Minnesota Fishing Regulations: Bag Limits, Size Limits and Seasons

These are the statewide daily bag limits and length limits Minnesota anglers work under, taken from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) guide for March 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027. Statewide means the default: most states, Minnesota included, override these on specific lakes, rivers and coastal zones, so treat this page as the baseline and the official guide as the rule for the water you are standing on.

Walleye, northern pike and bass open on the Saturday two weeks before Memorial Day (May 9, 2026); bass harvest opens two weeks later, with catch-and-release bass fishing now open all year on inland waters. Muskellunge opens the first Saturday in June. Stream trout have a spring opener in mid-April. Sunfish, crappie, perch and catfish are open year-round. Every limit below is the statewide default; Minnesota has hundreds of lake-specific special regulations. You will still need the Minnesota fishing license, which runs $25 for residents and $51 for non-residents; the Minnesota fishing license page covers short-term options, exemptions and where to buy.

AgencyMinnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Regulation yearMarch 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027
Free fishingTake a Kid Fishing Weekend in early June and Take a Kid Ice Fishing Weekend in mid-February: adults fishing with a child under 16 need no license. There is no general free fishing day for adults alone.
Official regulation guide License cost

Limits last verified 2026-09-16.

Minnesota freshwater bag and length limits

Statewide freshwater limits. Water-specific exceptions in the official guide take precedence.
Species Daily bag Length
Walleye and saugerMany lakes carry their own slot. 6 combined None, but only 1 may be over 20 in.
Northern pikeThe three pike zones are the first thing to check. By zone: 10 north, 2 south, 2 northeast North: release 22-26 in., only 2 over 26 in. South: 24 in. minimum. Northeast: only 1 over 40 in.
Largemouth and smallmouth bassSome waters are catch-and-release only for smallmouth. 6 combined None
Muskellunge 1 54 in. minimum
SunfishReduced 5 or 10 limits on many lakes. 20 None
Crappie 10 None
Yellow perch 20 None
Channel catfish 5 Only 1 over 24 in.
Flathead catfish 2 None
Stream troutTrout stamp required. Lake trout limit is 2. 5 Varies by stream

How to read a bag limit

A daily bag limit is the number of that species one angler may keep in a day, and in most states also the number you may have in possession on the water. Where a row says "combined", the number is shared across every species named in it. A minimum length is measured from the tip of the closed mouth to the tip of the tail with the tail pinched; a slot means fish inside the range must go back. When a lake has its own rule in the official guide, that rule replaces the statewide one for that water only.

Related: the Minnesota fishing license page for the fee and where to buy, non-resident fishing license fees across states, and fishing regulations for every state.

Frequently asked questions

What is the bass limit in Minnesota?

Statewide, Minnesota allows 6 combined largemouth and smallmouth bass per day, with a length rule of none. Some waters are catch-and-release only for smallmouth. Individual lakes often carry a different slot or minimum, so check the water-specific exceptions in the official guide.

How many crappie can you keep in Minnesota?

The statewide daily limit is 10, size rule none.

What is the catfish limit in Minnesota?

Channel catfish: 5 per day, only 1 over 24 in..

What is the trout limit in Minnesota?

Stream trout: 5 per day, varies by stream. Trout stamp required. Lake trout limit is 2.

Is there a closed season for fishing in Minnesota?

Walleye, northern pike and bass open on the Saturday two weeks before Memorial Day (May 9, 2026); bass harvest opens two weeks later, with catch-and-release bass fishing now open all year on inland waters. Muskellunge opens the first Saturday in June. Stream trout have a spring opener in mid-April. Sunfish, crappie, perch and catfish are open year-round. Every limit below is the statewide default; Minnesota has hundreds of lake-specific special regulations.

When can you fish without a license in Minnesota?

Take a Kid Fishing Weekend in early June and Take a Kid Ice Fishing Weekend in mid-February: adults fishing with a child under 16 need no license. There is no general free fishing day for adults alone.

Do I need a license to fish in Minnesota?

Yes for most adults. The annual Minnesota fishing license costs $25 for residents and $51 for non-residents. A trout/salmon stamp validation ($10) is required to keep trout or salmon in most waters, and a sturgeon tag ($5) is required to keep sturgeon. Resident married-couple ($40) and non-resident family ($68) licenses are also available. Anglers under 16 fish free. See the Minnesota fishing license page for short-term options and where to buy.

Where do these Minnesota limits come from?

Every figure on this page was read from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regulation guide for March 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027 and last checked on 2026-09-16. The guide, not this page, is the legal document. Use the official source link above before you keep a fish.