Fishing Seasons

• This year, the season for trout in streams opens on April 17 and closes on September 30.
  
  For trout in lakes the season opens on May 15 and does not close until September 27.
  
  The season for walleye, sauger and northern pike opens on May 15 and closes on September 30.
  
  The bass season does not open until May 29 but does not close until September 27, 2011.
  
  For muskellunge, anglers have to wait until September 13 until the season opens, but then it does not close until September 27.
  
  The bowfishing season is from May 15 to September 30.
  
  More detailed regulations can be found in Reference 4.
  
  

Lakes

• According to the Minnesota Tourism Board, the four lakes of Winnibigoshish,
  
  Leech, Lake of the Woods and Upper Red are known for their walleye and northern pike fishing. Leech Lake is also known for its "muskellunge rampage," when the fish will supposedly bite on anything, if only for a few days in summer. But since Minnesota has more than 11,000 lakes and a shore on Lake Superior, there are thousands of other fishing lakes to consider.
  
  

Rivers

• Minnesota does not have any large mountains, and wild waters are rare. The only National Wild and Scenic River in the state is St. Croix River on the border with Wisconsin. The Red River, Mississippi and Minnesota rivers, the main rivers of Minnesota, are both calm and slow-flowing rivers. Red River is home to the northernmost catfish population in North America.
  
  

Ice Fishing

• Since Minnesota is cold in winter, lakes and rivers will freeze. On the lakes in particular the ice can become thick enough that a small hut can be towed onto the lake, a hole drilled beneath the hut and then the angler can fish from the comfort of the hut into the middle of the lake.
  
  

Fishing Licenses

• To fish in Minnesota, a license is required. The license has to have a special stamp when fishing for trout or salmon, with the exception of seniors over 60, who do not need a stamp. The minimum purchase age is 21. There are "husband and wife" licenses; otherwise licenses are personal. The licenses can be made out for periods of 24 or 72 hours, for a week or for the full season. The licenses are sold by agents all around the state.