2026 regulation year
Big Pine Lake (Otter Tail) 2026 — Minnesota Fishing Regulations
Minnesota statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
Big Pine Lake (Otter Tail) carries a special-regulation overlay on top of Minnesota's 2026 fishing rules. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.
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State-level special regulation
MN DNR special-regulation panfish + walleye water — an Otter Tail County lake near Perham. Sunfish: daily limit 10. Crappie: daily limit 5. Walleye: all from 18–26 in must be immediately released, only 1 over 26 in allowed in possession.
Source: Minnesota special-water list
Official source
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources publishes the authoritative 2026 Minnesota fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.
Visit official Minnesota fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources's emergency-order feed — check it before any Minnesota trip during the active season.
Other special-regulation waters in Minnesota
Frequently asked questions
- What special fishing regulations apply at Big Pine Lake (Otter Tail)?
- Big Pine Lake (Otter Tail) carries one special-regulation overlay that overrides Minnesota's statewide 2026 rules. It reads: "MN DNR special-regulation panfish + walleye water — an Otter Tail County lake near Perham. Sunfish: daily limit 10. Crappie: daily limit 5. Walleye: all from 18–26 in must be immediately released, only 1 over 26 in allowed in possession." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish Big Pine Lake (Otter Tail)?
- Yes. Big Pine Lake (Otter Tail) is in Minnesota, so a valid Minnesota fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Big Pine Lake; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Minnesota rules.
- Do Big Pine Lake (Otter Tail)'s special rules replace Minnesota's statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. Minnesota's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Big Pine Lake by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rule for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.