This is the Official Minnesota Fishing regulations and Information navigation page for the Minnesota state rules and regulations guidebook overviews.
You can access each individual state regulation guidebook by clicking the links below.
These are just the overviews of the official state regulations.
The Actual state Minnesota Fishing regulation guidebooks are accessible by clicking on the state you would like to see from the home page map then clicking on the Minnesota state fishing regulations books.
They are also accessible by clicking on the Minnesota fishing reg. books below and accessing the Minnesota fishing regs link in the Minnesota Guidebooks listed below.
Enjoy be safe and have a great time exploring the site and remember to check back often to keep updated on all the new laws, rules, and Minnesota regulations pertaining to the hunting, fishing, trapping, and wildlife sports.
Weather its Minnesota Trout fishing, Minnesota bass fishing, Minnesota Tiger Musky fishing, Minnesota Salmon fishing, Minnesota Catfish fishing, Minnesota Longnose Gar fishing, Minnesota Panfish fishing, Minnesota pike/muskie fishing, Minnesota Walleye fishing  We have the Minnesota state fishing regulations for your trip into the wilderness or on the water covered in one easy to location.
If you need Minnesota fishing maps, Minnesota state fishing maps, or just some Minnesota fishing reports to tell you were the bite is hot we have that too.

Fishing for other Musky, Tiger Musky, Northern Pike, Sauger, Longnose Gar, Bowfin and Sturgeon in Minnesota.

Minnesota offers unique fishing opportunities. Listed below find information about species of fish found in Minnesota which may not be featured in the main section of AA- Fishing.com.

Musky - Muskellunge
Esox masquinongy
World Record: 69.9 lbs
The largest of the pike family, they are found in about half the states, primarily the northern and northeastern states. They prefer clear water with temperatures from 60 to 70 degrees. Also known as musky, muskie and great pike, they eat any fish they can catch and prefer to ambush their prey. They also eat crayfish, frogs and birds. Use large lures (salt-water sizes) and heavy line when fishing for muskellunge. They will hit lures and fresh cut bait. They are known for their speed and are exceptionally strong for short runs.

Tiger Musky - Muskellunge
Esox lucius ~ Esox masquinongy
USA Record: 51.2 lbs.
The tiger muskellunge is a cross of the musky and northern pike. Male Tiger Muskellunge are most often sterile yet some females are fertile. Tiger muskies tend to be smaller than non-hybrid muskies but grow very fast. The body is often quite silvery with brownish fins and tail, without spots but displays broken vertical markings. Like their parent, they eat any fish they can catch and prefer to ambush their prey. They also eat crayfish, frogs and birds. Use large lures and stout line when fishing for tiger muskellunge. They will hit lures and fresh cut bait. They are known for their speed and are exceptionally strong for short runs.

Northern Pike
Esox Lucius
IFGA Record: 55.1 lbs
The northern pike is a valient fighter and prefers water temperatures from 58 to 70 degrees. Also known as jack, jackfish, great northern pike and pickerel. While they have been transplanted into most states with cold water, they are native to the northern states and are abundant in the north-eastern states. Northern pike are basically olive in color with white and/or yellow bellies. The northern pike has light-colored marking on a dark body whish is opposite that of their cousins the muskies.They are an ambushing predator that eats frogs, crayfish, birds and virtually any fish they can get into their mouth. Use spinners, fish-immitating lures, jerk-baits or cutbait and fish close to cover.

Sauger
Stizostedion canadense
World Record: 17.7 lbs.
Excellent eating fish which typically runs a bit smaller than its cousin the walleye. The sauger prefers cold and cloudy, moving water in the 60s to low 70s. They spawn in the low to mid 40s. You can tell them from a walleye by the dark spotting on the dorsal fin, darker coloring and the rough covering of the gill area. Due to their resembelance to pickerel, they are also known as gray pickerel spotfin pike, gray pike, river pike and others. When the water turns cold and other fish are hard to come by, this is the time to fish for sauger.Fish with jigs, spoons and crankbaits imitating crayfish or baitfish. Fish near the bottom and experiment with presentation action and speed.

