and smallmouth bass: all from 14-20" must be immediately released, only 1 over 20" allowed in possession. Crappie: minimum size limit 10".
North Twin Lake	Beltrami	Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released, possession limit 3, only 1 over 36".
Norway Lake	Otter Tail	Largemouth and smallmouth bass: all from 14-20" must be immediately released, only 1 over 20" allowed in possession. Crappie: minimum size limit 10". Daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Olson Lake	Washington	Largemouth bass: catch-and-release only.
Orwell Reservoir and up to Dayton Hollow Dam	Otter Tail	Crappie: daily limit 5.
Osakis and Little Osakis lakes	Douglas and Todd	Sunfish: daily limit 10. Walleye: minimum size limit 15", only 1 over 20" allowed in possession.
Otter Tail River	Otter Tail, Becker, and Wilkin	Smallmouth bass: catch-and-release from Wilkin County Road 19 crossing upstream to the Friberg Dam including all impoundments, and from Otter Tail County Highway 51 upstream to the Hubbel Pond Dam including Mud, Rice, and Town lakes.
Owasso Lake	Ramsey	Sunfish: daily limit 5. OX YOKE LAKE (Cass) Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Ozawindib Lake	Clearwater	Largemouth and smallmouth bass: all from 14-20" must be immediately released, only 1 over 20" allowed in possession. Crappie: daily limit 5.
Parley Lake	Carver	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Pelican Lake	St. Louis	Largemouth and smallmouth bass: all from 14-20" must be immediately released, only 1 over 20" allowed in possession.
Pennington Mine	Crow Wing	Lake trout: minimum size limit 20". Possession limit 1.
Perch Lake	Crow Wing	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Pickerel Lake	Itasca	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Pierz	Morrison	Largemouth bass: all from 14-20" must be immediately released, only 1 over 20" allowed in possession.
Pig Lake	Crow Wing	See Whitefish Chain.
Pigeon River	Itasca	See Winnibigoshish Lake.
Pike Bay Lake and connected Fox Creek	Cass	See Cass Chain.
Pimushe Lake	Beltrami	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Pine Lake, Big	Otter Tail	See Big Pine Lake (Otter Tail).
Platte Lake	Crow Wing	and connected Sullivan Lake (Morrison) Sunfish: daily limit 10 combined total for both lakes.
Pleasant Lake	Crow Wing	Stream trout: winter fishing for stream trout is not allowed.
Pleasant Lake	Ramsey	Closed to fishing.
Pleasant Lake	Stearns	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Pokegama Lake and connected waters including the Snake River from the Little Walleye landing downstream to the I-35 bridges	Pine	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Pokegama Lake near Grand Rapids	Itasca	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Portage Lake North of Ten Mile Lake	Cass	largemouth and smallmouth bass: all from 14-20" must be immediately released, only 1 over 20" allowed in possession.
Prairie Lake	Otter Tail	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Prairie River	Aitkin	See Big Sandy Lake.
Prairie River from Prairie Lake Dam downstream to Mississippi River	Itasca	Muskellunge: catch-and-release only.
Prior Lake, Upper and Lower	Scott	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Quarry Hill Nature Center Pond	Olmsted	See Rochester-Olmsted County Area Lakes.
Rabbit Lakes, Big and East Big	Crow Wing	Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released. Possession limit 3, only 1 over 36".
Rabbits Lake	Itasca	See Winnibigoshish.
Rabideau Lake	Beltrami	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Rabour Lake	Chisago	Crappie: daily limit 5. Walleye: minimum size limit 17", only 1 over 20" allowed in possession.
Rachel Lake and Little Rachel Lake	Douglas	Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released. Possession limit 3, only 1 over 36".
Rainy Lake including the Rainy River above the dam at International Falls, all of Rainy Lake to the dam at Kettle Falls, Black Bay including Gold Portage below the rapids, all of the Rat Root River, and Rat Root Lake	Koochiching and St. Louis	Walleye and sauger: possession limit 8 (not more than 4 can be walleye). All walleye from 18-26" must be immediately released, only 1 walleye over 26" allowed in possession.
Rainy River	Koochiching	and tributaries (Koochiching and Lake of the Woods) See pages 68-70.
Rat Lake	Aitkin	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Rat Root River	Koochiching	See Rainy Lake.
Raven Flowage	Itasca	See Winnibigoshish Lake.
Raven Lake	Itasca	See Winnibigoshish.
Ray Lake	Cass	See Gull Chain.
Red Lake		See Intensive Management Lakes (page 45).
Red Lake Tributaries		See Red Lake (page 45).
Red River Lake	Otter Tail	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Red Rock Lake	Douglas	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Red Wing Pottery Pond	Goodhue	Trout: continuous season. Possession limit 3, only 1 over 16" allowed in possession.
