DNR Rulemaking: Waters with Restrictions on Taking Fish
What is this rule about?
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is proposing rule changes to several waters of the state where taking fish is restricted or otherwise differentiated from other fishing regulations. If you are not interested in this topic, you can disregard this rulemaking notice.
Why am I receiving this notification?
You are subscribed to the Rules Notification List of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Subscribing to this list means you will receive DNR rulemaking notices on all topics. See the links below this message to manage your subscription.
What will this rulemaking do?
The proposed expedited rules apply to several waters of the state where taking fish is restricted or otherwise differentiated from other fishing regulations. The proposed rule changes apply to Lake Rebecca and the inland portions of Pool 3, Little Sauk Lake, Rochester Area Lakes, and La Salle Lake.
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Inland Portions of Pool 3. The inland portions of Mississippi River Pool 3 share a fish community with the remainder of the Mississippi River, Lake Pepin, and the lower St. Croix River. Therefore, the fish populations in all these waters should be managed consistently and not be differentiated by “inland” regulations and “Minnesota-Wisconsin border water” regulations. The proposed rule changes make the fisheries regulations on inland portions of Pool 3 consistent with adjacent waters.
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Little Sauk Lake. Little Sauk Lake has been managed with a set of special regulations for several decades. These special regulations, however, have not had the desired impact and the fish community. Therefore, local fisheries staff are proposing that we remove Little Sauk Lake from this rule and apply the standard inland regulations. The Sunfish daily and possession limit of five will be retained but established through a different special regulation process.
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Rochester Area Lakes. Five of the ten Rochester Area Lakes are managed with a special regulation of one northern pike daily and possession limit. Northern pike, however, are not present in other Rochester Area Lakes and need to be protected. Therefore, the proposed rulemaking would apply the one northern pike special regulation to the other five Rochester Area Lakes.
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La Salle Lake. La Salle Lake has been managed for more than a decade with a special regulation limit of one on northern pike. Signage at the lake indicates a bag limit of one is in place. However, the current rule indicates that northern pike are supposed to be catch-and-release only in La Salle Lake. Area staff believe maintaining the bag limit at one is appropriate and are proposing that the rule be changed.
Who might be affected by these rule changes?
Anglers and boaters that utilize any of the waters listed above
Where do I send my comments?
You have until 4:30 p.m. on Thursday 11/13/2025 to submit comments to the DNR contact person listed below. You may request a hearing on these rules. If at least 50 persons submit a valid request for a hearing and a sufficient number do not withdraw their requests (reducing the number below 50), then a public hearing will be held before an administrative law judge. The Notice of Intent to Adopt Expedited Rules tells you how to submit a request for hearing to the DNR contact person.
Where can I get more information?
You can view and print these documents from the DNR rulemaking webpage (URL mndnr.gov/rulemaking).
- Proposed rules (PDF)
- Notice of Intent to Adopt Expedited Rules
If you want a free copy of the proposed rules, call or email the DNR contact person listed below.
DNR contact person
Shannon J. Fisher, Fisheries Populations, Monitoring, and Regulations Manager Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Section of Fisheries 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155; phone (651) 259-5206; or email [email protected]
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