Minnesota regulations
Trout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow) Regulations in Minnesota 2026
Minnesota trout 2026 open seasons vary by 43 management regions. Pick your region in the rule table below. Sourced from DNR.
Rules (123)
Minnesota statewide
- Gear
- Angling Only
You may use up to 3 artificial flies on 1 fishing line when you are fishing for bass, crappie, rock bass, sunfish, or trout.
Beaver Creek, East (Houston)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Slot min
- 12"
- Slot max
- 16"
all from 12-16" must be immediately released on the entire stream (Beaver Creek Valley State Park)
Belle Creek (Goodhue)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
on a 7.3 mile posted section from the confluence with the Cannon River upstream to Highway 19
Camp Creek (Fillmore)Open
- Status
- Permitted
- Gear
- Fly Only
On the third Saturday in May, statewide regulations apply to the posted section of the stream
Canfield Creek (South Branch Creek) (Fillmore)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Slot min
- 12"
- Slot max
- 16"
- Gear
- Fly Only
all from 12-16" must be immediately released on the entire stream
Forestville Creek (North Branch Creek) (Fillmore)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Slot min
- 12"
- Slot max
- 16"
all from 12-16" must be immediately released on the entire stream
Foster-Arend Lake (Olmsted)Open
- Status
- Open
- Possession
- 3 fish
- Min size
- 16"
- Max size
- 16"
continuous season only 1 over 16" allowed in possession
Garvin Brook (Winona)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Slot min
- 12"
- Slot max
- 16"
- Gear
- Fly Only
all from 12-16" must be immediately released from the Highway 14 crossing to the source
Gribben Creek (Fillmore)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Slot min
- 12"
- Slot max
- 16"
- Gear
- Fly Only
all from 12-16" must be immediately released on the entire stream
Hay Creek (Goodhue)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Slot min
- 12"
- Slot max
- 16"
- Gear
- Fly Only
all from 12-16" must be immediately released on a 4-mile posted section from 325th Street downstream
Kedron Creek (Fillmore)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- Fly Only
on the entire stream
Lake SuperiorOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Status
- Permitted
- Min size
- 30"
Eggs of trout harvested from Lake Superior or its tributaries below the posted boundaries may be used as bait (spawn bags). Spawn bags from Lake Superior trout may only be used on Lake Superior and its tributaries below the posted boundaries, and no other waters in the state. Certified weight record: 16 lbs, 12 oz Catch-and-release record
Lake Superior And Its TributariesCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
Unclipped steelhead (rainbow trout) must be immediately released
Lake Superior And Tributaries Below Posted BoundariesIn season
- Season opens
- Apr 12
- Season opens
- Apr 12
- Season opens
- Apr 12
- Season closes
- Sep 1
- Season closes
- Sep 1
- Season closes
- Sep 1
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 20"
- Min size
- 20"
- Min size
- 20"
- Slot max
- 16"
combined total brook trout, splake, brown trout and rainbow trout is 5 Only 1 over 16"
Lake Superior Tributaries Above Posted BoundariesCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Apr 11
- Season opens
- Apr 11
- Season opens
- Apr 11
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Possession
- 5 fish
- Possession
- 5 fish
- Slot max
- 16"
- Slot max
- 16"
combined total Only 1 over 16"
Lake Superior Tributaries Below The Posted BoundariesOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Eggs of trout harvested from Lake Superior or its tributaries below the posted boundaries may be used as bait (spawn bags). Spawn bags from Lake Superior trout may only be used on Lake Superior and its tributaries below the posted boundaries, and no other waters in the state.
Lawndale Creek (Wilkin)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- Barbless
for brook trout on a 3.5-mile posted section within Atherton Wildlife Management Area All hooks must be barbless
Logan Creek (Olmsted)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Slot min
- 12"
- Slot max
- 16"
- Gear
- Fly Only
all from 12-16" must be immediately released on the entire stream from the confluence with the Whitewater River, North Branch, upstream to the source
Mahoods Creek (Fillmore)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Slot min
- 12"
- Slot max
- 16"
all from 12-16" must be immediately released on the entire stream
Mill Creek (Fillmore And Olmsted)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Oct 16
- Season closes
- Dec 31
special catch-and-release season October 16 - December 31 on posted reach in Chatfield from the confluence with the North Branch Root River upstream to Sprau’s tributary
Pigeon RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Certified weight record: 6 lbs, 5 oz
Red Wing Pottery Pond (Goodhue)Open
- Status
- Open
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Max size
- 16"
continuous season only 1 over 16" allowed in possession
Root River, Middle Branch (Fillmore)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
on the entire stream
Root River, South Branch (Fillmore)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Oct 16
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Slot min
- 12"
- Slot max
- 16"
special catch-and-release season October 16 - December 31 on posted reach in Lanesboro from the Lanesboro Dam downstream to the confluence with the Root River all from 12-16" must be immediately released on a 4.8-mile posted section within Forestville State Park
Root River, South Fork (Fillmore)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- Fly Only
on a 7.7 mile section from County Road 12 upstream to the source
Rush Creek (Fillmore)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Oct 16
- Season closes
- Dec 31
special catch-and-release season October 16 - December 31 on posted reach in Rushford
Spring Valley Creek (Fillmore)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Oct 16
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Slot min
- 12"
- Slot max
- 16"
special catch-and-release season October 16 - December 31 on posted reach in Spring Valley from West Park Street downstream to Minnesota State Highway 16 bridge all from 12-16" must be immediately released on a 6.8-mile posted section from Deer Creek upstream to Fillmore Township Road 359
Stoney Brook (Cass)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
all must be immediately released on the posted section beginning at the mouth at Upper Gull Lake upstream to the road crossing at County Road 29 (Minor’s Corner)
Thompson Lake (Cook)Closed
- Status
- Closed
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Closed to winter fishing Use and possession of bait prohibited
Thrush Lake (Cook)Closed
- Status
- Closed
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Closed to winter fishing Use and possession of bait prohibited
Trout Run Creek (Fillmore And Winona)
- Slot min
- 12"
- Slot max
- 16"
- Gear
- Fly Only
all from 12-16" must be immediately released on the entire stream
Turnip Lake (Cook)Closed
- Status
- Closed
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Closed to winter fishing Use and possession of bait prohibited
Vermillion River Upstream Of Vermillion Falls In Hastings And All Tributaries (Dakota)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Status
- Permitted
regular statewide regulations apply
Waters That Are Not Designated Trout WaterOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Trout/salmon stamp validation required for anglers age 18-64 when possessing trout
West Indian Creek (Wabasha)
- Slot min
- 12"
- Slot max
- 16"
all from 12-16" must be immediately released from the upstream Wabasha County Road 4 crossing to the source
Whitewater River, Middle Branch (Winona And Olmsted)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- Fly Only
on a 9.2-mile posted section from the group camp in Whitewater State Park upstream to the source
Whitewater River, North Branch (Wabasha, Olmsted And Winona)
- Slot min
- 12"
- Slot max
- 16"
- Gear
- Fly Only
all from 12-16" must be immediately released on a 12.1 mile posted section from Township Road 29 upstream to County Road 4
Wisel Creek (Fillmore)
- Slot min
- 12"
- Slot max
- 16"
all from 12-16" must be immediately released on the entire stream
Zumbro River, North Fork (Goodhue And Wabasha)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
on an 11.9 mile posted section from the Zumbro River, Main Branch upstream to Highway 10
Trout on famous Minnesota waters
Dedicated rule pages for Trout on the most-targeted destinations in Minnesota.
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
- Smallmouth Bass140 rules
- Crappie (Black & White)135 rules
- Lake Sturgeon31 rules
- Lake Trout30 rules
- Muskie (Muskellunge)20 rules
- Channel Catfish19 rules
- Yellow Perch17 rules
Also known as
Trout is also called Trout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow), Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Tiger Trout. 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 Trout season in Minnesota?
Trout season in Minnesota runs from Apr 12 to Sep 1 per DNR.
What is the size limit for Trout in Minnesota?
Minimum size for Trout in Minnesota is 19 inches in Alruss Lake, per DNR. Slot limits or maximum sizes may apply in some zones.
What is the daily bag limit for Trout in Minnesota?
Daily bag for Trout in Minnesota varies by zone; see the table above.
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.