Longnose Gar
Lepisosteus osseus
World Record: 25 lbs
The Longnose Gar can be found in lakes and rivers and prefers quiet backwaters with temperatures ranging from 80 to 90 degrees. Also referred to as gar and garfish, It has a long, sword-like mouth loaded with sharp teeth. They are nocturnal feeders and eat most smaller fish. They can be taken on live bait, fish-imitating lures and nylon string "gobs designed to entangle in their teeth. Most longnose gar are taken by bowfishing or spear fishing. The meat is somewhat tasty but quite bony.

Bowfin
Amia calva
World Record: 21.5 lbs.
Found in waters around Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi, the bowfin prefers water temperatures of the warmer climates. It has an exceptionally long dorsal fin which extends back to the tail, made of about 50 spines or rays. Near the upper tail is an eye spot. They have very sharp teeth and a nasty disposition when hooked. Handle with caution. They are most often caught on cut bait and crayfish. They put up quite a fight and are not considered good eating. The bowfin is also known as dogfish, mud pike, mudfish, grindle, swamp bass and others.

Sturgeon
Sturgeon have been captured weighing over 2,000 lbs at length in excess of 18 feet. They have been reported by divers to exist on the Columbia River up to 30-foot long. They are a prehistoric fish and have an exceptionally long life for a fish, commonly reaching sexual maturity at the age of 120 years. They are not sought for their meat, it's their egg roe which is made into caviar. They are found in major rivers feeding into the ocean and can be caught with cut bait, giant hooks, heavy weights and stout line. The larger ones can fight an angler for days and not tire out.

Minnesota Fishing Report

If you’re planning a fishing trip to Minnesota, you have some excellent choices for lakes and streams throughout the state including Big Stone Lake, Cass Lake, Kabetogama Lake, Lake Mille Lacs, Lake of the Woods, Lake Pepin, Lake Traverse, Lake Vermilion, Lake Winnibigoshish, Lake Minnetonka, Lake Minnewaska, Lake Superior, Lac Qui Parle Lake, Leech Lake, Lower Red Lake, Otter Tail Lake, Rainy Lake, Upper Red Lake and others. Many of the lakes in Minnesota have camping facilities as well as other accommodations nearby. Minnesota is well known for excellent Bass, Crappie and Walleye fishing. Additionally, in waters around the state you’ll find populations of Trout, Salmon, Catfish, Stripers, Musky, Tiger Musky, Northern Pike, Sauger, Longnose Gar, Bowfin, Sturgeon and sunfish including Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Rock Bass, White Bass, Yellow Perch which are plentiful in some waters.

Fishing is regulated in Minnesota by the Fish & Game Department. You can check their website for current fishing reports

Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass
Fishing in Minnesota.
Bass are one of the most sought after of all the game fish. Its appeal spans cultures, age groups and genders to tap on the heart strings of anglers everywhere. Join us in our endeavor to offer information about bass fishing on your favorite bass lake in the Minnesota area.

Bass Fishing Lakes in Minnesota

If you like to fish for bass, especially smallmouth bass, Minnesota is your kind of place. Thousands of lakes and the vast majority have healthy populations of bass. Bigger lakes including Cass Lake, Kabetogama Lake, Lake Mille Lacs, Lake of the Woods, Lake Pepin, Lake Vermilion, Lake Winnibigoshish, Lake Minnetonka, Lake Minnewaska, Lake Superior, Lac Qui Parle Lake, Leech Lake, Otter Tail Lake and Rainy Lake all contain bass.

The Minnesota state record largemouth bass was caught from Tetonka Lake and the state record smallmouth bass came from West Battle Lake.

Trout Fishing in Minnesota

The 5 primary trouts are the rainbow, brook, brown, cutthroat and lake trout. Brown trout are considered the most difficult to catch and brookies are the easiest. Pure cold water is key to survival of the trouts and the brook trout is the most sensitive to temperature. The others are comfortable in slightly warmer waters.

