Minnesota is a premier fishing destination. The state's fishing waters offer anglers ample opportunities to catch walleyes, crappies, and northern pike, among other of its 158 fish species. Fishing is a year-round recreational sport and sport fishing a billion dollar industry in Minnesota.
Fishing Spots
Minnesota offers residents and visitors 3,800,000 acres of fishing waters. It has 5,493 fishable lakes located in every region of the state, in addition to 15,000 miles of freshwater streams with cold and warm water. Of the 15,000 miles of fishing streams, 1,900 miles consist of trout streams, many of which the state stocks each year. The Department of Natural Resources provides a list of lakes and streams for anglers to search and also offers a lake finder with information about the state's fishable waters. The state provides fishing piers and shore fishing sites in state parks and recreational facilities across the state.
Fish Species
Walleye is the most popular fish caught in Minnesota, but it's the second most caught fish in the state behind panfish. Other fish found in the state's waters include trout, bass, catfish, perch, and sunfish to name only a handful.
Fishing Seasons
With the exception of trout, bass, and muskellunge (i.e., muskie), the fishing season starts mid-May and ends in February of the following year. Fishermen can fish for walleyes, sauger, and northern pike, among most of the state's other fish species during these months. The lake trout season begins in mid-May and runs through September although certain streams and lakes extend the fishing season or are open during other times of the year. The catch-and-release season for bass fishing is mid-September through February. Yet certain bass lakes and streams in the state provide access to their waters at other times of the year. The muskie season starts in June and ends in December.
Fishing Licenses
Fishermen over the age of 16 need a fishing license in Minnesota. An annual fishing license is valid from March 1st through April 30th of the subsequent year. The DNR makes licenses available for purchase on its website, by phone, mail, or from a designated issuing agent located throughout the state. It also sells a number of different license options other than annual licenses for residents and non-residents at various prices based on the length of the fishing trip.
Fishing Regulations
DNR also publishes a fishing regulations guide for fishing in Minnesota. The guide contains information on fish limits, possession, and transport rules, in addition to state-authorized fishing methods.
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