MN-FISH

06/17/2026

Why did MN-FISH get started?

06/16/2026

Minnesota DNR seeks input on proposed special fishing regulations
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is asking for input on several special fishing regulation proposals.

Each year, the Minnesota DNR reviews existing fishing regulations, proposes new special regulations that apply to individual waters and asks the public for input about the proposals. All new special regulations are reviewed on a regular basis to evaluate effectiveness.

The DNR is proposing either new regulations or changes to existing experimental and special fishing regulations for the 2027 fishing season that address the following:

Cedar Lake near Annandale (Wright County) – sunfish
Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area Mine Pits (Crow Wing) – northern pike
German Lake (Otter Tail County) – sunfish
Hovde Lake (Cass County) – sunfish
Mink and Somers lakes (Wright County) – sunfish, walleye and minnows
Namakan Reservoir lakes (St. Louis County) – walleye
North Ten Mile and South Ten Mile lakes (Otter Tail County) – sunfish
Pine Lake (Cass County) – northern pike
Pleasant Lake (Stearns County) – sunfish
Rush Lake (Otter Tail County) – sunfish
Notifications of the proposed changes to fishing regulations have been posted at the accesses on each lake included in the proposal.

The Minnesota DNR is taking input on these proposed changes via an online questionnaire (mndnr.gov/fishing/special-fishing-regulations-input.html) through Wednesday, Sept. 30.

If people prefer, they may comment directly to the appropriate area office by email, U.S. mail, or phone about individual regulation proposals. Contact information for each area office is available on the area fisheries office webpage (mndnr.gov/areas/fisheries).

Public meetings will be held in September to discuss the proposals and accept comments. Details on the meetings will be posted on the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/fishregs) by Aug. 15.

06/10/2026

Minnesota DNR launches new, transformative electronic licensing system
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources today launched the first phase of its modernized electronic licensing system for anglers, hunters and trappers, replacing a system that has served the state for more than 25 years.

“The Minnesota DNR is thrilled to bring this modern licensing system to Minnesotans today,” said DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen. “This new system is a major step forward in how Minnesotans and visitors alike access hunting and fishing opportunities through flexible and convenient license purchase and storage options.”

The new ELS offers more flexibility than ever — three ways to buy a license (mobile app, online, or in-person from a license agent) and three ways to carry it (paper, PDF, or stored in the app). Customers can purchase and store licenses, and even register harvests from anywhere, including areas without cell service. Customers can access the new system on the DNR website (mndnr.gov/buyalicense) or by searching “Minnesota DNR Licensing” in the Apple or Google app stores.

As before, every license sold helps support conservation and management efforts, ensuring Minnesota’s fish and wildlife resources are sustained for future generations to enjoy.

“In addition to improving customer service, this new system enhances our ability to manage and conserve natural resources by providing data and insights that support wildlife and fisheries management,” Strommen said. "License sales in Minnesota fund efforts, from habitat restoration and protection, fish and wildlife management, innovative lake management planning, stream restoration, invasive species prevention, and more.”

While the new system is intuitive and user-friendly, the DNR and its vendor partner PayIt have plenty of how-to resources available to assist people in making the transition. Users can find those documents and videos in the online system or in the digital app. There are also staff available to answer questions and help users at 888-646-6367 (MINNDNR) or 651-296-6157.

"The new system brings a modern user experience to hunters and anglers in Minnesota, making it easy for everyone from newcomers to lifelong enthusiasts to enjoy the state's natural resources," said PayIt President and Chief Operating Officer Tom Nieto. "We're incredibly proud of our partnership with the Minnesota DNR and look forward to supporting their conservation mission for years to come."

Today’s launch is a major milestone, but not the finish line. The DNR will take feedback and make refinements as people adopt the system. Phase two of the launch will happen at a later date and will involve the addition of a recreational vehicle and watercraft titling and registration module to the new system. For now, the titling and registration process will remain the same, and the legacy system for those transactions will remain operational.

Once all phases have launched, the new ELS will support more than 3 million transactions across a catalog of more than 400 license and permit products each year, as well as watercraft and vehicle registrations.

Updates from the Minnesota DNR about the new electronic licensing system are available online (mndnr.gov/elsupdates).
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/els.html

06/06/2026

2026 Leech Lake Muskie Study Update
The second field season of the Leech Lake musky study is underway, kicking off just after ice out in late April. To start off the field season spring trap netting was used to tag additional Muskellunge to bolster the sample size of tagged individuals. Although spring conditions were unfavorable, we were fortunate enough to surgically implant trackers in 8 more individuals, increasing our sample size to 23 individuals as a result of the 2025 and 2026 trap netting efforts.

Along side spring trap netting active tracking was underway, breaking down the lake searching for tagged individuals from last year and monitoring tagged fish from this year. New for the 2026 field season a second crew running a boat outfitted with active tracking equipment will be out on the lake aiding in efforts to track individual fish and offload data from passive receivers placed around the lake. As the spring continues we will be deploying additional passive receivers and retrieve those that were placed in 2025 to change batteries and offload data.

