Minn. R., Part 6264.0400 [Effective 11/1/2024] Designated Special Management Waters

• Library: Minnesota Administrative Rules
• Edition: 2023
• Currency: Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 26, December 26, 2023
• Citation: Minn. R., Part 6264.0400
• Year: 2023

Subpart 1. [Repealed, 28 SR 629]

Subp. 2. Catch and release fishing on trout streams.

While on or fishing in the following waters, angling for trout shall be limited to catch and release only, whereby any trout caught must be immediately returned to the water. Catch and release angling for trout shall be legal during the open season for trout in inland streams. Legal methods for taking trout are limited to artificial lures and flies.

	Name	Location	County
A.	Kedron Creek	T.104, R.13, S.36 from the confluence with Bear Creek upstream approximately 1.1 miles to the permanent source - entire stream	Fillmore
B.	Root River, South Fork	T.102, R.8, S.17,18,19 and R.9, S.24,25,26, from the County Road 12 crossing in T.102, R.8, S.17, upstream approximately 7.7 miles to the permanent source (large springs) in T.102, R.9, S.26	Fillmore
C.	Whitewater River, Middle Branch	T.107, R.10, S.19,20,30 and R.11, S.24,25,26,35 and T.106, R.11, S.2,3,10, from the posted boundary at the point where a state park trail crosses the stream in the SE 1/4 NE 1/4 S.19, T.107, R.10, upstream approximately 9.2 miles to the source in the SW 1/4 NE 1/4, S.10, T.106 R.11	Olmsted and Winona

Subp. 3. [Repealed, 39 SR 5]

Subp. 4. Mille Lacs Lake and associated tributaries special management regulations.

A. This item applies while a person is on or fishing in Mille Lacs Lake or its associated tributaries to the posted boundaries . The angling season for northern pike begins at 12:01 a.m. May 14, 2022, and continues to 11:59 p.m. on March 31 2023. The daily and possession limit for northern pike is three. All northern pike in possession must be less than 30 inches in length. All northern pike that are 30 inches or greater in length must be immediately returned to the water.

B. This item applies while a person is on or fishing in Mille Lacs Lake or its associated tributaries to the posted boundaries . Unless otherwise authorized by special permits for fishing tournaments, the angling season for largemouth and smallmouth bass begins at 12:01 a.m. May 14, 2022, and continues to 11:59 p.m. February 26, 2023. All largemouth and smallmouth bass caught before the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend must be immediately returned to the water. Beginning at 12:01 a.m September 12, 2022, all smallmouth bass must be immediately returned to the water. Except as otherwise provided in this subpart, the daily and possession limit for largemouth and smallmouth bass in aggregate is three. All largemouth and smallmouth bass in possession must be less than 17 inches in length. All largemouth and smallmouth bass 17 inches or greater in length must be immediately returned to the water. Waiver of the size, possession, and season restrictions for largemouth and smallmouth bass under this item is permitted for a limited number of bass-fishing tournaments each year. When determining whether to grant a waiver, the commissioner must consider (1) tournament size; (2) expected participation; (3) potential to generate public interest and local economic activity; and (4) conservation and biological health of the fishery.

C. Except as provided in subitems (1) and (2), Mille Lacs Lake is closed to taking fish between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. daily (summer night closure) beginning at 10 p.m. May 16, 2022, and ending at 6:00 a.m. September 1, 2022. Beginning September 2, 2022, at 12:01 a.m., Mille Lacs Lake is closed to taking fish between the hours of 12:01 a.m and 6:00 a.m. daily (fall night closure) until 11:59 p.m. November 30, 2022, at which time the ban on night fishing is lifted. (1) Beginning June 4, 2022, at 10:00 p.m., fishing for muskellunge and northern pike is allowed between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. daily. Angling for, harvesting, and possessing species other than muskellunge and northern pike during these hours is prohibited. Only artificial muskellunge and northern pike lures greater than eight inches in length, measured from the front of the eye of the lure to the end of the trailing hook, or sucker minnows greater than eight inches in length may be used or in possession. (2) Beginning June 4, 2022, at 10:00 p.m., bowfishing for rough fish is allowed between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. No person shall have in possession any angling equipment while bowfishing under this subitem. Angling for, harvesting, and possessing species other than rough fish while bowfishing during these hours is prohibited.

