Minnesota Non-Residential Family License?

We are going to fish the Rainy River spring season this year, we are coming from Canada but are common law.

The DNR says you have to be legally married to get the family licence. I called the DNR and the fella said you have to be
legally married.

This is from the DNR Website:
Angling – family (nr) – Code 124
Description: Valid for nonresidents(legally married as recognized by MN law) and children under age 16. Allows children under age 16 to possess their own limit of fish. (Single parents may also choose this license to include children under 16). See Fishing Regulations.

This is what I found online, regarding the definitely of legally married. (so it must be true it’s online HAHA!)

Minnesota abolished common law marriage in 1941. In Minnesota a couple is legally married or just living together. Minnesota does, however, recognize common law marriages that were legally created outside of this state. … Couples living outside of legal marriage do not have that same benefit.

Anybody know how this works? Can a common law couple from another country by a family license? I don’t mind buying the separate licences at all, but if we could save some money WHY NOT!

Just purchase the family license. Definitely sounds like you’re married. No warden is going to ask to see both your fishing license AND marriage license. And if both you and your wife have the same address on your drivers license, that just confirms that you’re married, even if you don’t have the same last names.

You can purchase the family license, but you’ll have to add the special $100 “Living in Sin” endorsement. After all, this is Taxesota and Scandinavian puritanism still rules the roost here. Hell, we couldn’t even buy beer on Sunday in this state until very recently. Just don’t try to buy a car on Sunday while you’re here, you’ll find yourself in the county jail cell they keep just for bloody foreigners who routinely commit this type of atrocity here.

In all seriousness, I can’t imagine after presenting a valid license that covers everyone, a conservation officer would then grill you on the legal particulars of your marriage arrangements/non-arrangements as the case may be.

Grouse

Thanks guys

So the real question here is….. if your coming from Canada, why wouldn’t you want to be fishing the Ontario side of the Rainy this spring??

Way less pressure on the water and at the landings, and I’m pretty sure you can still keep a couple walleyes if you want this spring. Maybe I’m off and you are fishing sturgeon and want the chance to keep one? I know sturgeon are closed year-round on the Ontario side.

Hi xplorer,

I just want to be able to go anywhere. We are fishing for a week and I figure why limit ourselves

We are staying on the US side.

Hey Greg,
OK, just seems that everyone on this side is always wanting to fish the “other” side in the spring. Here’s hoping the ice goes out nice and the Forks don’t let loose until you are done with your week!!
I had a buddy that had a place along Hwy 11 just west of the Indus school, and sometimes just to avoid the masses at Birchdale, we would go to the park right below the Manitou Rapids and cast the shoreline there, did quite well too.
Enjoy your trip and hope you get into the fish!

Ya, really hoping the water conditions co-operate! I’ve never fished the river, so don’t want to limit us were we can go.

If you fish it , watch for us and give us a wave! We’ll be in a black/gray Alumacraft Competitor 205 Tiller with 2 black labs with us

Come on April!!!

If I get up there this year, it will have to be the last 3 days of the season. Can’t get the boat out til 4/1, and am outta town from the 3rd to the 11th.
I’m in a black/grey 1850 Tyee/175 Verado, with a Yellow lab on the front deck.

If the Forks do break loose when you’re there, you can head to the Pelland landing to launch, which is just above the Little Fork to get some clearer water. Its a pretty steep landing but gives you another option if lower downriver is unfishable.

PS: Your gonna love the Traxstech mounts, I’ve had them on for 10 years for when I’m fishing out on Superior. I run smaller 12″ ones and got the plastic inserts that fit in them when not in use. They make a great “step” for going in and out of the boat without scratching up the gunnels when docked.

One time the DNR guy checked me and I showed him my non-resident family license and I had to explain to him what it was. He had no idea there was such a thing…

It is a great deal!