Reno Lake	Pope	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Rice Lake and connected Inguadona Lake	Cass	Sunfish: daily limit 10. Crappie: daily limit 5.
Rice Lake east side of Brainerd	Crow Wing	See Mississippi River.
Riley Lake	Carver	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Ripley Lake	Meeker	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Rochester-Olmsted County Area Lakes	Olmsted	including Bear Creek Reservoir (Chester Woods), Cascade Lake (Cascade Ponds), Foster-Arend Lake, Gamehaven Lake (Boy Scout Lake or Willow Reservoir No. 4), Kalmar Reservoir, Quarry Hill Nature Center Pond, Manor Woods Pond (Country Club Pond), Silver Lake, Sil
Rogers Lake	Crow Wing	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Root River, Middle Branch	Fillmore	Trout: catch-and-release on the entire stream.
Root River, South Branch	Fillmore	Trout: all from 12-16" must be immediately released on a 4.8-mile posted section within Forestville State Park. See page 33 for special angling seasons within the boundaries of Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park. Trout: special catch-and-release season Octobe
Root River, South Fork	Fillmore	Trout: catch-and-release on a 7.7 mile section from County Road 12 upstream to the source. Artificial lures and flies only.
Round Lake	Crow Wing	See Gull Chain.
Round Lake	Douglas	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Round Lake near Harding	Morrison	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Round Lake near Squaw Lake including the Popple River downstream to State Highway Bridge 46	Itasca	Walleye: all from 20-24" must be immediately released, only 1 over 24" allowed in possession.
Roy Lake	Crow Wing	See Gull Chain.
Rush Creek	Fillmore	Trout: special catch-and-release season October 16 – December 31 on posted reach in Rushford.
Rush Lake, East and West	Chisago	Northern pike: all from 26-40" must be immediately released. Possession limit 3, only 1 over 40".
Rush-Hen Lake	Crow Wing	See Whitefish Chain.
Sagamore Mine	Crow Wing	Lake trout: minimum size limit 20". Possession limit 1.
Saganaga Lake including Gull Lake and the Sea Gull River	Cook	Walleye: Possession limit 3, only 1 over 20".
Sallie Lake	Becker	Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released. Possession limit 3, only 1 over 36".
Sanborn Lake	Cass	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Sand Lake	Lake	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Sand Lake and connected Talac and Sorenson Lakes	Becker	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Sand Lake including connecting Birds Eye Lake, Little Sand Lake, Portage Lake, Rice Lake and Bowstring River upstream to County Road 35 bridge and downstream to the County Road 145 bridge	Itasca	Walleye: all 20-24" must be immediately released, only 1 over 24" allowed in possession. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Sand Point Lake	St. Louis	Walleye: all from 18-26" must be immediately released, only 1 over 26" allowed in possession. Walleye and sauger possession limit 6 combined, only 4 may be walleye.
Sandy River	Aitkin	See Big Sandy Lake.
Sandy River Lake	Aitkin	See Big Sandy Lake.
Sarah Lake	Hennepin	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Sarah Lake	Polk	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Sauk River	Stearns	See Sauk River Chain of Lakes.
Sauk River Chain Of Lakes from Highway 23 downstream to the Cold Spring Dam including Becker, Bolfing, Cedar Island, Great Northern, Horseshoe, Knaus, Krays, Schneider and Zumwalde lakes	Stearns	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Schneider Lake	Stearns	See Sauk River Chain of Lakes.
Scrapper Lake	Itasca	See Balsam Lake (Itasca).
Sea Gull Lake including Alpine River between Alpine Lake and Sea Gull Lake	Cook	Walleye: Possession limit 3, only 1 over 20".
Sea Gull River	Cook	Walleye: See Saganaga Lake.
Sewell Lake	Otter Tail	Largemouth and smallmouth bass: all from 14-20" must be immediately released, only 1 over 20" allowed in possession.
Shakopee Lake	Mille Lacs	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Shamineau Lake	Morrison	Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released, possession limit 3, only 1 over 36".
Shields Lake	Rice	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Shields Lake	Washington	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Shotley Brook from Highway 72 West to Upper Red Lake	Beltrami	See Red Lake (page 45).
Silver Creek Reservoir	Olmsted	See Rochester-Olmsted County Area Lakes.
Silver Lake	Olmsted	See Rochester-Olmsted County Area Lakes.
Sisseton Lake	Martin	See Fairmont Chain of Lakes.
Snake River	Pine	See Cross Lake and Pokegama Lake.
South Farm Lake	Lake	Walleye: all from 17-26" must be immediately released, only 1 over 26" allowed in possession.
