ST PAUL, Minn. — Editor's note: The video above first aired on April 18, 2023.
The calendar suggests we are still weeks away from safe ice on most lakes across Minnesota, but the DNR knows ice anglers across the state are already chomping at the bit.
When the lakes are solid and safe, fisheries specialists want anglers to remember the winter limits in place on two of Minnesota's premiere walleye lakes, Mille Lacs and Red Lake. On Upper Red, four walleye can be kept by those fishing on state waters, down one from the summer fishing season. Of those four, only one can be longer than 17 inches.
On Lake Mille Lacs fisherpeople can take home one walleye between 21 and 23 inches long, or one that exceeds 28 inches.
The DNR sets winter regulations after completing annual fall population assessments. Results from Upper Red Lake in the fall of 2023 showed a very strong level of walleye spawning stock and a high overall net catch rate, especially of nearly mature walleye.
Field agents found Mille Lacs’ walleye numbers slightly lower than in 2022, but a healthy presence of fish born in the 2013 and 2017 classes (and acceptable numbers of walleye born in 2021 and 2022) suggest to biologists that there are adequate numbers of younger fish to keep the lake's population sustainable as they grow and replace walleye harvested by anglers.
Complete winter fishing regulations are available for both Upper Red Lake and Mille Lacs on the Minnesota DNR website.
WATCH MORE ON KARE 11+
Download the free KARE 11+ app for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and other smart TV platforms to watch more from KARE 11 anytime! The KARE 11+ app includes live streams of all of KARE 11's newscasts. You'll also find on-demand replays of newscasts; the latest from KARE 11 Investigates, Breaking the News and the Land of 10,000 Stories; exclusive programs like Verify and HeartThreads; and Minnesota sports talk from our partners at Locked On Minnesota.
- Add KARE 11+ on Roku here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Roku Channel Store.
- Add KARE 11+ on Fire TV here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Amazon App Store.
- Learn more about the KARE 11+ app for Apple TV in the Apple App Store.
- Learn more about KARE 11+ here.
Watch more local news:
Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities and across Minnesota in our YouTube playlist: