In This Issue
A weekly list of news briefs about fish, wildlife and habitat management.
Apply by Dec. 17 for DNR grants that help children get outside
Public entities and nonprofit organizations serving people younger than 18 can apply for No Child Left Inside grants until 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is offering the grants to help more children cast a line, study animal tracks, hike, bike, or engage in other activities to experience and learn more about nature.
The DNR is accepting applications for both mini grants (less than $5,000) and larger grants ($5,001 to $25,000). Total amount of available funding this year is $485,000. The request for proposals and more information about how to apply are available on the DNR website (mndnr.gov/no-child-grants).
Mini grants will be awarded by lottery, while larger grants will be awarded using a competitive review process. Funding can be used for outdoor recreation equipment, transportation, and expenses for programming, staff and natural resource education. For questions and additional resources please contact Grant Program Coordinator Amber Kastner ([email protected]).
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The walleye limit for ice fishing season on Mille Lacs Lake will remain at three fish longer than 17 inches, only one of which can be longer than 20 inches.
“Mille Lacs’ walleye population is trending in a good direction for both adult and juvenile fish,” said Brad Parsons, fisheries section manager for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “We’re pleased to keep the current regulation in place for this winter and offer anglers this harvest opportunity.”
For yellow perch, the daily and possession limit will be 10. The change is a shift from last year, which began with a perch daily and possession limit of 20 that had to be reduced to 5 after the state in early March, exceeded its harvest allocation. The daily and possession limit of 10 is intended to provide state anglers the opportunity to harvest a meal of perch while also keeping the state within its harvest allocation.
Each year the state and the Ojibwe nations who retain harvest rights in the 1837 Treaty Area jointly set the harvest amounts for different fish species in Mille Lacs for the year. Fall netting data informs where harvest levels will be set when the state and Tribes meet in January. Once harvest levels for the year and the state’s winter harvest are known, the state may need to adjust regulations for the open water season that begins on May 9, 2026.
With northern pike increasing in abundance over the past two years to the highest numbers ever measured by the DNR, the possession limit will increase from three to five fish. This regulation retains a length limit of 30 inches that has been in place since 2020, which protects Mille Lacs Lake’s trophy-sized pike, while the possession limit increase is intended to encourage additional harvest.
Winter fishing regulations for walleye will be in effect from Monday, Dec. 1, through Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. Yellow perch regulations will be in effect from Monday, Dec. 1, through Friday, May 8, 2026. Northern pike regulations will be in effect from Monday, Dec. 1, through Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
Winter regulations for Mille Lacs Lake are set after completion of the DNR’s annual fall netting assessments. The 2025 assessment found a slightly lower adult walleye abundance than in 2024, along with strong numbers of year-old walleye that have good potential to contribute to the fishery in the future.
Forage species such as young yellow perch and tullibee also are currently abundant, allowing medium to larger walleyes to fatten up over the summer and be in good condition heading into the winter.
Complete regulations and additional information about Mille Lacs Lake are available on the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/millelacslake).
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Get Out MORE project will benefit brook trout, other species
The first mile of the Willard Munger State Trail, between Pulaski Street and Riverwest Drive in Duluth, will be closed starting Nov. 24, 2025. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is removing a significantly undersized culvert and replacing it with a bridge over Lower Knowlton Creek. The bridge installation will increase stream connectivity, benefitting brook trout and other species of fish, while enhancing climate resiliency for the trail. For safety reasons, people should avoid the construction area while the trail section is closed. The trail is expected to reopen to the public on June 30, 2026.
This project is funded by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Fund and Get Out MORE (Modernize Outdoor Recreation Experiences). Get Out MORE is a historic, one-time investment of $150 million to help ensure Minnesotans of all abilities and interests enjoy a world-class recreation system, whichever outdoor experience they choose.
More information is available on the Get Out MORE webpage of the DNR website (mndnr.gov/aboutdnr/get-out-more).
The Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Fund supports projects to restore fish habitats along with several other conservation initiatives. Learn more on the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council website (lsohc.mn.gov).
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