Fishing is one of the most common outdoor pastimes in Minnesota. The fishing season for some species is open all year long, but the season opens and closes for other species, including walleyes, which are the state fish of Minnesota. Before you head to the water, you should know the fishing season for the fish you hope to catch.
Significance
Minnesota does not lack for fishing options. According to the state Department of Natural Resources, there are 158 different fish species in state waters. While some of them are too small or too uncommon for anglers to target specifically, others have legions of dedicated anglers. Those include game species like bass, black crappies, muskies, northern pike, sunfish and walleye. Of those, specific seasons are in place for bass, muskies, pike and walleye, while anglers can pursue crappies and sunfish throughout the year.
Regulations
Anglers who fish in lakes, rivers and streams in Minnesota must have a fishing license. You can buy a year-long license or a license that is good for shorter periods of time, including 24 hours, seven days and two weeks.
Walleye Season
When fishermen talk about the Minnesota Fishing Opener, they are referring to the day on which they can begin walleye fishing. The walleye season opens at midnight on the second Saturday in May and runs through the last Sunday in February. The season for northern pike opens on the same day as the walleye season.
Bass and Muskies
The seasons for bass and muskies open later than the walleye and northern pike season. Anglers can begin fishing for bass in the majority of the state at midnight on the fourth Saturday of May. That season also runs through the end of February. The muskie season in Minnesota begins on midnight of the first Saturday in June and runs through the first day in December.
Reasons
The establishment of seasons for some species in Minnesota is to protect their populations. The season starts after most of the fish of that species have spawned. When fish are spawning, they are in shallow water and are susceptible to fishing pressure. Walleye and northern pike are the earliest fish to spawn, and both species are mostly done with the annual ritual by the time the season kicks off. Muskies are also an early spawning species, but the state gives them some extra protection because they are less populous in most waters. Bass are one of the latest species to spawn; they kick into gear when water temperatures are in the mid-60s. If the weather in May is cold, there might be some spawning fish when the season opens, particularly in northern waters, but the majority generally are done.
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