Every year, as outdoor enthusiasts eagerly await the change of seasons, there are rules and regulations to consider.
Minnesota’s new fishing license year begins on Saturday, March 1, with changes implemented throughout the state by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Bethany Bethke, the fisheries rules and regulations coordinator, encourages all anglers to read the Minnesota Fishing Regulations for 2025 book to learn about all of the changes.
Minnesota Fishing Regulations Changes For 2025
According to the DNR, changes for 2025 include newly established daily and possession limits for several fish species, as well as numerous other regulation changes that will affect individual waters.
The new daily and possession limits, which are available beginning on page 13 of the 2025 regulations book, will be in place for the following fish:
- American eel
- Yellow bass
- Whitefish
- Cisco
- Burbot
The Minnesota DNR says it has added limits on whitefish, cisco, and burbot to protect their populations from overfishing. In previous years, these fish were classified as rough fish, with no limit on how many could be kept.
The American eel, a rare fish in Minnesota, is not harvestable, reflecting its rarity and the need for conservation.
Finally, the limit for yellow bass is set at 30, which is a combined limit for yellow bass and white bass, as many anglers may be unable to distinguish between the two. In some cases, where yellow bass populations are increasing, special regulations with higher bag limits may be implemented.
Additional New Regulations In Minnesota
The DNR adds that other new regulations for 2025 include those for several species in the St. Croix River downstream of the Taylors Falls dam, which can be found beginning on page 74 of the regulations.
Several portions of rivers in Canada-Minnesota border waters are now subject to border waters regulations, which can be found on pages 60-64 and 67.
In addition, new and modified regulations apply to 14 other waters in Chippewa, Cook, Lake, Lac qui Parle, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Stearns, and Todd counties.
Again, Minnesota anglers are advised to check the regulations book for updated regulations, which will be available on the Minnesota DNR website on March 1. Printed copies will also be available by March 1 wherever Minnesota fishing licenses are sold.
