2026 regulation year
Minnesota Fishing Regulations 2026 — License Fees, Seasons, Bag Limits
Last updated
Minnesota licences run by season — annual licences are valid through February 28 of the year following purchase. Walleye, sauger, and northern pike rules differ by lake; the statewide booklet plus per-lake special-regs file are both authoritative.
License fees
| Licence | Price (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resident annual | $25.00 | |
| Resident married couple | $40.00 | |
| Resident 1-day | $14.00 | |
| Resident 24-hour | $14.00 | |
| Resident 72-hour | $19.00 | |
| Resident lifetime (age 16–50) | $478.00 | |
| Resident senior (65+) | $14.00 |
| Licence | Price (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Non-resident annual | $51.00 | |
| Non-resident family | $78.00 | |
| Non-resident 3-day | $36.00 | |
| Non-resident 7-day | $43.00 | |
| Non-resident 1-day | $14.00 |
Buy directly from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Fees may include processing surcharges at point of sale.
Top species — season, bag, size
| Species | Season | Daily bag | Size / slot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | Inland: 2nd Sat in May – Feb close (statewide). Border waters vary. | 6 / day (only 1 over 20 in; not more than 1 over 24 in) | Lake-specific slot limits apply (Mille Lacs, Red Lake, etc.) |
| Northern pike | Open year-round most waters | Zone-based: North 10/day (all under 22 in or one over 26 in); Central 2/day; South 2/day | Zone slot limits: 22–26 in protected slot (Central) |
| Muskellunge | 1st Sat in June – Dec 1 | 1 / day | 54 in minimum statewide |
| Smallmouth bass | Catch-and-release: 1st Sat in May – mid-June; harvest: mid-June – Feb | 6 / day (smallmouth + largemouth combined) | No statewide minimum; lake-specific slots apply |
| Lake trout | Inland varies — most lakes Jan 1 – Sep 30. Lake Superior year-round. | 2 / day (inland), 3 / day (Lake Superior zones) | Lake-specific minimums; protected slot 20–36 in on some lakes |
Notable water-body special regulations
Walleye: special slot + reduced bag, in-season closures by DNR
Walleye: combined bag with sauger; ON border-rule applies
Border water with ON: reciprocal licence required for crossing
Wilderness regs: no live bait restrictions, lead-tackle ban on some lakes
Official source
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is the authoritative source for Minnesota fishing regulations. Always verify rules before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override published booklets.