South Lindstrom Lake	Chisago	Largemouth bass: all 12" and larger must be immediately released.
South Twin Lake	Beltrami	Largemouth and smallmouth bass: all from 14-20" must be immediately released, only 1 over 20" allowed in possession.
Spider Lake	Hubbard	Crappie: minimum size limit 10".
Spider Lake	Itasca	Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released. Possession limit 3, only 1 over 36".
Splithand Lake including Moody’s Creek upstream to County Road 432	Itasca	Walleye: all from 20-24" must be immediately released, only 1 over 24" allowed in possession. Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Spring Valley Creek	Fillmore	Trout: all from 12-16" must be immediately released on a 6.8-mile posted section from Deer Creek upstream to Fillmore Township Road 359. Trout: special catch-and-release season October 16 – December 31 on posted reach in Spring Valley from West Park Street dow
St. Croix River		See pages 74-77.
St. Louis River	St. Louis	Fish sanctuary: no fishing allowed at any time from the Fond du Lac Dam downstream to the Minnesota-Wisconsin boundary cable. No fishing allowed from the boundary cable downstream to the Highway 23 bridge from March 1 – May 18. Muskellunge: minimum size limit
St. Olaf Lake	Waseca	Northern pike: minimum size limit 30". Possession limit 1.
Star Lake	Otter Tail	Sunfish: daily limit 5. Crappie: daily limit 5.
Steiger Lake	Carver	Northern pike and largemouth bass: catch-and-release only.
Stoney Brook	Cass	Brook trout: all must be immediately released on the posted section beginning at the mouth at Upper Gull Lake upstream to the road crossing at County Road 29 (Minor’s Corner).
Strand Lake	St. Louis	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Stuart Lake	Otter Tail	Crappie: minimum size limit 10". Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Sucker Lakes, Upper, Middle, and Lower	Cass	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Sugar Lake	Cass	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Sugar Lake	Wright	Crappie: daily limit 5. Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released. Possession limit 3, only 1 over 36". ⁕NEW — SULLIVAN LAKE (Morrison) see Platte Lake.
Swan Lake including Swan River downstream to dam, upstream to County Road 12, and connected streams	Itasca	Walleye: all from 20-24" must be immediately released, only 1 over 24" allowed in possession.
Swift Lake	Cass	See Boy Lake.
Sylvan Lake near Pillager	Cass	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Sylvia Lakes, East and West	Wright	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Tamarack Lake, North	Becker	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Tamarack River		See Red Lake (page 45).
Ten Mile Lake, North and South	Otter Tail	Largemouth and smallmouth bass: all from 14-20" must be immediately released, only 1 over 20" allowed in possession.
Third River Flowage	Itasca	See Winnibigoshish Lake.
Thirteen Lake	Cass	Largemouth and smallmouth bass: all from 14-20" must be immediately released, only 1 over 20" allowed in possession. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Thompson Lake	Cook	Trout: catch-and-release only. Artificial lures and flies with a single hook only. Use and possession of bait prohibited. Closed to winter fishing.
Three Island Lake including Turtle River	Beltrami	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Thrush Lake	Cook	Trout: catch-and-release only. Artificial lures and flies with a single hook only. Use and possession of bait prohibited. Closed to winter fishing.
Trelipe Lake, Lower	Cass	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Trelipe Lake, Upper	Cass	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Trout Lake near Coleraine	Itasca	Walleye: all from 20-24" must be immediately released, only 1 over 24" allowed in possession.
Trout Run Creek	Fillmore and Winona	Trout: all from 12-16" must be immediately released on the entire stream. Artificial lures and flies only.
Trout Run Creek		See page 33 for special angling seasons within the boundaries of Whitewater State Park.
Trout Valley Creek	Winona	Brook trout: minimum size limit 12". Possession limit 1. Artificial lures and flies only.
Turnip Lake	Cook	Trout: catch-and-release only. Artificial lures and flies with a single hook only. Use and possession of bait prohibited. Closed to winter fishing.
Turtle Lake	Becker	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Turtle Lake	Itasca	Smallmouth bass (regulation modified): all from 14-20" must be immediately released, only 1 over 20" allowed in possession.
Turtle Lake	Ramsey	Largemouth and smallmouth bass (regulation modified): all from 14-20" must be immediately released, only 1 over 20" allowed in possession.
Turtle Lake, Big including connected Turtle River	Beltrami	See Turtle River chain of lakes.
