Minnesota regulations
Lake Trout Regulations in Minnesota 2026
Minnesota Lake Trout regulations as of 2026-05-08: Possession 1 fish; Min size 20 inches; Possession 1 fish. Sourced from DNR.
Rules (32)
Alstead Mine
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
Arco Mines
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
Canada-Minnesota Border WatersIn season
- Season opens
- May 9
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
(SUMMER)
Caribou Lake (Itasca)
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
Lake SuperiorOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Min size
- 43.25"
Non-certified record: 43 lbs, 8 oz Catch-and-release record
Lake Superior And Tributaries Below Posted BoundariesIn season
- Season opens
- Dec 1
- Season closes
- Oct 4
- Possession
- 3 fish
2025-2026 season
Lakes Entirely Within The Bwcaw.Out of season
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Mar 31
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
(WINTER) 2027 Season (WINTER)
Lakes Outside Or Partly Outside The BwcawOut of season
- Season opens
- Jan 16
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
(WINTER) 2027 Season (WINTER)
Little Trout Lake (St. Louis)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
Mahnomen Mine
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
Mahnomen Mine And Connected Alstead And Arco Mines (Crow Wing)
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
Mukooda Lake (St. Louis)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
Pennington Mine (Crow Wing)
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
Sagamore Mine (Crow Wing)
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
Yawkey Mine (Crow Wing)
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
Also known as
Lake Trout is also called lakers. Anglers in different regions use different names for the same fish, and the rules on this page apply to all of them in Minnesota.
Frequently asked questions
When is Lake Trout season in Minnesota?
Lake Trout season in Minnesota runs from May 9 to Sep 30 per DNR.
What is the size limit for Lake Trout in Minnesota?
Minimum size for Lake Trout in Minnesota is 20 inches in Alstead Mine, per DNR. Slot limits or maximum sizes may apply in some zones.
What is the daily bag limit for Lake Trout in Minnesota?
Daily bag limit for Lake Trout in Minnesota is 2 fish/day in Canada-Minnesota Border Waters, per DNR.
Official sources cited
- https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/regulations/fishing/fishing_regs.pdf
- https://www.eregulations.com/minnesota/fishing/special-regulations
- https://www.eregulations.com/minnesota/fishing/fishing-seasons-limits
Reference only. Regulations change frequently, often mid-season. Always verify with DNR before keeping a catch. Last verified .