2 lines open water and 4 lines for ice fishing in MN? It could be coming…

So here’s one to keep an eye on!

Minnesota bills SF 1551 and HF 624 would allow anglers with a walleye stamp to use two lines when fishing in open water and four lines through the ice. These bills are part of the 94th Legislature (2025–2026).
How would the bill affect fishing?
The bill would allow anglers with a walleye stamp to use two lines when fishing in open water and four lines when ice fishing.
The bill would modify existing fishing law.

Proceeds from the sale of the walleye stamp are used to maintain and enhance Minnesota’s walleye fishing.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources stocks walleye in about 1,000 lakes.
Who sponsored the bill?
Senator Andrew Lang, R-Olivia, authored S.F. 1551.

I wonder what the stance of MN-Fish will be on this one?

4 lines ice fishing? No thanks. 2 lines year round that’s cool.

CaptainMusky wrote:

4 lines ice fishing? No thanks. 2 lines year round that’s cool.

It would be nice to have the ability to run an extra rattle reel once in a while. Or for tip up guys that still want to jig.

As tough as MN has been on how many lines to fish with I don’t see a 4 line bill passing. JMO

Wisconsin’s 3 for ice fishing is nice. 2 tip ups/downs and a jig rod to keep a guy busy.

3 on Superior would be sweet (like WI and MI allow)

CaptainMusky wrote:

4 lines ice fishing? No thanks. 2 lines year round that’s cool.

That’s the beauty of it, you don’t have to buy the stamp, or even if you do for the summer you can still stick to 2 lines in the winter.

If they pass 4 lines for the ice season I can see one unintended consequence of this. Minnesota will be secretly hoarding the worlds best marionette puppeteers the world has ever known.

I doubt this would happen with the walleye stamp, a CO would never be able to tell who was legal or not without checking the license. Besides why should someone have to pay into the walleye stamp. My extra line isn’t for walleye its for catfish.

BigWerm wrote:

That’s the beauty of it, you don’t have to buy the stamp, or even if you do for the summer you can still stick to 2 lines in the winter.

Heck you don’t even have to go fishing if you don’t want to.

I rarely find myself in a situation needing more than 1 line out because I almost exclusively cast.

If there’s extra revenue generated from the sale of a stamp, and individuals pay for the stamp required, it doesn’t bother me.

Highbeeze24 wrote:

If they pass 4 lines for the ice season I can see one unintended consequence of this. Minnesota will be secretly hoarding the worlds best marionette puppeteers the world has ever known.

In favor.

Ripjiggen wrote:

In favor.

Yeah if they’re not changing limits, in theory we’ll see no change to the number of fish harvested but revenue (i.e. future funding) will increase.

Dan wrote:

Yeah if they’re not changing limits, in theory we’ll see no change to the number of fish harvested

How can you possibly arrive at this? When I ice fish, I have a hard time managing 2 lines most of the time, now 4 potentially? Catch rates would definitely go up. I suppose if someone was solely using 4 lines for tip ups that is one thing, but say you are jigging a line, have a set line and then 2 tip ups? Ridiculous.

personally……i dont see this happening!! this is Minnesota…..the state you cant do nuttin!!!!

In favor – charge more for it . Id pay 30 bucks for an extra line. Other states do it that way… as long as it doesnt go for more bike trails and back into the fishery.

Why are they pushing for 4 in the winter ? 2 in the summer and 3 in the winter would be a good proposal

isu22andy wrote:

In favor – charge more for it . Id pay 30 bucks for an extra line. Other states do it that way… as long as it doesnt go for more bike trails and back into the fishery.

Well we don’t have to worry about it going for sex changes to inmates any more

Bearcat89 wrote:

Why are they pushing for 4 in the winter ? 2 in the summer and 3 in the winter would be a good proposal

They want to help the folks at beaver dam and finicky fooler.

It would be nice to have the second line.
I cast jigs a lot and will at times drag a jig by the boat when in SD. Or I cast one line and run a slip bobber on the other.

Why in the world would you have to have a Walleye stamp, when other types of fish would still be included?

CaptainMusky wrote:

How can you possibly arrive at this? When I ice fish, I have a hard time managing 2 lines most of the time, now 4 potentially? Catch rates would definitely go up. I suppose if someone was solely using 4 lines for tip ups that is one thing, but say you are jigging a line, have a set line and then 2 tip ups? Ridiculous.

I guess I’m looking at it in the same sense people talk about adding a line for open water fishing, where many have the opinion where if people are fishing for a limit, they’re going to get it either way, adding lines just means it’ll happen sooner. I’ll admit I chose my words poorly and it could very well lead to more harvest. I just don’t think more lines means death to all fish as some do. Fishing with more lines, be it winter or summer, can catch more fish and it can also cause more problems.

Not a big fan of a increase to either. I can not see how it would not lead to additional hooking mortality. 4 line out while slip bobber fishing for walleye. A school moves through and all 4 bobbers go down at once – Not going to end good for the fish. I may be able to get on board a little with a increase of summer to 2 lines. Anything more than 2 and my vote would be a NO

backlash wrote:

Why in the world would you have to have a Walleye stamp, when other types of fish would still be included?

I don’t think it would be solely for targeting walleyes. They just need something to call it by name. My assumption is that you would be able to use 2 lines for any species when permitted.

fishthumper wrote:

4 line out while slip bobber fishing for walleye. A school moves through and all 4 bobbers go down at once

Can I go fishing with you FT. I have been slip bobber fishing with 4 people plenty of times and have never in my life seen 4 corks drop at the same time. I get your point but I don’t really see it happening often.

CaptainMusky wrote:

4 lines ice fishing? No thanks. 2 lines year round that’s cool.

That was my first thought as well, but it would be nice to have a bobber/deadstick next to me while jigging in a portable and also run a couple tip ups.

Although maybe 3 lines thru the ice would be a good middle ground.

CaptainMusky wrote:

I have a hard time managing 2 lines most of the time

That sounds like a “you” problem

CaptainMusky wrote:

Catch rates would definitely go up

I agree.

fishthumper wrote:

Not a big fan of a increase to either. I can not see how it would not lead to additional hooking mortality. 4 line out while slip bobber fishing for walleye. A school moves through and all 4 bobbers go down at once – Not going to end good for the fish. I may be able to get on board a little with an increase of summer to 2 lines. Anything more than 2 and my vote would be a NO

It’s two lines in the summer why would there be four out.
If you talking 2 people and 4 lines I don’t see an issue.

John Rasmussen wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>fishthumper wrote:</div>
4 line out while slip bobber fishing for walleye. A school moves through and all 4 bobbers go down at once

Can I go fishing with you FT. I have been slip bobber fishing with 4 people plenty of times and have never in my life seen 4 corks drop at the same time. I get your point but I don’t really see it happening often.

Ya not likely to happen. Although I’ve been out with 2 buddies and had 2 lines go down close to each other a fair amount. But like you said you got the point. Our fishing resources have plenty of extra pressure on them already, we don’t need even more ways to make it even worse.

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