2026 regulation year
Chisago Lake 2026 — Minnesota Fishing Regulations
Minnesota statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
Chisago Lake 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 trophy largemouth bass water (Chisago County, Twin Cities exurban chain). Largemouth bass: all bass 12 in and larger must be immediately released — effectively a catch-and-release trophy-bass fishery, far stricter than the statewide 6-bass combined harvest. Other species follow statewide rules.
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 Chisago Lake?
- Chisago Lake carries one special-regulation overlay that overrides Minnesota's statewide 2026 rules. It reads: "MN DNR special-regulation trophy largemouth bass water (Chisago County, Twin Cities exurban chain). Largemouth bass: all bass 12 in and larger must be immediately released — effectively a catch-and-release trophy-bass fishery, far stricter than the statewide 6-bass combined harvest. Other species follow statewide rules." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish Chisago Lake?
- Yes. Chisago Lake 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 Chisago Lake; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Minnesota rules.
- Do Chisago Lake's special rules replace Minnesota's statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. Minnesota's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Chisago 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.