Trout Fishing Lakes in Minnesota

There is lots of water in Mn with trout of one kind or another. Many of the rivers and streams have trout as do Lake of the Woods and Lake Superior.

The Minnesota state record brook trout was caught in Pigeon River, the state record brown trout and lake trout came from Lake Superior, Devil Track River served up the state record rainbow trout and Mill Creek was home to the state record tiger trout.

Minnesota practices several trout management programs inclusin stocking of trout in a variety of Minnesota fishing waters. Visit the Minnesota XXX website for additional information on trout andtrout stocking schedules in Minnesota.

Salmon Fishing in Minnesota

If you fish for salmon in MN you are pretty much restricted to Lake Superior and the tributary waters flowing into it. Many of these rivers are the natural migration routes for salmon spawning.

The Minnesota state record atlantic salmon was caught out of the Baptism River. The state record for chinook (king) salmon was a tie with one fish coming from the Poplar River and the other from Lake Superior. Lake Souperir also served up the state record coho salmon. Caribou Lake was home to the state record kokanee salmon and the Cascade River yielded the state record pink (huimpback) salmon.

Walleye Fishing in Minnesota

Walleye
Stizostedion vitreum

The walleye prefers moderately deep lakes with gravel, rock or sandy bottoms. It is found primarily in cold water lakes but has proven to survive in some warmer water impoundments. It is prized for its great tasting white, flaky flesh.

Walleye Fishing Lakes in Minnesota

Residents of MN are very fortunate to have excellent walleye fishing throughout the state. Many of the smaller lakes have healthy populations of walley as do the vast majority of larger impoundments including Big Stone Lake, Cass Lake, Kabetogama Lake, Lake Mille Lacs, Lake of the Woods, Lake Pepin, Lake Traverse, Lake Vermilion, Lake Winnibigoshish, Lake Minnetonka, Lake Minnewaska, Lake Superior, Lac Qui Parle Lake, Leech Lake, Lower Red Lake, Otter Tail Lake, Rainy Lake and Upper Red Lake.

Rivers flowing to and from many of these lakes also have a few walleye for the persistent anglers. The Minnesota state record walleye was caught from the Seagull River.

Minnesota walleye spawn in spring and when they have the option will choose to migrate from the lake up into feeder streams to spawn. If this option is not available they seek out shallow bars or shoals with clean bottom surfaces near deep water.

This toothy fish will eat virtually anything it can catch and get in its mouth. They prefer small fish and will eat crustaceans, worms and insects. They tend to be somewhat wary and prefer the safety of deeper darker water. Try fishing for walleye from sundown to midnight, particularly during the heat of summer.

Fish for Minnesota walleye with live bait, crankbaits, spoons, small spinner baits as well as plastic worms and grubs.

Crappie Fishing in Minnesota

Crappie are actually a member of the sunfish family and can be found in all the continental states. They are known by many different names, typically based on geographic location. Paper mouth, goggleye, bridge perch and speckled perch, just to name a few.

Crappie Fishing Lakes in Minnesota

Many small lakes, ponds and quiet rivers in Minnesota have populations of crappie. But if you want to catch a bunch of crappie your best bet is most likely in one of the larger lakes including Kabetogama Lake, Lake Mille Lacs, Lake of the Woods, Lake Pepin, Lake Traverse, Lake Vermilion, Lake Winnibigoshish, Lake Minnetonka, Lake Minnewaska, Lake Superior, Lac Qui Parle Lake, Leech Lake, Lower Red Lake, Rainy Lake and Upper Red Lake

The Minnesota state record white crappie was caught in Constance Lake and a much bigger state record black crappie came out of the Vermillion River.

Catfish Fishing in Minnesota

There are many species of catfish and even more ways to catch them. Adults range in size from less than a pound to hundreds of pounds. They can be found in all types of water including ponds, streams, lakes and rivers. There are even species which spend a limited amount of time on dry land. Big giant catfish put up a very noble fight once hooked.