Turtle River	Beltrami	See Turtle River chain of lakes.
Turtle River chain of lakes including connected Turtle River Lake, Little Turtle, Big Turtle, Movil, Beltrami, Fox lakes, and the Turtle River from Little Turtle Lake downstream to Fox Lake	Beltrami	Northern pike: all from 22-30" must be immediately released, possession limit is 10, only 1 over 30". Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Twenty-One Lake	Otter Tail	Sunfish: possession limit 10. Northern pike, largemouth and smallmouth bass: catch-and-release only. Crappie: possession limit 5.
Two Island Lake	Cook	Smallmouth bass: all from 14-20" must be immediately released, only 1 over 20" allowed in possession.
Vanduse	Aitkin	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Venstrom Lake	Otter Tail	Crappie: minimum size limit 11". Walleye: all from 17-26" must be immediately released, only 1 over 26" allowed in possession. Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Vermilion Gorge	St. Louis	See Crane Lake.
Vermilion Lake	St. Louis	Walleye: all from 20-26" must be immediately released. Possession limit 4, only 1 over 26".
Vermillion Lake	Cass	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Vermillion River upstream of Vermillion Falls in Hastings and all tributaries	Dakota	Brown trout: catch-and-release only. Rainbow trout: regular statewide regulations apply.
Vermont Lake	Douglas	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Villard Lake	Pope	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Wabedo Lake	Cass	Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released. Possession limit 3, only 1 over 36". Walleye: all from 18-26" must be immediately released. Possession limit 4, only 1 over 26".
Waconia Lake	Carver	Walleye: minimum size limit 16", only 1 over 20" allowed in possession.
Wall Lake	Otter Tail	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Washington Lake	Le Sueur	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Watson Sag	Chippewa	See Lac qui Parle Lake.
Waukenabo Lake and connected West Lake	Aitkin	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
Welch Lake	Cass	See Crooked Lake.
West Battle Lake	Otter Tail	Crappie: daily limit 5.
West Indian Creek	Wabasha	Trout: all from 12-16" must be immediately released from the upstream Wabasha County Road 4 crossing to the source.
West Lost Lake	Otter Tail	Sunfish: daily limit 10.
West Savanna River	Aitkin	See Big Sandy Lake.
West Silent Lake	Otter Tail	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Whiskey Lake	Douglas	Sunfish: daily limit 5.
White Iron Lake	St. Louis and Lake	Walleye: all from 17-26" must be immediately released, only 1 over 26" allowed in possession.
Whiteface Reservoir	St. Louis	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Whitefish Chain, including connected Cross Lake Reservoir, Lower Hay, Arrowhead, Bertha, Clamshell, Big Trout, Pig, Island-Loon, Rush-Hen, Dagget, and Little Pine lakes	Crow Wing	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Whitefish Lake	Crow Wing	See Whitefish Chain.
Whitewater River, Middle Branch	Winona and Olmsted	Trout: catch-and-release on a 9.2-mile posted section from the group camp in Whitewater State Park upstream to the source. Artificial lures and flies only. See page 33 for special angling seasons within the boundaries of Whitewater State Park.
Whitewater River, North Branch	Wabasha, Olmsted and Winona	Trout: all from 12-16" must be immediately released on a 12.1 mile posted section from Township Road 29 upstream to County Road 4. Artificial lures and flies only.
Wild Rice Reservoir	St. Louis	Crappie: daily limit 5. Sunfish: daily limit 5.
Wilkinson Lake	Anoka and Ramsey	Closed to fishing.
Willow Creek Reservoir	Olmsted	See Rochester-Olmsted County Area Lakes.
Windigo Lake	Beltrami	See Cass Chain.
Winnibigoshish Lake and connected waters	Beltrami, Cass, and Itasca	Mississippi River to Knutson Dam, Third River Flowage to Little Dixon Lake, Pigeon River to Pigeon Lake Dam, First River, Egg Lake through Cut Foot Sioux Lake, Little Cut Foot Sioux Lake, Raven Flowage to Raven Lake, and Sugar Lake. Sunfish: daily limit 5. Wal
Wisel Creek	Fillmore	Trout: all from 12-16" must be immediately released on the entire stream.
Wolf Lake	Beltrami	See Cass Lake Chain.
Woman Lake	Cass	Northern pike: all from 24-36" must be immediately released. Possession limit 3, only 1 over 36".
Yawkey Mine	Crow Wing	Lake trout: minimum size limit 20". Possession limit 1.
Zumbro River	Wabasha	Smallmouth bass: catch-and-release along a 12-mile posted section from Highway 63 at Zumbro Falls upstream to the Zumbro Lake Dam.
Zumbro River, North Fork	Goodhue and Wabasha	Trout: catch-and-release on an 11.9 mile posted section from the Zumbro River, Main Branch upstream to Highway 10.
Zumwalde Lake	Stearns	See Sauk River Chain of Lakes.

