Proposed Changes to Experimental and Special Fishing Regulations for 2025
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is considering changes to several experimental and special fishing regulations for the 2025 fishing season.
Each year, the DNR proposes several experimental and special fishing regulations. Experimental regulations have a set evaluation period (typically 10 years), after which the DNR must determine whether the change should become permanent. Special regulations are selected from a suite of regulation toolbox options that have proven effective at achieving specific goals. Special regulations do not have an end date, although DNR reviews their performance as part of an individual lake’s management planning cycle.
The DNR is considering regulation changes that would affect the following fisheries:
- Walleye in Saganaga, Sea Gull, and Gull Lakes (Cook County)
- Catfish in the Sauk River Chain (Stearns County)
- Crappie in Lac qui Parle (Chippewa County)
- Crappie in seven lakes in Otter Tail County including Big Pine Lake, Fish Lake (near Parkers Prairie), Fish Lake (near Fergus Falls), Orwell Lake, West Battle Lake, Little Pine Lake, and Star Lake
- Sunfish in Little Pine and Star Lake (Otter Tail County)
- Northern pike and Sunfish in Basswood Lake (Lake County)
- Northern pike in the Garden Reservoir Chain and Birch Lake (Lake County)
- Multiple species in Little Sauk Lake (Todd County)
- Northern pike in Rochester area community fishing ponds (Olmstead County)
Please complete this survey to provide your input on these potential regulation changes -- if you are only interested in some of the lakes, feel free to skip questions. This survey should take approximately 15 minutes to complete and will be open through October 11th, 2024.