Catfish Fishing Lakes in Minnesota

Rivers are notorious for serving up monster catfish and many state record catfish come from rivers all across America. For larger schools of catfish and to fulfill your desires for a fish fry, try some of the larger Minnesota lakes including Cass Lake, Lake Pepin, Lake Traverse, Lake Vermilion, Lake Minnetonka, Lake Minnewaska, Lake Superior, Lac Qui Parle Lake, Leech Lake, Otter Tail Lake and Rainy Lake.

The Minnesota state record blue catfish was caught in the Minnesota River. The state record channel catfish was hauled out of the Mississippi River. The Saint Croix River gave up the state record flathead catfish.

Most catfish are considered bottom feeders to one extent or another. They will generally eat anything that can get in their mouth. Their strongest sense is smell which they use to locate potential food sources. Capitalizing on this sense is the primary weapon in your search for these creatures. Aggressive catfish have been caught on most types of fast moving bass lures so don't under estimate their ability to catch live bait.

Fishing for Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus

Channel cats can be caught most any time of year except in extreme cold water conditions. The best time of year tends to be spring and fall followed by summer and lastly winter. Channel catfish favor crawfish and small fish, so look for them at varying depths where there is rock or gravel that attracts the crawfish or other forms of cover that attracts baitfish and other small fish. In the warmer summer months catfish can be found in areas with moss, which they feed on.

Fishing For Flathead Catfish
Pylodictis olivaris

Flatheads are caught primarily on bait like live shiners and chubs and only occasionally on cut or prepared baits. They are the second largest of the catfishes and lie in cover of submerged logs or other large structures. Prime fishing time for catching flathead catfish is after dark.

Fishing For Blue Catfish
Ictalurus furcatus

Look for these big blue catfish on major rivers or in impoundments fed by large tributaries. They feed on fish frogs, mollusks, crayfish and large invertebrates. They find food more by use of their keen sense of smell. Look for them to be hiding in hollowed out logs or undercuts in structures. Use anything from live shiners to cut bait and stink baits to catch these big blue catfish.

Catfish Baits

If it resembles food in any way and emits scent or an odor it is likely to attract the interest of catfish. Every ardent catfish expert has their own secret recipe. The ingredients range from natural prey of fish and fowl to non-food items like soap and chemicals. Chicken, shrimp, liver and stink baits are the most common ingredients. The long whiskers of the catfish are always in search of an easy meal.

Sunfish Fishing in Minnesota for Bluegills, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Rock Bass, White Bass, Yellow Perch and Other MN Panfish.

One or more species of sunfish populate virtually all warm water streams, ponds and lakes throughout Minnesota and around the world for that matter. They can survive in waters that provide their natural food source of minnows, crustaceans, insects and worms. Their competitive nature amongst themselves for food, makes them relatively easy to catch.

Sunfish Lakes In Minnesota

Minnesota is the land of ten-thousand lakes and you can be sure a high percentage of them have one or species of panfish as residents. State records typically come from small lakes and private ponds that receive little fishing pressure. The larger, more consistent schools of panfish come from some of the major lakes in ths state including Big Stone Lake, Cass Lake, Kabetogama Lake, Lake Mille Lacs, Lake of the Woods, Lake Pepin, Lake Traverse, Lake Vermilion, Lake Winnibigoshish, Lake Minnetonka, Lake Minnewaska, Lake Superior, Lac Qui Parle Lake, Leech Lake, Lower Red Lake, Otter Tail Lake, Rainy Lake, Upper Red Lake and many others.

The Minnesota state record bluegill was caught out of Alice Lake and the state record green sunfish was pulled from North Arbor Lake. The Middle Fork Zumbro River gave up the state record hybrid sunfish while the state record pumpkinseed sunfish was caught from Leech Lake. The state record yellow perch was caught from Lake Plantaganette.
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