Waters with experimental and special regulations from the 2026 booklet (pages 45-64). Keys are the booklet water name plus county. rule_text is copied from the booklet; rules splits it by species. dow_id comes from the DNR online special-regulations data only when the name matches and the lake ID co

Spring closures

Seasonal closures, spring 2026

Water	Where	County	Dates
Bear Island River	Both sides of Highway (1 T.62, R.12, S.23,26)	St. Louis	April 26-May 9
Birch River	Both sides of County Road 21 (T.61, R.13, S.26,27)	St. Louis	April 26-May 9
Blackduck River	County Rd 32 north to Red Lake Reservation boundary	Beltrami	April 24 – May 8
Burntside River	Both sides of County Road 88 at bridge (T.63, R.13, S.26)	St. Louis	April 26-May 9
Cannon River and Hay Creek Floodplain	includes floodplain lakes and streams in the area bounded on the northwest by the Vermillion River, on the south and southwest by Canadian Pacific Railroad track, and on the north and east by the Mississippi River	Goodhue	April 1 – May 15
Clearwater River	Below Clearwater Lake Dam for 900 feet	Clearwater	April 24 – May 8
Coburn Creek	State Highway 71 to Blackduck Lake T.151, R.32, S.11,12,13	Beltrami	April 24 – May 8
Cross River (inlet to Gunflint Lake)	From the Gunflint Trail to Gunflint Lake including 300 yards from the mouth of the Cross River into Gunflint Lake	Cook	April 1 – May 22
Dead River	Downstream of County Highway 14 to Walker Lake (T.134, R.40, S.2,3)	Otter Tail	April 1-May 20
Devil Track River	S.11,12, T.61, R.1E, From 1.1 to 1.6 miles above the mouth	Cook	Sept. 1 – May 31
Dittberner Creek	Tributary to Lake Miltona (T.130 R.38 S.14,15,23,24)	Douglas	April 15 – May 31
Fall Lake	Below hydropower facility (T. 63, R. 11, S. 17, 20)	Lake	April 26-May 9
Gauthier Creek	S.27, T.62, R.3E	Cook	Sept. 1 – May 31
Granite River	At Saganaga Lake (S.4, T.66, R.4), from Saganaga Falls downstream to Saganaga Lake, including Saganaga Lake within 300 yards of the mouth of the Granite River.	Cook	April 1 – May 31
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
Jewett Lake	Southwest shore (T.134, R.43, S.23)	Otter Tail	April 1-June 30
Junco River	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 09 – May 22
Kadunce Creek	S.2, T.61, R.2E, From 0.2 to 0.4 miles above the mouth	Cook	Sept. 1 – May 31
Lake Maud	Southwest Bay	Becker	May 1 – June 10
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
Mississippi River	Below Ottertail Power Dam to County 12	Beltrami	April 24 – May 8
Mississippi River (Pool 4)	300 ft below Lock and Dam 3 (MN Waters, but WI also has same closure distance and period)	Goodhue	March 1 – April 30
Mississippi River (Pool 5)	300 ft below Lock and Dam 4 (MN Waters, but WI also has same closure distance and period)	Wabasha	March 1 – April 30
Moody's Creek	Upstream From CR 432 1/2 Mile	Itasca	April 9 – May 31
Pelican River	500 feet upstream and 500 feet downstream from Dunton Locks Bridge between Muskrat Lake and Lake Sallie	Becker	April 17-May 5
Pelican River	Below Bucks Mill Dam to Buck Lake and from Big Detroit Lake upstream to State Highway 34	Becker	April 17-May 5
