Minnesota Fish Species

19 game fish species found in Minnesota waters. Each guide covers where to find them, best baits and lures, seasonal patterns, regulations, and links to the best lakes.

Centrarchidae

Bluegill

Lepomis macrochirus

Best: May, Jun, Jul 2301 lakes

Limit: No minimum / 20 (combined sunfish) per day

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

Best: Apr, May, Jun 17 lakes

Limit: No minimum (lake-specific exceptions) / 10 per day

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

Best: May, Jun, Jul 1951 lakes

Limit: No minimum / 6 (combined with smallmouth) per day

Smallmouth Bass

Micropterus dolomieu

Best: May, Jun, Jul 547 lakes

Limit: No minimum / 6 (combined with largemouth) per day

Salmonidae

Brook Trout

Salvelinus fontinalis

Best: May, Jun, Sep 82 lakes

Limit: 8 inches (streams) / 5 (streams), 3 (BWCA lakes) per day

Brown Trout

Salmo trutta

Best: Apr, May, Sep 16 lakes

Limit: Varies by stream / 5 (streams) per day

Cisco (Tullibee)

Coregonus artedi

Best: Nov, Dec, Jan

Limit: No minimum / 6 (combined whitefish) per day

Lake Trout

Salvelinus namaycush

Best: May, Jun, Sep 97 lakes

Limit: Varies by water / 3 (inland), varies on Superior per day

Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Best: Apr, May, Sep

Limit: Varies by water / 5 (streams), varies on Superior per day

Lotidae

Burbot (Eelpout)

Lota lota

Best: Dec, Jan, Feb

Limit: No minimum / No limit on most waters per day

Ictaluridae

Channel Catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

Best: Jun, Jul, Aug 176 lakes

Limit: No minimum / 5 per day

Flathead Catfish

Pylodictis olivaris

Best: Jun, Jul, Aug 1 lake

Limit: No minimum / 2 per day

Acipenseridae

Lake Sturgeon

Acipenser fulvescens

Best: May, Jun, Jul 19 lakes

Limit: Catch-and-release only / 0 per day

Esocidae

Muskellunge

Esox masquinongy

Best: Jun, Jul, Aug 112 lakes

Limit: 54 inches (most waters) / 1 per day

Northern Pike

Esox lucius

Best: May, Jun, Sep 2698 lakes

Limit: 24 inches (northeast zone), varies by zone / 3 (northeast), 10 (south) per day

Percidae

Sauger

Sander canadensis

Best: Mar, Apr, Oct 9 lakes

Limit: 15 inches (combined with walleye on most waters) / 6 (combined with walleye) per day

Walleye

Sander vitreus

Best: May, Jun, Sep 1835 lakes

Limit: 15 inches minimum (varies by lake) / 6 (combined with sauger) per day

Yellow Perch

Perca flavescens

Best: May, Jun, Dec 2636 lakes

Limit: No minimum / 20 per day

Moronidae

White Bass

Morone chrysops

Best: Apr, May, Jun 51 lakes

Limit: No minimum / 30 per day

Minnesota Fishing Regulations

The size limits and bag limits shown are statewide defaults. Many individual lakes and rivers have special regulations. Always check the current Minnesota DNR regulations before fishing. A Minnesota fishing license is required for ages 16+ — buy online at dnr.state.mn.us.

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