Minnesota FISHING BASICS

When can I fish?

You can fish in spring, summer, fall and winter. You can fish any day of the year if the kind of fish you’re trying to catch can be legally caught on the day you’re fishing.

What can I catch?

You can catch some fish such as crappie, catfish, sunfish, perch and bullhead at any time. Fish such as walleye, northern pike and bass – commonly called gamefish – can only be caught during certain times of the year. Those time periods can vary depending on where you are fishing. Contact the Minnesota DNR or visit www.dnr.state.mn.us to find specific regulations for a particular lake, river or stream.

Where can I fish?

You can fish on lakes, rivers and streams. To get to a fishing area, don’t cross private property without permission. Some areas may have fishing and access restrictions posted.

What if I catch fish?

Contact the Minnesota DNR or visit www.dnr. state.mn.us to find the number of fish you may catch each day in a particular lake, river or stream. No matter where you fish, the number of fish you catch each day are part of the total number of fish in your possession. Fish you have at home in a freezer or back at camp in a cooler are considered to be in your possession and count toward your limit.