Minnesota rivers
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Minnesota River Fishing
Nicollet County and 13 other counties, Minnesota River State Water Trail.
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Minnesota rivers
The short version on the Minnesota River
The Minnesota River is a Minnesota river with its course in Nicollet County and 13 other counties. About 345 miles are mapped in Minnesota. Louisburg is the closest Census city, roughly 2 miles away. The Minnesota River State Water Trail follows it.
Readings come from 6 active gauges. There are 69 public accesses along it.
345miles mapped
14counties
6USGS gauges
69public accesses
Flow
The Minnesota River at the latest reading
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota River At Ortonville, Mn | 437 cfs, 3.49 ft gage height | Nov 12 4:30 am |
| Minnesota River Near Lac Qui Parle, Mn | 2,010 cfs, 26.97 ft gage height | Nov 12 5:00 am |
| Minnesota River At Montevideo, Mn | 2,420 cfs, 8.45 ft gage height | Nov 12 5:00 am |
| Minnesota River At Hwy 212 In Granite Falls, Mn | 2,060 cfs, 881.88 ft gage height | Nov 12 5:00 am |
| Minnesota River At Morton, Mn | 2,850 cfs, 13.27 ft gage height | Nov 12 5:00 am |
| Minnesota River At New Ulm, Mn | 2,750 cfs, 789.00 ft gage height | Nov 12 4:45 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 12, 2026 5:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Access
Launching on the Minnesota River
- Big Stone Lake, #8 Access4 ramps, 66 trailer stalls, 2 docks, toilet, Big Stone County, river mile 317.9
- Minnesota River, Odessa Access1 ramp, 6 trailer stalls, Big Stone County, river mile 307.2
- Minnesota River, Hwy 75 Access1 ramp, Lac qui Parle County, river mile 301.7
- Marsh Lake (N) Marsh #1 Access1 ramp, 2 trailer stalls, Big Stone County, river mile 294.4
- Marsh Lake, Cement Bridge Access1 ramp, 8 trailer stalls, Lac qui Parle County, river mile 294.1
- Marsh Lake, Correll Landing Access1 ramp, 10 trailer stalls, Big Stone County, river mile 292.5
- Marsh Lake, Peterson Access1 ramp, 10 trailer stalls, Lac qui Parle County, river mile 291.2
- Marsh Lake (SE) Marsh #2 Access1 ramp, 6 trailer stalls, Swift County, river mile 288.6
- Minnesota River, Marsh Lake Access1 ramp, toilet, Lac qui Parle County, river mile 288.2
- Minnesota River, Twin Bridges Access1 ramp, 8 trailer stalls, 1 dock, Lac qui Parle County, river mile 285.9
- Lac qui Parle Lake, Hantho Landing Access2 ramps, 20 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet, Lac qui Parle County, river mile 283
- Lac Qui Parle Lake, Milan Bridge Access2 ramps, 12 trailer stalls, 1 dock, Chippewa County, river mile 280.1
- Lac Qui Parle Lake, WMA (W) Access1 ramp, Lac qui Parle County, river mile 279.5
- Lac Qui Parle Lake, Englebretzen Access1 ramp, 20 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet, Chippewa County, river mile 279
- Lac qui Parle Lake, Boyd Landing Access2 ramps, 20 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet, Lac qui Parle County, river mile 278.1
- Lac Qui Parle Lake, SPK (NW) Access1 ramp, 10 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet, Lac qui Parle County, river mile 274.5
- Lac Qui Parle Lake, Voldin's Pit Access Access2 ramps, 24 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet, Chippewa County, river mile 274.2
- Lac Qui Parle Lake, Dam Access1 ramp, toilet, Lac qui Parle County, river mile 272.4
- Minnesota River, Camp Release Access1 ramp, 10 trailer stalls, Lac qui Parle County, river mile 265.6
- Minnesota River, Prien's Landing Access1 ramp, 6 trailer stalls, Chippewa County, river mile 257.3
- Minnesota River, Wegdahl Access1 ramp, 5 trailer stalls, Chippewa County, river mile 250.4
- Minnesota River, Roe Access Access1 ramp, 10 trailer stalls, Yellow Medicine County, river mile 241.5
- Minnesota River, War Memorial City Park Access1 ramp, 5 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet, Yellow Medicine County, river mile 238.6
- Minnesota River, Minnesota Falls Access2 ramps, Chippewa County, river mile 236.5
- Minnesota River, Kinney Access1 ramp, 10 trailer stalls, Yellow Medicine County, river mile 233.7
- Minnesota River, Fredrickson Access1 ramp, 6 trailer stalls, Chippewa County, river mile 230.6
- Minnesota River, Skalbekken Access1 ramp, toilet, Renville County, river mile 224.4
