Fisheries rulemaking

Reduced walleye limit
The proposed expedited rule reduces the daily and possession limit for walleye and sauger from six combined to four combined with only one walleye longer than 20 inches allowed in possession. It also clarifies the precedence of regulations in different areas of rule.
Status: People have until 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, 2026, to submit comments on this proposed rule.

Waters with restrictions on taking fish
The proposed expedited rules apply to several waters of the state where taking fish is restricted or otherwise differentiated from other fishing regulations. The proposed rule changes apply to Lake Rebecca and the inland portions of Pool 3, Little Sauk Lake, Steiger Lake, Rochester Area Lakes, and La Salle Lake.
Status: This rule is in the final stages of approval and scheduled for implementation March 1, 2026.

Continuous bass season
This rule is about creating a year-round continuous bass season. Portions of the continuous season will be catch-and-release only, while other portions will allow for bass harvest.
Status: This rule is in the final stages of approval and scheduled for implementation March 1, 2026.

Fishing regulations for Lake Superior and its tributaries

Fishing regulations for Lake Superior and tributaries
These rules become effective March 1, 2026. They simplified and standardized trout season start and end dates, removed the restriction that only one of the five salmon allowed to be kept is an Atlantic salmon, and clarified where inland fishing regulations apply for other species.

Rule changes for restrictions on taking fish

Rule changes for restrictions on taking fish
This rule is about hook definitions, hook spacing and hook-setting devices.
Status: These rules became effective Aug. 18, 2025. They clarified what constitutes a hook, increased the distance allowed between multiple hooks on a single line and allowed some through-the-ice automatic hook-setting devices.

Bait restrictions related to Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia

Bait restrictions related to Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia.
Matches existing rules to legislative changes.
Status: These rules became effective Aug. 18, 2025. They matched existing rules relating to VHS to changes made by the Legislature.

Rule changes for Minnesota-Wisconsin boundary waters of the St. Croix River

This rule is about border waters fishing regulations.
This rule is about border waters fishing regulations.
Status: This rule became effective March 1, 2025. It adjusted Minnesota’s fishing on boundary waters shared with the state of Wisconsin to ensure consistent regulations for all anglers.

Rule changes for inland waters

This rule is about seasons and limits on waters entirely within Minnesota.
Matches existing rules to legislative changes.
Status: The rule became effective March 1, 2025. It clarified fishing season dates, modified some fishing seasons, established and/or modified daily and possession limits for several fish species and clarified the northern pike management zone boundaries.