Chapter 97C — Experimental Waters

97C.001 Experimental Waters This law lets the DNR commissioner pick certain lakes and streams as 'experimental waters' where special fishing rules … 97C.003 This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from Minnesota law in 2002. 97C.005 Special Management Waters This law allows the DNR commissioner to label certain lakes and streams as 'special management waters' with unique … 97C.007 Northern Pike Experimental and Special Management Waters This law limits the number of lakes that can have special northern pike rules to 100 at any one time. These lakes must … 97C.011 This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from Minnesota law in 2014. 97C.015 This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from Minnesota law in 2005. 97C.02 Acquiring Critical Aquatic Habitat This law requires the DNR commissioner to buy land that is important for fish and water life. The land can be used to … 97C.021 Angling Restricted in Trout Streams You can only fish in a designated trout stream when the trout season is open. No other fishing is allowed in these … 97C.025 Fishing and Motorboats Restricted in Certain Areas The DNR commissioner can ban or limit fishing and motorboat use in certain posted areas, such as spawning beds, fish … 97C.031 This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from Minnesota law in 2012. 97C.035 Endangered Fish Populations When fish are in danger of dying, such as from low oxygen in winter, the DNR commissioner can rescue the fish or let … 97C.041 Commissioner May Remove Native Rough Fish, Common Carp, and Rainbow Smelt The DNR commissioner can remove rough fish, common carp, and rainbow smelt from state waters using seines, nets, and … 97C.045 Removing Common Carp and Native Rough Fish From Boundary Waters The DNR commissioner can make agreements with North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Iowa to remove common carp and … 97C.051 Special Permits to Use Piscicides The DNR can issue free permits to use fish-killing chemicals (piscicides) to restore lakes and streams. The permit … 97C.055 Removing Dead Fish The DNR commissioner must remove and get rid of dead fish that pile up in or along the shores of public waters when the … 97C.061 Dragging Weight or Anchor Through Vegetation It is illegal to use a motorboat to drag an anchor or weight through underwater plants, unless the DNR commissioner has … 97C.065 Pollutants in Waters It is illegal to dump or allow any substance into state waters in amounts that harm fish or wildlife or make their flesh … 97C.071 Structures in Public Waters You cannot build or maintain a dam or other obstruction in or over public waters without a permit from the DNR … 97C.075 Fish Screens in Flowing Waters You cannot block a creek, stream, or river with a rack or screen that stops fish from passing through without the DNR … 97C.077 Fish Screens in Lakes County boards can put screens at the inlets and outlets of lakes that have been stocked with fish by the federal … 97C.081 Fishing Contests Fishing contests on Minnesota waters require a DNR permit if they have more than 25 boats (open water), more than 150 … 97C.085 Permit Required for Tagging Fish You need a permit from the DNR commissioner to tag or mark a live fish for identification purposes. The only exception … 97C.087 Special Fish Management Registration The DNR commissioner can require certain fish species to be registered through a special endorsement on your fishing … 97C.201 State Fish Stocking Prohibited Without Public Access The state can only stock fish in waters that the public can access. The commissioner can also stock fish in streams on … 97C.202 Water-quality Monitoring at State Fish Hatcheries The DNR must test the water at state fish hatcheries in Altura, Lanesboro, and Peterson every month for nitrates and … 97C.203 Exchanging Fish or Wildlife Resources; Disposal of State Hatchery Products The DNR can only give away or trade fish from state hatcheries after the fish have been tested for diseases within the … 97C.205 Transporting and Stocking Fish It is generally illegal to transport live fish in water away from the lake or river where you caught them. Exceptions … 97C.209 This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from Minnesota law in 1992. 97C.211 Private Fish Hatcheries You need a license to operate a private fish hatchery in Minnesota. The license is valid for five years but must be … 97C.215 Special Permits for United States Agents The DNR commissioner can give free special permits to authorized federal government agents so they can do fish-raising … 97C.301 License Required to Take Fish You need a license to fish in Minnesota. An angling license is required for hook-and-line fishing. Dark house spearing … 97C.303 Conservation Angling License Minnesota offers a cheaper conservation angling license for residents. With this license, your daily catch and … 97C.305 Trout-and-salmon Stamp Validation If you are between ages 18 and 65 and want to fish in designated trout streams, trout lakes, or Lake Superior, you need … 97C.311 Lake Superior Fishing-guide License You need a fishing guide license to operate a charter boat and guide anglers for pay on Lake Superior or the St. Louis … 97C.315 Angling Lines and Hooks Anglers can usually only use one fishing line. Two lines are allowed when ice fishing, in parts of Lake Superior … 97C.317 Fishing by Party When fishing as a group, the total number of fish caught and kept by the group cannot exceed the combined individual … 97C.321 Restrictions on Unattended Lines You generally