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: Thursday, April 25, 2024 @ 10:00 am CDT UFN=Until Further Notice

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Name Location County Dates
Bear Island River Both sides of Highway (1 T.62, R.12, S.23,26) St. Louis April 27-May 10
Birch River Both sides of County Road 21 (T.61, R.13, S.26,27) St. Louis April 27-May 10
Blackduck River County Rd 32 north to Red Lake Reservation boundary Beltrami April 25-May 10
Burntside River Both sides of County Road 88 at bridge (T.63, R.13, S.26) St. Louis April 27-May 10
Clearwater River Below Clearwater Lake Dam for 900 feet Clearwater April 25-May 10
Coburn Creek State Highway 71 to Blackduck Lake T.151, R.32, S.11,12,13 Beltrami April 25-May 10
Cross River (inlet to Gunflint Lake) Trom the Gunflint Trail to Gunflint Lake including 300 yards from the mouth of the Cross River into Gunflint Lake Cook April 1-May 24
Dead River Downstream of County Highway 14 to Walker Lake (T.134, R.40, S.2,3) Otter Tail April 1-May 20
Devil Track River S.11,12, T.61, R.1E, From 1.1 to 1.6 miles above the mouth Cook September 1-May 31
Dittberner Creek Tributary to Lake Miltona (T.130 R.38 S.14,15,23,24) Douglas April 15-May 31
Fall Lake Below hydropower facility (T. 63, R. 11, S. 17, 20) Lake April 27-May 10
Gauthier Creek S.27, T.62, R.3E Cook September 1-May 31
Granite River At 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. Cook April 1-May 31
Gull River From the United States Army Corps of Engineers dam (Government Lot 1, S.20, T.134N, R.29W) downstream 250 feet. Cass May 11-May 24
Jewett Lake Southwest shore (T.134, R.43, S.23) Otter Tail April 1-June 30
Kadunce Creek S.2, T.61, R.2E, From 0.2 to 0.4 miles above the mouth Cook September 1-May 31
Lake Maud Southwest Bay Becker May 1-June 10
Little Gunflint-Little North channel The 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). Cook April 1-May 31
Mississippi River Below Ottertail Power Dam to County 12 Beltrami April 25-May 10
Mississippi River (Pool 4) 300 ft below Lock and Dam 3 (MN Waters, but WI also has same closure distance and period) Goodhue March 1-April 30
Mississippi River (Pool 5) 300 ft below Lock and Dam 4 (MN Waters, but WI also has same closure distance and period) Wabasha March 1-April 30
Moody's Creek Upstream From CR 432 1/2 Mile Itasca April 1-June 30
Pelican River 500 feet upstream and 500 feet downstream from Dunton Locks Bridge between Muskrat Lake and Lake Sallie Becker April 1-April 30
Pelican River Below Bucks Mill Dam to Buck Lake and from Big Detroit Lake upstream to State Highway 34 Becker April 1-April 30
Sea Gull River From 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) Cook April 1-May 24
Shagawa River Both sides of both road crossings at Winton (T.63, R.11, S.19; T.63, R.12, S.24) St. Louis and Lake April 27-May 10
Shotley Brook State Highway 72 to Upper Red Lake Beltrami April 25-May 10
Tamarac River From Upper Red Lake upstream to Beltrami- Koochiching county line Beltrami April 25-May 10
Toad River Toad River Inlet to Big Pine Lake upstream to Co. Rd. 13 Otter Tail April 1-May 20
Turtle River Below Three Island Dam to Turtle River Lake Beltrami April 25-May 10
Unnamed Creek Flowage between Lake Ida and Lake Charlie (T.129 R.38 S.25,26,36) Douglas April 15-May 31
Unnamed Stream Between Big Sand Lake and Emma Lake (T.141, R.34, S.23) Hubbard April 26-UFN

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