2021 Mille Lacs Regs.

Effective May 15, 2021

Mille Lacs Lake including all tributaries from the mouth upstream to posted boundaries.

Walleye
May 15-May 31:
Possession limit is 1.
All walleye less than 21 inches or greater than 23 inches in length must be immediately released, except one walleye 28 inches or greater may be kept.
June 1-June 30:
All walleye must be immediately released.
July 1-July 15:
Walleye fishing is closed.
Walleye may not be targeted.
July 16-Sept. 15:
All walleye must be immediately released.
Sept. 16-Nov. 30:
Possession limit is 1.
All walleye less than 21 inches or greater than 23 inches in length must be immediately released, except one walleye 28 inches or greater may be kept.
Northern pike: For angling and spearing, all greater than 30 inches must be immediately released. Limit of three from Saturday, May 15, through Thursday, March 31, 2022. Spearing season coincides with the statewide spearing season.
Smallmouth and largemouth bass: All bass greater than 17 inches must be immediately released during the harvest season. Limit of three in combination. Angling seasons follow statewide fishing seasons.
Night closure
May 17-June 4: No fishing for any species from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
June 5-Sept. 15: 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., no fishing allowed. See exemptions.
Sept. 16-Nov. 30: Midnight (12 a.m.) to 6 a.m., no fishing allowed. See exemptions.
Exemptions:
Muskellunge and northern pike: Beginning June 5, these species may be targeted with artificial lures longer than 8 inches or sucker minnows longer than 8 inches. While fishing during the night closure, you may not possess or target any species other than muskellunge or northern pike.
Bowfishing for non-game fish: You may not possess angling equipment while bowfishing and only non-game fish may be in possession.
Bait restrictions
July 1-July 15: Anglers targeting northern pike and muskellunge can use sucker minnows longer than 8 inches. But anglers targeting all other fish species may not use live, dead, preserved or parts of minnows, night crawlers, worms, leeches or crayfish.

Posting/Pinning here for easy reference while out fishing! Would not expect any more changes. Good luck out there.

-J.

Jon Jordan wrote:

Northern pike: For angling and spearing, all greater than 30 inches must be immediately released.

Things that make me go hmmmmm.

-J.

I just read that, once again they are clear as mud.

So Bass on Mille Lacs opens on 5-15-2021 and 5-29-2021 for the rest of the state?

Eelpoutguy wrote:

So Bass on Mille Lacs opens on 5-15-2021 and 5-29-2021 for the rest of the state?

Looks like C&R 5/15 through 5/29. Then you can keep them.

-J.

Good Lord, could they possibly make it more complicated. How about if you are standing on one leg with a red hat during August you can keep 1 1/2 walleye per 24 hour day.

Good luck to those who attempt to follow the law.

I heard a rumor from 12pm to 2pm during the open season you can cut out and keep the left cheek only and then the fish must be released.

Jon Jordan wrote:

Things that make me go hmmmmm

Lol you better think twice about spearing a pike that’s close to 30 inches.

Every fisherman is going to need to hire a lawyer before fishing Mille Lacs

If you have fished it at all in the last several years it should be pretty straight forward, but yeah it’s a little messy.

gimruis wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Jon Jordan wrote:</div>
Things that make me go hmmmmm

Lol you better think twice about spearing a <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>pike that’s close to 30 inches.

If it was 29 7/8 I suppose you could still release it…

Thanks Jon, this was helpful this weekend