- Minnesota River, Renville Co Pk #2 Access1 ramp, 6 trailer stalls, Renville County, river mile 209.1
- Minnesota River, Whispering Ridge AMA Accesscarry-in access, Renville County, river mile 208
- Minnesota River, North Redwood Access1 ramp, 6 trailer stalls, Redwood County, river mile 197.5
- Minnesota River, Morton Access Access1 ramp, 10 trailer stalls, Redwood County, river mile 189.8
- Minnesota River, Franklin Access1 ramp, 6 trailer stalls, toilet, Renville County, river mile 179.4
- Minnesota River, Renville County Park #4 Access1 ramp, 4 trailer stalls, toilet, Renville County, river mile 169.5
- Minnesota River, Kettner Landing Access1 ramp, 6 trailer stalls, Brown County, river mile 167.4
- Minnesota River, Hwy 4 Access1 ramp, 15 trailer stalls, Brown County, river mile 163.3
- Minnesota River, Harkin Store Access1 ramp, Nicollet County, river mile 152
- Minnesota River, Buessman Bridge, Co Rd 14 Access1 ramp, 6 trailer stalls, Nicollet County, river mile 143
- Minnesota River, Minnecon Municipal Park Access1 ramp, 10 trailer stalls, Brown County, river mile 138.5
- Minnesota River, Riverside Park Access near New Ulm1 ramp, 6 trailer stalls, toilet, Brown County, river mile 138
- Minnesota River, Eckstein Landing Access1 ramp, 10 trailer stalls, Nicollet County, river mile 135.8
- Minnesota River, Cortland Access1 ramp, 12 trailer stalls, Nicollet County, river mile 128
- Minnesota River, Judson Access1 ramp, 12 trailer stalls, Nicollet County, river mile 116
- Minnesota River, Land of Memories Park Access1 ramp, 10 trailer stalls, toilet, Blue Earth County, river mile 105
- Minnesota River, Veteran's Bridge Access1 ramp, 6 trailer stalls, Nicollet County, river mile 102.6
- Minnesota River, Riverfront Park Access1 ramp, toilet, Blue Earth County, river mile 102.5
- Seven Mile Creek, Co Park Access1 ramp, 6 trailer stalls, toilet, Nicollet County, river mile 94.7
- Minnesota River, Riverside Park Access near Kasotacarry-in access, Nicollet County, river mile 89.7
- Minnesota River, Riverside Park Millpond Access1 ramp, 6 trailer stalls, toilet, Nicollet County, river mile 88.4
- Minnesota River, Traverse des Sioux Park Accesscarry-in access, Nicollet County, river mile 86
- Minnesota River, Ottawa Access1 ramp, 6 trailer stalls, Le Sueur County, river mile 82
- Minnesota River, Le Sueur Access1 ramp, 20 trailer stalls, toilet, Le Sueur County, river mile 74.2
- Minnesota River, Henderson Station Access1 ramp, toilet, Le Sueur County, river mile 68
- Minnesota River, Henderson Access1 ramp, 50 trailer stalls, Sibley County, river mile 67
- Minnesota River, Belle Plaine Access1 ramp, 15 trailer stalls, Sibley County, river mile 50.4
- Minnesota River, Thompson Ferry Access1 ramp, 13 trailer stalls, Scott County, river mile 40.1
- Minnesota River, Carver Access1 ramp, 8 trailer stalls, Carver County, river mile 32
- Minnesota River, Winkle Park Access1 ramp, 10 trailer stalls, Carver County, river mile 30
- Minnesota River, Shakopee Access1 ramp, 12 trailer stalls, Scott County, river mile 25.2
- Minnesota River, MN Valley Refuge – Russel Access2 ramps, 50 trailer stalls, Hennepin County, river mile 10.4
- Minnesota River, Cedar Access3 ramps, 50 trailer stalls, Dakota County, river mile 6.8
- Minnesota River, Fort Snelling Entrance Portage Public Water Access Access1 ramp, Hennepin County, river mile 3
- Minnesota River, Fort Snelling Access2 ramps, 50 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet, Dakota County, river mile 1.5
- Big Stone Lake, Hornsteins Access1 ramp, 8 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet, Big Stone County
- Big Stone Lake, Bonanza Access1 ramp, 8 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet, Big Stone County
- Big Stone Lake, Mallard Point Access2 ramps, 28 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet, Big Stone County
- Big Stone Lake, Meadowbrook, SPK Rd Access1 ramp, 10 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet, Big Stone County
- Big Stone Lake, W Meadow Brook Rd Access1 ramp, 15 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet, Big Stone County
- Big Stone Lake, Kanne Access1 ramp, 8 trailer stalls, 1 dock, Big Stone County
- Big Stone Lake, Ortonville (N) Access1 ramp, 5 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet, Big Stone County
Minnesota DNR Public Water Access Sites and Kittle route lines, USGS gauges.