06/05/2026

MN-FISH Awarded a $4,500 Grant To Expand Leech Lake Muskie Study
The Hugh C. Becker Foundation of Twin Cities Chapter of Muskies, Inc.

MN-FISH's groundbreaking research, launched May 2025 on Leech Lake, will span three years and focus on understanding muskie movement and survival rates through advanced telemetry. This project represents a collaborative effort between MN-FISH, Bemidji State University (BSU), MN Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe.

Thanks to the Hugh C. Becker Foundation of the Twin Cities Chapter of Muskies Inc., MN-FISH will use these funds to provide additional resources and equipment to expand this important study.

This is poised to be the most significant muskie survival study ever conducted in the United States, and we are excited for the vital contributions it will make to preserving muskies while supporting the DNR’s mission to sustainably manage Minnesota’s natural resources.

06/04/2026

Share the fun of fishing with kids!
Take a Kid Fishing Weekend is June 5-7

Each year in early June, Take a Kid Fishing Weekend is an opportunity for adults to share the fun of fishing with kids.

This time of year is great for fishing — the weather is usually pleasant, and the fish are often found close to shores and piers. Try heading out to a nearby lake and cast out with a hook, bait and bobber.

Take a Kid Fishing Weekend is from Friday, June 5, to Sunday, June 7, and this year, the weekend coincides with a pause in fishing license sales as the DNR transitions data to Minnesota’s new electronic license system. During the pause in license sales, anglers may fish without a license from 12 a.m. Tuesday, June 2, through 11:59 p.m. Monday, June 8. All other fishing season regulations and bag limits will remain in effect. At 12 a.m. June 9, the new electronic license system will open for anglers and hunters.

Resident youth 15 and younger do not require fishing licenses at any time of the year, though they must observe all fishing seasons and regulations.

06/03/2026

Minnesota has an updated long-range plan for muskie
Fishing opens for muskellunge this Saturday, June 6! As you get your tackle and plans ready, make sure to check out the DNR’s updated long-range plan for muskie.
dnr.state.mn.us/fish/muskellunge/index.html

The updated plan will guide muskie management in Minnesota through 2040. It includes information from recently completed studies focused on muskie survival and ecology, along with community interactions and extensive stakeholder input. Updates to the plan include revised management goals, objectives and strategies centered on:

Improving existing muskie populations
Shifting approaches in the production of muskies to be stocked
Continuing hybrid (tiger) muskie management in the metro area
Broadening research and education efforts
Among the most significant changes to muskie management is the increased use of yearling muskie stocking, or young muskies raised into a second year and stocked in the fall, which have much higher survival rates after being stocked.

The plan also calls for increased focus on the muskie fisheries in Mille Lacs Lake, Lake Vermilion and Lake Minnetonka, an approach that received strong support during the public input process.

Minnesota has 101 waters managed for muskies, comprising 2% of the state’s fishable lakes and rivers and 22% of the total surface area that is fishable. Muskies have been introduced in 48 lakes and are maintained in these lakes through stocking.

If you’re interested in learning more, make sure to check out the Wednesday, June 17, DNR webinar on muskie. That webinar features a talk by Kamden Glade, DNR fisheries research scientist, and also the angler holding the muskie in the photo above. Glade will discuss the new long-range muskie plan, recent research that has been done and how to land this “fish of a thousand casts.” The webinar is free to attend and registration is required, and we will post a recording following the live event.
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fishwildlife/outreach/index.html

06/02/2026

New electronic licensing system launching soon
The Minnesota DNR will launch the first phase of a modernized electronic licensing system on June 9 with the fishing and hunting license module, replacing a system that has served the state for more than 25 years. Learn more about the new system in the DNR news release. at:
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/news/2026/05/26/minnesota-dnrs-new-transformative-electronic-licensing-system-will-launch-june-9

For anglers today and this week: The existing licensing system will be in use until 11:59 p.m. Monday, June 1, when information from the old system begins moving to the new system, including licenses purchased through June 1.

As the DNR transitions data to the new ELS, fishing license sales will be paused and anglers may fish without a license from 12 a.m. Tuesday, June 2, through 11:59 p.m. Monday, June 8. All other fishing season regulations and bag limits will remain in effect. At 12 a.m. June 9, the new ELS will be available for anglers and hunters. As the new system launches, DNR and its partner PayIT will have plenty of staff on hand to help users through the transition along with user guides and how-to videos.

Phase two of the launch will happen at a later date with the recreational vehicle and watercraft titling and registration module. For now, that titling and registration process will remain the same, and the legacy system will remain operational. When fully launched, the new ELS will support millions of transactions across a catalog of more than 400 license and permit products each year and bring the licensing experience into the modern era.

Updates from the DNR about the new electronic licensing system are available online at: https://engage.dnr.state.mn.us/new-electronic-license-system

05/27/2026

Well, that’s a bit extreme!

Oregon's Initiative Petition 28 aims to ban hunting, fishing, and animal breeding in 2026.

05/25/2026

"Home of the free, because of the brave."