Minnesota DNR Changes Walleye Regulations On Popular Lake For Winter

As temperatures continue their downward slide and Minnesota's ice fishing season approaches, anglers should be aware of a regulation change on a popular Minnesota lake for walleyes this winter.

Normally, when anglers hear that there is a regulation change, the easy assumption is that bag limits are shrinking, a more rigorous slot size is being implemented, or some other restriction is being added.

In the case of this new regulation change being put in place by the Minnesota DNR for Upper Red Lake, one of those things is indeed happening, though it isn't necessarily due to population concerns.

The change coming for Upper Red Lake for the Winter 2025-2026 ice fishing season will see a drop in the number of fish you can keep by one fish when compared to the summer season.

READ MORE: Do You Know The Differences Between Walleye & Sauger? Here's How To Tell Them Apart

This summer, anglers were able to keep 5 walleyes, but the winter possession limit being imposed will be 4 walleyes, with only one longer than 17 inches.

This winter reduction comes after some very good news for the walleye population in Upper Red Lake.

The Minnesota DNR's fisheries section manager, Brad Parsons, says that their fall walleye assessment shows the population "continues to be excellent", with an even higher number of spawning-aged females than last year and "strong numbers" of young walleye reaching harvestable size.

So, why the change?

Parsons commented in a press statement that the reduction to 4 fish for the winter season is a response to how popular ice fishing is on Upper Red Lake.

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As the amount of fishing pressure goes up with the large number of ice anglers, the DNR feels that reducing the possession limit by one fish for the winter season will help prolong what they foresee as "exceptional fishing over the next few years" on Upper Red Lake.