Limits
Fish you may keep from the Minnesota River
The DNR posts no rule for the Minnesota River by name.
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger | 6 combined total (only 1 walleye over 20" in possession) | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Northern pike (Southern Zone) | 2 (minimum size 24") | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Northern pike (Southern Zone) | 2 (minimum size 24") | Nov. 15, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 except where prohibited |
| Largemouth bass | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – May 22, 2026 |
| Largemouth bass | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass (when smallmouth season is open) | May 23, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Smallmouth bass | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – May 22, 2026 |
| Smallmouth bass | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass | May 23 – Sept. 13, 2026 |
| Smallmouth bass | Catch-and-release only | Sept. 14, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Crappie | 10 combined total | Continuous |
| Sunfish | 20 combined total | Continuous |
| Yellow perch | 20 daily, 40 in possession | Continuous |
| Muskellunge | 1 (minimum size 54") | June 6 – Nov. 30, 2026 |
| Channel catfish | 5 (only 1 over 24") | Continuous |
| Rock bass | 30 | Continuous |
| Cisco (tullibee) | 15 (over 7") | Continuous |
| Burbot (eelpout) | 4 | Continuous |
2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations. All Minnesota limits.
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In the neighborhood of Minnesota River
Neighbor lakes around Minnesota River
- Marsh, Big Stone County1 mile
- Big Stone NWR East Pool7 miles
- Shible Lake7 miles
- Long Lake, Big Stone County10 miles
Bait and tackle closest to Minnesota River
- Artie's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Ortonville, 14 miles
Minnesota towns closest to Minnesota River
- Louisburg2 miles
- Correll2 miles
- Bellingham7 miles
- Appleton8 miles
Rivers one stop past the Minnesota River
- Lac qui Parle River22 miles
- Chippewa River28 miles
- Canby Creek36 miles
- Yellow Medicine River44 miles
Minnesota River, county lines
- Nicollet County
- Renville County
- Big Stone County
- Scott County
- Lac qui Parle County
- Chippewa County
- Brown County
- Redwood County
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Piscifun gear suited to the Minnesota River
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Answers
Handy answers on the Minnesota River
Through which counties does the Minnesota River run?
Look in Nicollet County and 13 other counties.
Do I need a trout stamp on the Minnesota River?
It is outside the trout stream layer.
What is the Minnesota River discharge today?
The 6 USGS gauges readings sit above.
Is there a boat launch on the Minnesota River?
69 public accesses, such as Seven Mile Creek, Co Park Access.
Are there bait limits on the Minnesota River?
No special DNR rule; the statewide rows apply.
Do kids need a license on the Minnesota River?
Minnesota residents 16 to 89 need an angling license ($25 for the year); nonresidents 16 and older pay $51.
Is there a bait and tackle stop near the Minnesota River?
Artie's Bait & Tackle, roughly 14 miles from the midpoint.
Which town sits near the Minnesota River?
The closest Census city is Louisburg (2 miles).
Which fish can I hook in the Minnesota River?
No survey list exists in the sources used.
Spend a morning on the Minnesota River
Limits and flow are on this page.