Changes to the 2015 MN DNR regulations will provide more fishing opportunities – and in some cases bigger fish – for anglers who want to fish for bass, sturgeon, muskellunge, catfish and trout. Changes include:
- Bass: New catch-and-release bass season is Saturday, May 9, until harvest season opens Saturday, May 23, in all but northeast Minnesota. In northeast (essentially north and east of U.S. Highway 53), no change in spring but fall closure is lifted, allowing smallmouth bass harvest in northeast through Feb. 28, 2016.
- Sturgeon: New catch-and-release season for lake sturgeon is Tuesday, June 16, until April 14, 2016 on inland waters and Minnesota waters bordering North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa. No fishing for lake sturgeon each year April 15 to June 15, to protect sturgeon during spawning season. Seasons differ on Minnesota waters bordering Canada and Wisconsin. Anglers also will find new regulations for shovelnose sturgeon.
- Muskie: Minimum length limit to keep a muskie is 54 inches. Previous limit was 48 inches. Exceptions apply for muskie-northern pike hybrids, also called tiger muskie, in the seven-county metro area, where minimum length limit remains 40 inches on certain lakes.
- Flathead catfish: Season will close for winter. Season is Wednesday, April 1, to Monday, Nov. 30.
- Trout: Expanded seasons for stream trout, both in streams and winter fishing in lakes.
See www.mndnr.gov/fishmn/trout for season dates.
For more details, and special regulations for individual waters, see the 2015 Minnesota Fishing Regulations booklet, available at any license agent or online at www.mndnr.gov/fishmn and www.mndnr.gov/regulations/fishing.