Walleye bag limit: Seeking your input



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minnesota department of natural resources


*Minnesota Fishing *



"July 3, 2025"

Stay informed! Here’s a summary of upcoming fisheries and habitat management activities and ways you can discover, explore and experience Minnesota’s outdoors.

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angler with a sunfish she caught and bright sun shining in the background
Fourth of July weekend fishing!

Check out the Minnesota DNR fishing webpage [ [link removed] ] before heading out to the water this Fourth of July weekend. The page includes information on fishing basics, learning to fish, regulations and links to other useful fishing information. The 2025 Minnesota Fishing Regulations are available on the page in five languages, and in print where DNR licenses are sold.

On the fishing page, you can also find links to LakeFinder [ [link removed] ], which provides maps and detailed information on lakes throughout the state, and the trout fishing page [ [link removed] ] with the StreamFinder tool that provides a description, species list, regulations and access information for trout streams throughout Minnesota.

"“Small sunny on a sunny day"” photo courtesy of Sarah Kaitz""



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DNR conservation officers addressing the media during a media event at Lake Minnetonka
DNR increases patrols for impaired boaters over holiday weekend

During this upcoming long Fourth of July weekend, lakes and rivers across Minnesota likely will be at their busiest. Among those planning to join those on the water: Minnesota DNR conservation officers and public safety partners, whose aim is to ensure everyone makes it home safely at the end of the day.

Officers will be out as part of Operation Dry Water, an annual nationwide campaign which runs from July 4-7. The campaign highlights the dangers of boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs and calls attention to the heavy penalties associated with boating while intoxicated. The goal is to make the water safer for everyone by removing anyone operating under the influence.

For more information, visit the Operation Dry Water [ [link removed] ] website and the DNR boating safety page [ [link removed] ]. Operation Dry Water activities are sponsored by the National Association of Boating Law Administrators in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard.



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angler holding a walleye on a dock
Walleye limit from six to four?

Changes in lake habitat, ecology and conditions coupled with technological advances in fishing gear and methods are prompting the Minnesota DNR to seek public input on a possible reduction in the statewide walleye possession limit from six to four fish.

The DNR is considering this a proactive step to maintain quality walleye fishing. The six-walleye limit has been in place since 1956, and conditions in Minnesota’s lakes continue to change. If enacted via a rulemaking process, the change would not become effective until May 2027.

People can view additional details, factors the DNR considered in making this proposal, and share their thoughts on the regulation being considered through Friday, Aug. 15, by visiting the DNR’s walleye webpage [ [link removed] ] and completing the online questionnaire.

" "“"28-inch walleye on Lake Itasca""”"" photo courtesy of Katie Duane"



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sunfish held by an angler with a lake in the background
Comment on proposed regulations

Minnesota DNR is seeking input on several special fishing regulation proposals.

Each year, the DNR reviews all existing fishing regulations, proposes new special regulations that apply to individual waters and asks for input about them. Proposals for 2026 address:


* Sand Lake walleye (Itasca County)
* Rainy Lake walleye (St. Louis and Koochiching counties)
* Platte Lake sunfish (Crow Wing County)
* Sullivan Lake sunfish (Morrison County)
* Green Prairie Fish Lake sunfish (Morrison County)
* Long (Higgins) Lake sunfish (Todd County)
* Moose Lake sunfish (Todd County)
* Maple Lake sunfish (Todd County)
* Jewett Lake sunfish (Otter Tail County)
* North and South Ten Mile Lakes sunfish (Otter Tail County)
* German Lake sunfish (Otter Tail County)
* Rush Lake sunfish (Otter Tail County)
* Rabideau Lake sunfish (Beltrami County)

You can submit your comments through our online survey, by email, U.S. mail, or phone. Find out more about the proposals and how to submit comments on the DNR website [ [link removed] ].



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angler with the record smallmouth buffalo he caught
New state records set! 

Shoutouts are in order for new state record smallmouth buffalo and brook trout!

Andrew Nicholson of Hugo reeled in a 32 1/2 inch smallmouth buffalo from the St. Croix River. The catch-and-release category for smallmouth buffalo was added in 2024 and this is the first one submitted exceeding 31 inches. Congratulations to Andrew on a memorable catch!



angler with the record brook trout he caught

Justin Hirdler of Babbitt reeled in this new catch-and-release record for brook trout earlier this year. The fish was 19 inches and caught out of Alruss Lake in St. Louis County. Congratulations to Justin on a terrific trout!

Learn more about catch-and-release records and the state record fish program on the DNR website [ [link removed] ].



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angler releasing a muskie
Catch and release tips

Prefer to catch and release? Help a fish out! When it comes to catching and releasing large fish, there are some best practices to follow to maximize survival:


* Use proper equipment
* Minimize the amount of time the fish is out of the water
* Protect the fish’s slime coat
* Hold the fish properly
* Help the fish recover

Watch our video [ [link removed] ] to see these tips in action.



