2026 regulation year
North & east of US Highway 53 (Duluth–International Falls) 2026 — Minnesota Fishing Regulations
Minnesota statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
North & east of US Highway 53 (Duluth–International Falls) carries 2 special-regulation overlays on top of Minnesota's 2026 fishing rules — covering Smallmouth bass, Largemouth bass. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.
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Watch North & east of US Highway 53 (Duluth–International Falls) (MN) and we'll email you when a season, bag limit, slot, or closure changes. Free while in beta.
Per-species rules on North & east of US Highway 53 (Duluth–International Falls)
Early bass harvest opens on the 2nd Saturday in May — two weeks before the rest of the state
Early bass harvest opens on the 2nd Saturday in May — two weeks before the rest of the state
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 North & east of US Highway 53 (Duluth–International Falls)?
- North & east of US Highway 53 (Duluth–International Falls) carries 2 special-regulation overlays that override Minnesota's statewide 2026 rules, covering Smallmouth bass and Largemouth bass. One of them reads: "Early bass harvest opens on the 2nd Saturday in May — two weeks before the rest of the state." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish North & east of US Highway 53 (Duluth–International Falls)?
- Yes. North & east of US Highway 53 (Duluth–International Falls) 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 North & east of US Highway 53; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Minnesota rules.
- Do North & east of US Highway 53 (Duluth–International Falls)'s special rules replace Minnesota's statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. Minnesota's statewide 2026 regulations apply on North & east of US Highway 53 by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules 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.
- Which species have special rules on North & east of US Highway 53?
- Smallmouth bass and Largemouth bass have a water-body-specific rule on North & east of US Highway 53 (Duluth–International Falls), each linking to its full Minnesota regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Minnesota limits.