D. The commissioner may modify seasons and limits under Minnesota Statutes, section undefinedundefined84.027, subdivision 13, or sections undefinedundefined97A.0451 to undefinedundefined97A.0459, to accommodate tribal declarations for fish harvest in the 1837 Ceded Territory in compliance with the court ruling in Mille Lacs Band of Chippewa v. Minnesota, 119 S.Ct. 1187 (1999). Changes shall be posted at water access sites and the Department of Natural Resources Web site.

E. While a person is on or fishing in Mille Lacs Lake or its associated tributaries to the posted boundaries, the possession and daily limit for Northern cisco (tullibee) is five fish.

F. The walleye restrictions under subitems (1) to (5) apply while a person is on or fishing in Mille Lacs Lake or its associated tributaries to the posted boundaries. (1) Beginning at 12:01 a.m. May 14, 2022, the daily and possession limit for walleye is one fish, which must be either between 21 and 23 inches in length or over 28 inches in length. All walleye less than 21 inches in length or greater than 23 inches but less than 28 inches in length must be immediately returned to the water. This subitem is effective until 11:59 p.m. May 31, 2022. (2) Beginning at 12:01 a.m. June 1, 2022, angling for walleye is catch and release only. All walleye must be immediately returned to the water. This subitem is effective until 11:59 p.m. June 30, 2022. (3) Beginning at 12:01 a.m. on July 1, 2022, angling for walleye is prohibited. All walleye caught must be immediately returned to the water. This subitem is effective until 11:59 p.m. July 15, 2022. (4) Beginning at 12:01 a.m. July 16, 2022, angling for walleye is catch and release only. All walleye must be immediately returned to the water. This subitem is effective until 11:59 p.m. August 31, 2022. (5) Beginning at 12:01 a.m. September 1, 2022, the daily and possession limit for walleye is one fish, which must be either between 21 and 23 inches in length or over 28 inches in length. All walleye less than 21 inches in length or greater than 23 inches but less than 28 inches in length must be immediately returned to the water. This subitem is effective until 11:59 p.m. February 26, 2023.

G. While a person is on or fishing in Mille Lacs Lake or its associated tributaries to the posted boundaries, angling for burbot is catch and release only. All burbot must be immediately returned to the water.

H. While a person is on or fishing in Mille Lacs Lake or its associated tributaries to the posted boundaries, fish that are taken by angling and not immediately released into the water after capture are considered to be in possession and part of the bag limit. Once a fish has been reduced to possession, culling or live-well sorting (the act of exchanging one fish for another) is not allowed , except that culling or live-well sorting before meeting a bag limit of fish reduced to possession is allowed for largemouth and smallmouth bass.

I. The bait restrictions under subitems (1) to (3) apply while a person is on or fishing in Mille Lacs Lake or its associated tributaries to the posted boundaries. For purposes of this item, "bait" means whole or parts of fish; minnows; annelid worms, such as night crawlers and garden worms; leeches; or crayfish and includes live, dead, or preserved items.(1) There are no bait restrictions for angling between 12:01 a.m. May 14, 2022, through 11:59 p.m. June 30, 2022, except as provided in item C, subitem 1. (2) From 12:01 a.m. July 1, 2022, until 11:59 p.m. July 15, 2022, no person may use or have in possession bait, except for northern pike or muskellunge anglers who may use sucker minnows greater than eight inches in length. (3) There are no bait restrictions for angling between 12:01 a.m. July 16, 2022, through 11:59 p.m. November 30, 2022, except as provided in item C, subitem 1.

J. This subpart applies to the following waters

Name	Location	County
(1)	Mille Lacs	T.42-45, R.25-28, S.Various	Aitkin, Mille Lacs
(2)	Borden Creek	T.44, R.25, S.5	Aitkin
(3)	Seastade Creek	T.45,

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