Ripple River	from 445th Place (Dan Boggs Road) to Aitkin County Road 11 T.45, R.27, S.5,6; between Little Pine and Hickory Lakes T.45, R.27, S.27; and from the water control structure below Spirit Lake (near County State-Aid Highway 28) downstream 100 yards T.46, R.27, S.26,27	Aitkin	April 7 – May 31
Sea Gull River	From Sea Gull Lake including Gull Lake to Saganaga Lake approximately 1/3 mile north of the narrows (S.19,30,31, T.66, R.4, and S.25,36, T.66, R.5)	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)	St. Louis and Lake	April 26-May 9
Shotley Brook	State Highway 72 to Upper Red Lake	Beltrami	April 24 – May 8
Smith Creek	Smith Creek from the crossing of Eight Mile Road T.54, R.26, S.36, downstream to Little Pokegama Lake (T.54, R.26, S.25)	Itasca	April 9 -May 31
St. Louis River	from the State Highway 23 bridge upstream to the Minnesota-Wisconsin boundary cable crossing the river	St. Louis and Carlton	Feb 28 -May 18
Tait River	From the Forest Road 339 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 09 – May 22
Tamarac River	From Upper Red Lake upstream to Beltrami- Koochiching county line	Beltrami	April 24 – May 8
Toad River	Toad River Inlet to Big Pine Lake upstream to Co. Rd. 13	Otter Tail	April 1-May 20
Turtle River	Below Three Island Dam to Turtle River Lake	Beltrami	April 24-May 8
Unnamed Creek	Flowage between Lake Ida and Lake Charlie (T.129 R.38 S.25,26,36)	Douglas	April 15-May 31
Unnamed creek (M-117-011-003) known locally as Greenfield Creek	from East County Line Road (Itasca County Road 241) downstream to Hill Lake T.52, R.26, S.2	Aitkin	April 7 – May 31
Unnamed Stream	Between Big Sand Lake and Emma Lake (T.141, R.34, S.23)	Hubbard	April 25-UFN

DNR seasonal closures page; dates change each spring.

In photos

Minnesota waters, pictured

Lake of the Woods, Minnesota — Lake of the Woods
Photo: Lorne Sunley, CC BY 3.0

Kabetogama Lake, Minnesota — Kabetogama Lake
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region, Public domain

Rainy River, Minnesota — Rainy River
Photo: Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0

International Falls, Minnesota — International Falls
Photo: Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0

Answers

Asked about the Minnesota Special Regulations Waters page

How many Minnesota waters have special regulations?

470 in the 2026 booklet, 401 lakes and 69 streams.

Do special regulations replace statewide limits?

Yes, for the species named; statewide limits cover the rest.

Where are special regulations posted?

At public accesses on each water and in the DNR booklet and online data.

What does experimental regulation mean?

A rule the DNR is testing on a water for a set period.

What are spring seasonal closures?

Short closures, mostly in April and May, that protect spawning walleye and pike at river mouths and crossings.

Are new rules marked?

16 waters are new or modified for 2026.

Which counts, the booklet or the online data?

The booklet governs when the two differ.

Do lake pages show their special rules?

Yes; each lake page lists the special regulations LakeFinder posts for it.

Minnesota Inland Waters Limitsstatewide limits, pike zones and line rules
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
License and feeswho needs one, prices