Cisco across Minnesota
Where cisco live in Minnesota, with limits.
- 15 (over 7")limit
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cisco in the state
In DNR terms, Cisco is part of the trout and salmon family. Limit (inland waters (statewide)): 15 (over 7″); season Continuous.
445 lakes carry it on their DNR survey list, 524 with pages on this site. The highest gill net catch rate on a lake with a page here is 140 per net at Sea Gull Lake.
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“Cisco, Herring, Lake Herring and Tullibee”
“Cisco, Herring, Lake Herring, and Inland Tullibee are the same fish.”
“With a lower jaw that extends up to or beyond the tip of snout, cisco – also known as tullibee or lake herring – also are a member of the trout and salmon family.”
- With a lower jaw that extends up to or beyond the tip of snout, cisco – also known as tullibee or lake herring – also are a member of the trout and salmon family.identification
- tullibee, lake herring, herring, inland tullibeealso called
Quoted from the DNR fish page and the 2026 regulations identification guide, checked October 2026.
Minnesota limits for cisco
| Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Inland waters (statewide) | 15 (over 7") | Continuous |
2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations. All Minnesota limits.
Lakes where DNR gill nets caught the most cisco
| Lake | Per gill net | Normal range | Avg lb | Survey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea Gull Lake | 140 | 0.03 | 2024 | |
| Long Lake, Hubbard County | 128.5 | 0.28 | 2024 | |
| Long Lake near Aitkin, Aitkin County | 116 | 0.15 | 2024 | |
| Nashwauk Lake | 88.25 | 1.0-13.3 | 0.37 | 2022 |
| Moose Lake, Cook County | 86 | 0.01 | 2025 | |
| Cedar Lake near Aitkin, Aitkin County | 71.5 | 0.29 | 2024 | |
| Ottertrack Lake | 70.5 | 0.05 | 2018 | |
| Barbour Lake | 69.5 | 1.0-13.3 | 0.44 | 2022 |
| Ball Club Lake, Itasca County | 64 | 0.38 | 2014 | |
| Newfound Lake | 46.11 | 3.2-20.2 | 0.42 | 2024 |
| Spearhead Lake | 44 | 0.36 | 2022 | |
| Pillager Lake | 43.5 | 0.5-4.8 | 0.79 | 2023 |
DNR LakeFinder latest survey per lake; standard and special gill nets.
Waters holding cisco
Lakes for cisco
- Lake of the Woods725,583 acres
- Rainy Lake, St. Louis County210,200 acres
- Mille Lacs Lake128,250 acres
- Leech Lake103,444 acres
- Lake Winnibigoshish56,471 acres
- Vermilion Lake39,272 acres
- Lac la Croix29,597 acres
- Basswood Lake25,953 acres
- Namakan Lake24,066 acres
- Kabetogama Lake24,034 acres
- Saganaga Lake18,767 acres
- Cass Lake15,958 acres
- Otter Tail Lake14,079 acres
- Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County10,360 acres
- Gull Lake, Cass County10,010 acres
- Bowstring Lake9,528 acres
- Sand Point Lake8,527 acres
- Pelican Lake, Crow Wing County8,367 acres
- Lake Minnewaska8,050 acres
- Island Lake Reservoir8,001 acres
- Whitefish Lake near Manhattan Beach, Crow Wing County7,714 acres
- Dead Lake, Otter Tail County7,546 acres
- Trout Lake, St. Louis County7,425 acres
- Birch Lake, St. Louis County7,074 acres
Creeks for cisco
- Turtle RiverBeltrami
DNR LakeFinder survey lists; largest lakes first.
More fish near cisco on the list
- Lake trouttrout and salmon family
- Brook trouttrout and salmon family
- Brown trouttrout and salmon family
- Rainbow trouttrout and salmon family
- Steelheadtrout and salmon family
- Splaketrout and salmon family
- Tiger trouttrout and salmon family
- Chinook salmontrout and salmon family
- Coho salmontrout and salmon family
- Pink salmontrout and salmon family
- Atlantic salmontrout and salmon family
- Kokanee salmontrout and salmon family
Lakes and rivers near Cisco in photos
Photo: Appraiser at English Wikipedia, Public domain
Photo: Jonathan Miske, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Photo: Joe Passe, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Wikideas1, CC0
cisco questions with short answers
What is the daily Minnesota limit for cisco?
15 (over 7") (Inland waters (statewide)), season Continuous.
How heavy is the record cisco?
The DNR shows no record.
Which lakes are best for cisco?
Sea Gull Lake leads the DNR gill net catch at 140 per net; 525 waters on this site list it.
Are cisco stocked in Minnesota?
No DNR stocking row covers it.
How can I tell a cisco when I land one?
With a lower jaw that extends up to or beyond the tip of snout, cisco – also known as tullibee or lake herring – also are a member of the trout and salmon family.
When is cisco season in Minnesota?
Continuous
What does a license for cisco cost?
Minnesota residents 16 to 89 need an angling license ($25 for the year); nonresidents 16 and older pay $51.
Do outfitters target cisco?
No listing names it.