Minnesota regulations
Smallmouth Bass Regulations in Minnesota 2026
Minnesota smallmouth bass 2026 open seasons vary by 54 management regions. Statewide rules apply for 6/day. Pick your region in the rule table below. Sourced from DNR.
Rules (140)
Minnesota statewide
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
Statewide aggregate per 2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations (Inland Seasons and Limits, p.29-31). Combined limit Largemouth + Smallmouth Bass.
Agnes Lake (Douglas)
- Max size
- 20"
- Slot min
- 12"
- Slot max
- 20"
only 1 over 20" allowed in possession.
Annie Battle Lake Including Inlet To Molly Stark Lake And Outlet To Blanche Lake (Otter Tail)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
Balm Lake (Beltrami)
- Max size
- 20"
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 20"
only 1 over 20" allowed in possession.
Big Bass Lake (Beltrami)
- Max size
- 20"
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 20"
only 1 over 20" allowed in possession.
Clitherall Lake (Otter Tail)
- Max size
- 20"
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 20"
only 1 over 20" allowed in possession all from 14-20" must be immediately released
Deer Lake (Beltrami)
- Max size
- 20"
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 20"
only 1 over 20" allowed in possession.
Flour Lake (Cook)
- Min size
- 20"
- Max size
- 20"
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 20"
only 1 over 20" allowed in possession all from 14-20" must be immediately released
Gamehaven Lake (Boy Scout Lake Or Willow Reservoir No. 4)
- Possession
- 1 fish
Henry Lake (Douglas)
- Max size
- 20"
- Slot min
- 12"
- Slot max
- 20"
only 1 over 20" allowed in possession all from 12-20" must be immediately released
Hubert Lake (Crow Wing)
- Min size
- 12"
all 12" and larger must be immediately released
Hungry Jack Lake (Cook)
- Min size
- 20"
- Max size
- 20"
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 20"
only 1 over 20" allowed in possession all from 14-20" must be immediately released
Mary Lake (Hubbard)
- Max size
- 20"
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 20"
only 1 over 20" allowed in possession all from 14-20" must be immediately released
Maud Lake (Becker)
- Max size
- 20"
- Slot min
- 12"
- Slot max
- 20"
only 1 over 20" allowed in possession all from 12-20" must be immediately released
Mille Lacs Lake Including Tributaries To Posted Boundaries (Aitkin, Crow Wing And Mille Lacs Coun Ties)Open
- Status
- Permitted
Regulations for walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, tullibee, and other fish species will be posted at public access sites and the DNR website at mndnr.gov/millelacslake.
Minnehaha Creek Downstream From Minnehaha FallsCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
Minnesota River Downstream From The Mendota BridgeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
Mississippi River (Sherburne, Stearns And Wright)
- Possession
- 3 fish
- Min size
- 20"
- Slot min
- 12"
- Slot max
- 20"
only 1 over 20" all from 12-20" must be immediately released from the confluence of the Crow River upstream to the St. Cloud Dam, including tributaries to the posted boundaries
North Turtle Lake (Otter Tail)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Max size
- 20"
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 20"
all from 14-20" must be immediately released only 1 over 20" allowed in possession
Norway Lake (Otter Tail)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Max size
- 20"
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 20"
all from 14-20" must be immediately released only 1 over 20" allowed in possession
Otter Tail River (Otter Tail, Becker, And Wilkin)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
from Wilkin County Road 19 crossing upstream to the Friberg Dam including all impoundments, and from Otter Tail County Highway 51 upstream to the Hubbel Pond Dam including Mud, Rice, and Town lakes
Ozawindib Lake (Clearwater)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Max size
- 20"
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 20"
all from 14-20" must be immediately released only 1 over 20" allowed in possession
Pelican And Ash Lakes In St. Louis CountyCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- May 10
- Season closes
- Feb 22
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
- Possession
- 6 fish
March 1 - May 8 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass; May 9, 2026 - Feb. 28, 2027 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass
Pelican Lake (St. Louis)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Max size
- 20"
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 20"
all from 14-20" must be immediately released only 1 over 20" allowed in possession
Pool 2 Of The Mississippi River Between The Hastings Dam And The Ford Dam, Including All Backwater Lakes And Connecting Waters Except Crosby, Pickerel, Upper, Little Pigs Eye, And North Star Steel LakesCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
Portage Lake North Of Ten Mile Lake (Cass)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Max size
- 20"
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 20"
all from 14-20" must be immediately released only 1 over 20" allowed in possession
Sewell Lake (Otter Tail)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 20"
all from 14-20" must be immediately released only 1 over 20" allowed in possession
ShCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 12"
- Slot max
- 20"
all from 12-20" must be immediately released only 1 over 20" allowed in possession
South Twin Lake (Beltrami)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 20"
all from 14‑20" must be immediately released only 1 over 20" allowed in possession
St. Croix River Downstream Of Taylors Falls Dam To U.s. Hwy 10 BridgeOut of season
- Season opens
- May 23
- Season closes
- Mar 1
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 14"
St. Croix River Upstream Of Taylors Falls DamCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Sep 14
- Season closes
- Mar 1
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 14"
St. Louis River EstuaryOut of season
- Season opens
- May 23
- Season closes
- Mar 1
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 14"
combined total
Ten Mile Lake, North And South (Otter Tail)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 20"
all from 14-20" must be immediately released only 1 over 20" allowed in possession
Thirteen Lake (Cass)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 20"
all from 14‑20" must be immediately released only 1 over 20" allowed in possession
Turtle Lake (Itasca)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 20"
all from 14-20" must be immediately released only 1 over 20" allowed in possession
Turtle Lake (Ramsey)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 20"
all from 14-20" must be immediately released only 1 over 20" allowed in possession
Two Island Lake (Cook)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 20"
all from 14-20" must be immediately released only 1 over 20" allowed in possession
West Battle LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Non-certified record: 8 lbs, 0 oz
Zumbro River (Wabasha)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
along a 12-mile posted section from Highway 63 at Zumbro Falls upstream to the Zumbro Lake Dam
Other Minnesota fish regulations
Other regulated species in Minnesota with current rule pages — same DNR source, same verification cadence.
- Northern Pike388 rules
- Walleye324 rules
- Bluegill (Sunfish)322 rules
- Largemouth Bass162 rules
- Crappie (Black & White)135 rules
- Trout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow)123 rules
- Lake Sturgeon31 rules
- Lake Trout30 rules
- Muskie (Muskellunge)20 rules
- Channel Catfish19 rules
- Yellow Perch17 rules
Also known as
Smallmouth Bass is also called smallies. 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 Smallmouth Bass season in Minnesota?
Smallmouth Bass season in Minnesota runs from May 10 to Feb 22 per DNR.
What is the size limit for Smallmouth Bass in Minnesota?
Minimum size for Smallmouth Bass in Minnesota is 22.75 inches in Basswood Lake, per DNR. Slot limits or maximum sizes may apply in some zones.
What is the daily bag limit for Smallmouth Bass in Minnesota?
Daily bag limit for Smallmouth Bass in Minnesota is 5 fish/day in Mississippi River And Lake Pepin, per DNR.
Official sources cited
- https://www.eregulations.com/minnesota/fishing/special-regulations
- https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/regulations/fishing/fishing_regs.pdf
- 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.