The 3 Minnesota Fishing Rule Changes Many Anglers Missed

If you have plans to get out on a body of water this weekend or in the near future, there have been a few rule changes that happened earlier this year that you might have missed. In case you aren't aware of all of the changes, here are 3 that have changed this season in Minnesota.

Catch-And-Release Bass All Season Long

If you are a bass fan, this is great news. Starting this year, there is a new catch-and-release season that makes fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass open year-round on inland waters.

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From early season to the opener, bass, both largemouth and smallmouth, are catch and release. Now that we are past the opener, here are the limits for the Southern and North Central Zones:

Smallmouth season runs until September 13th, which means you can keep 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth. After the 13th, it's catch and release only.

For largemouth, the season runs through February 28th, 2027, and you can take 6 largemouth.

Get Your Fishing License On Your Phone

You need to buy a Minnesota fishing license if you're 16 or older. Annual licenses allow you to fish from March 1 to the last day of February the following year. Recently, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources updated its licensing system to allow Minnesotans to purchase a fishing license through the MN DNR app. According to the DNR, the change to allow for digital licenses was done after a study conducted found that "hard cards, or durable cards similar to credit cards, were determined to be an added expense for customers."

You can find information about getting your license through the app here.

More Hooks Allowed Based On Set-Up

Minnesota anglers are now allowed to use up to three hooks within 18 inches on a single tackle configuration.

The update is designed to accommodate popular lure styles and rigs while providing clearer guidance for anglers. At the same time, the DNR clarified that only one bait is allowed per line and that stinger hooks may only be used on artificial bait.

You can learn more about this change here. 

Good luck fishing this weekend!

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