Fishing seasonal closures

The following waters in the portions designated are closed to the taking of all fish during the periods specified to protect fish spawning areas. Look for signs at access sites and in the areas as noted. All dates are inclusive.

Additional closures or openings may be posted here up to 48 hours prior to the law taking effect.

Seasonal closures help protect fish when they are concentrated in areas during their spawning season. The number of spawning area closures is highest on years when winter persists longer than normal.

Current closures

Last update: Friday, April 28, 2023 @ 03:41 pm CDT

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UFN=Until Further Notice
NameLocationCountyDates
Unnamed StreamBetween Big Sand Lake and Emma Lake (T.141, R.34, S.23)HubbardApril 28-UFN
Dittberner CreekTributary to Lake Miltona (T.130 R.38 S.14,15,23,24)DouglasApril 15-May 31
Unnamed CreekFlowage between Lake Ida and Lake Charlie (T.129 R.38 S.25,26,36)DouglasApril 15-May 31
Lake Le Homme DieuPerry Lang Bay (T.128 R.37 S.5)DouglasApril 15-May 31
Lake MiltonaNorthwest Bay (T.130 R.38 S.23)DouglasApril 15-May 31
Moody's CreekUpstream from Co. Rd. 432 approximately .5 miles (T53 R25 S.16, 17, 20, 21, 22)ItascaApril 9- June 30
Dead RiverDownstream of County Highway 14 to Walker Lake (T.134, R.40, S.2,3)Otter TailApril 15-May 31
Jewett LakeSouthwest shore (T.134, R.43, S.23)Otter TailApril 15-May 31
Toad RiverToad River Inlet to Big Pine Lake upstream to Co. Rd. 13Otter TailApril 15-May 31
Lake MaudSouthwest BayBeckerMay 9-June 11
Pelican River500 feet upstream and 500 feet downstream from Dunton Locks Bridge between Muskrat Lake and Lake SallieBeckerApril 24- May 12
Pelican RiverBelow Bucks Mill Dam to Buck Lake and from Big Detroit Lake upstream to State Highway 34BeckerApril 24- May 12
Blackduck RiverCounty Rd 32 north to Red Lake Reservation boundaryBeltramiApril 24- May 12
Clearwater RiverBelow Clearwater Lake Dam for 900 feetClearwaterApril 24- May 12
Coburn CreekState Highway 71 to Blackduck Lake T.151, R.32, S.11,12,13BeltramiApril 24- May 12
Mississippi RiverBelow Ottertail Power Dam to County 12BeltramiApril 24- May 12
Shotley BrookState Highway 72 to Upper Red LakeBeltramiApril 24- May 12
Tamarac RiverFrom Upper Red Lake upstream to Beltrami- Koochiching county lineBeltramiApril 24- May 12
Turtle RiverBelow Three Island Dam to Turtle River LakeBeltramiApril 24- May 12
Gauthier CreekS.27, T.62, R.3ECookSeptember 1-May 31
Kadunce CreekFrom 0.2 to 0.4 miles above the mouthCookSeptember 1-May 31
Devil Track RiverFrom 1.1 to 1.6 miles above the mouthCookSeptember 1-May 31
Lake SuperiorLake Superior from the mainland to a line that runs from the mouth of Chester Creek to the outermost portion of the north/west arm of the Duluth ship canal.St. LouisFirst full weekend in October to November 30. When November 30 falls on a Saturday, the closure extends to the following Sunday. Fishing is allowed only from shore in this area during the dates of closure.
Bear Island RiverBoth sides of Highway (1 T.62, R.12, S.23,26)St. LouisApril 29- May 12
Beaver RiverPortion upstream of Bear Island Lake (T.62, R.13, S.35)St. LouisApril 29- May 12
Birch RiverBoth sides of County Road 21 (T.61, R.13, S.26,27)St. LouisApril 29- May 12
Burntside RiverBoth sides of County Road 88 at bridge (T.63, R.13, S.26)St. LouisApril 29- May 12
Everett CreekBetween Everett Lake and Twin Lakes (T.64, R.12, S.31; T.64, R.13, S.36)St. LouisApril 29- May 12
Shagawa RiverBoth sides of both road crossings at Winton (T.63, R.11, S.19; T.63, R.12, S.24)St. Louis, LakeApril 29- May 12
Pike RiverMouth up to dam, T.61, R.16, S.3.St. LouisApril 1-May 31
Sea Gull RiverFrom Sea Gull Lake including Gull Lake to Saganaga Lake approximately 1/3 mile north of the narrows (S.19,30,31, T.66, R.4, and S.25,36, T.66, R.5)CookApril 1-May 26
Granite RiverAt Saganaga Lake. (S.4, T.66, R.4), from Saganaga Falls downstream to Saganaga Lake, including Saganaga Lake within 300 yards of the mouth of the Granite River.CookApril 1-May 31
Little Gunflint-Little North channelThe channel between Little Gunflint and Little North Lakes, including Little Gunflint Lake within 300 yards of the channel mouth, and Little North Lake within 100 yards of the channel head (T.65 R.2 S.16).CookApril 1-May 31
Cross River (inlet to Gunflint Lake)from the Gunflint Trail to Gunflint LakeCookApril 1-May 26
Junco RiverFrom the first log dam above County Road 57, downstream to Devil Track Lake, including Devil Track Lake within 300 yards of the mouth of the Junco River (T.62, R.1, S.21,28)CookMay 13-May 26
Tait RiverFrom the Forest Road 339 crossing, downstream to White Pine Lake, including White Pine Lake within 200 yards of the mouth of Tait River (T.61, R.3, S.17,19,20)CookMay 13-May 26

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