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DNR fisheries staff holding a large walleye before releasing the fish during fisheries management work
DNR Fisheries researchers win award for walleye stocking paper

Stocking locally sourced walleye can pay off — especially when it comes to a genetically distinct strain of walleye, the southern Minnesota strain.

After publishing a paper last year titled “Performance and cost advantage of stocking locally sourced Walleye fry into southern Minnesota lakes,” DNR researchers won a prestigious national award for their research, the Mercer H. Patriarche Award for the best paper in the North American Journal of Fisheries Management for 2024.

“This is great and well-deserved recognition,” said Craig Soupir, southern region fisheries manager, in an update to DNR Fisheries staff. “The project has been transformative to our walleye management in Minnesota probably in ways we haven’t even realized yet.”



DNR Fisheries staff Dale Lodgson on a DNR Fisheries boat when it's snowing

The research centered on DNR Fisheries discovering through DNA testing a strain of walleye genetics unique to Lake Sarah in Murray County. Those genes can be traced back to the Waterville hatchery, which stocked Lake Sarah with walleyes from the Cannon River watershed and other southern Minnesota sources back in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

While many other lakes require stocking programs to enhance the fish population, Lake Sarah’s walleye fishery hasn’t needed outside help in more than a quarter-century. As anglers enjoyed reeling in walleye over the years, DNR scientists began investigating why this fishery supported itself while many others needed stocking to supplement the walleye population.

Researchers found that the local walleye strain outperformed a strain of walleye the DNR had been stocking from northern Minnesota.

Authors of the paper were DNR Fisheries researchers Dale Logsdon, Steven Shroyer and Loren Miller, and University of Minnesota graduate student Askhan Shametov. The research is highlighted on the DNR fisheries research webpage [ [link removed] ]. 

"Top, DNR Fisheries staff holds a walleye during egg take for the research project. Bottom, Dale Logsdon, DNR Fisheries researcher and team lead for the paper, sampling with electrofishing."



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a fishing boat moored at sunset
New education requirements are in effect for some boaters

Minnesota long has required people between the ages of 12 and 17 to obtain a watercraft operator’s permit to operate certain types of motorized boats in the state. In 2023, the state Legislature passed a law expanding that requirement.

As of July 1, 2025, anyone age 12 or older and born after June 30, 2004, is required to have a valid watercraft operator’s permit to operate a motorboat or personal watercraft on Minnesota waters. (The new law does not affect people who already have a permit.) The requirement gradually includes more age groups, and by July 1, 2028, anyone born after June 30, 1987, will need a valid watercraft operator’s permit to operate a motorboat or personal watercraft on Minnesota waters.

Although we recommend everyone obtain their watercraft operator’s permit, if you were born before July 1, 1987, you will not need one unless you’re an accompanying operator or renting a motorboat or personal watercraft. For more details, including definitions of the various operator types and a link to the watercraft operator’s permit course, see the DNR website [ [link removed] ].



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two kids on a dock with a paddlefish sitting on a dock
Catch fishy summer webinars

Check out these fish and fishing-related topics included in the summer series of the Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series:


* July 16 – Fishing with live bait
* July 30 – Walleye genetics and survival
* Aug. 13 – Gar and paddlefish in today’s world.

The live webinars are at noon on Wednesdays and last an hour or less. Find a full list of summer webinars on the DNR website [ [link removed] ].

"“Vanna and Mosley with the elusive Minnesota paddlefish” photo courtesy of Mo Vang"



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Join us with the Twins and get a special edition hat; hunt + fish; Target Field photo; DNR logo; Twins hat with fish on it
Sport this new Twins hat!

DNR Days with the Twins is back for the 2025 season. If you have a valid Minnesota hunting or fishing license, you get access to a special ticket package with the Minnesota Twins.

Buy your tickets in advance through this special link [ [link removed] ] to receive a limited edition hat with your purchase. The remaining DNR Days with the Twins for the 2025 season are:


* Friday, July 11, Pittsburgh Pirates
* Tuesday, July 29, Boston Red Sox
* Saturday, Aug. 16, Detroit Tigers
* Sunday, Aug. 31, San Diego Padres
* Tuesday, Sept. 16, New York Yankees


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Please share your fishing photos

Do you have any fishing photos you want to share? Consider uploading them using the DNR photo uploader [ [link removed] ]. We use many of these photos in email newsletters, our webpages and other communications.

underwater photo of fish in a Cuyuna SRA mine pit

"Underwater at Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area, photo courtesy of Cory Hines"






Find fishing information

You can find the information you need about learning to fish, regulations, where to fish, aquatic invasive species, contacting a conservation officer and more on the DNR fishing page [ [link removed] ].







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minnesota department of natural resources [ [link removed] ]

*Minnesota Department of Natural Resources  |  mndnr.gov [ [link removed] ] *

Email us: [email protected]  |  Call 651-296-6157 or 888-646-6367

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