cannot leave a fishing line unattended. When ice fishing, you can leave a line unattended only if you can … 97C.325 Restrictions on Taking Fish It is illegal to catch fish using explosives, chemicals, poisons, drugs, nets, traps, snares, or spring-loaded devices … 97C.327 Measuring Fish Length When checking if a fish meets the size limit, you measure from the tip of the nose or jaw (whichever sticks out farther) … 97C.331 Snagging Fish Prohibited It is illegal to intentionally snag fish or to use snag hooks, snag poles, or clusters of hooks designed to hook the … 97C.335 Use of Artificial Lights to Take Fish Prohibited You cannot use artificial lights to attract fish or to see fish in the water while spearing. However, you can use … 97C.341 Certain Aquatic Life Prohibited for Bait You cannot use live minnows imported from out of state, game fish, goldfish, or carp as bait. Bait from waters with … 97C.342 Disease-free Certification; Frozen or Dead Fish Bait This section sets requirements for disease-free certification of frozen or dead fish used as bait. It defines key terms … 97C.345 Restrictions on Using and Possessing Nets and Spears This section restricts when and how people can use and possess nets and spears for fishing. Using these tools is … 97C.346 This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 97C.347 This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 97C.351 Fish Nets; Tags Fish nets must have a tag attached showing the owner's name and address when not in use, and the operator's name and … 97C.355 Shelters on Ice; Dark Houses and Fish Houses This section requires fish houses and dark houses used on ice to be properly identified. It sets rules for when shelters … 97C.361 Restrictions on Fish Houses and Dark Houses in Boundary Waters Canoe Area In the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, only portable fish houses or dark houses are allowed. They must be taken down and … 97C.363 Storing Garbage and Other Waste on Ice A person using a shelter, motor vehicle, or other conveyance on the ice of state waters may not leave garbage, rubbish, … 97C.365 This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 97C.371 Spearing Fish This section sets the rules for spearing fish in Minnesota. Only common carp, native rough fish, catfish, lake … 97C.375 Taking Native Rough Fish and Common Carp by Spearing Both residents and nonresidents may take native rough fish and common carp by spearing. Suckers may be speared from May … 97C.376 Bow Fishing This section governs bow fishing (using a bow and arrow to take fish) in Minnesota. The regular season for residents and … 97C.381 Harpooning Native Rough Fish Both residents and nonresidents may use rubber-powered guns, spring guns, or compressed air guns to harpoon native rough … 97C.385 Commissioner's Authority to Regulate Winter Fishing This section gives the commissioner authority to regulate winter fishing, including setting rules for ice fishing that … 97C.391 Buying and Selling Fish This section prohibits buying or selling fish taken from Minnesota waters, with six exceptions: minnows, common carp, … 97C.392 This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 97C.395 Open Seasons for Angling This section sets the open seasons for taking fish by angling in Minnesota. Walleye, sauger, northern pike, and … 97C.401 Limits This section requires the commissioner to set, by rule, daily take limits and possession limits for each species of … 97C.402 This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 97C.403 This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 97C.405 This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 97C.411 Sturgeon and Paddlefish Lake sturgeon, shovelnose sturgeon, and paddlefish may not be taken, bought, sold, transported, or possessed except as … 97C.415 Trout and Salmon This section sets special rules for taking trout and salmon. Trout, except lake trout, may not be taken between 11:00 … 97C.417 Reporting Invasive Carp A person who takes any of the listed invasive carp species in Minnesota must report the type of carp taken to the … 97C.501 Minnow Licenses Required This section sets out the licenses required to deal in minnows in Minnesota. A person may not act as a minnow retailer … 97C.502 Minnows and Leeches; Invasive Species Training Required This section requires annual aquatic invasive species training for people who handle minnows and leeches in the bait … 97C.505 Minnows This section sets the rules for taking, possessing, buying, and selling minnows in Minnesota. Minnows may be taken, … 97C.511 Minnow Seines This section limits the size of seines used to take minnows in Minnesota. In general, a person may not use a seine … 97C.515 Imported Minnows This section generally prohibits importing live minnows from outside Minnesota. This helps prevent the introduction of … 97C.521 Transporting Carp Fingerlings Prohibited It is illegal to transport live carp fingerlings in Minnesota, with limited exceptions for licensed aquaculture … 97C.525 Restrictions on Transporting Minnows This section restricts transporting minnows out of Minnesota, generally barring it except as the section allows. Only … 97C.601 Frogs This section sets rules for taking frogs in Minnesota, including the season and methods allowed. Frogs can be taken for … 97C.605 Turtles This section sets rules for taking turtles in Minnesota, including license requirements, personal-use limits, and the … 97C.611 Turtle Species; Limits This section sets species-specific rules and limits for taking turtles, including separate regulations for snapping … 97C.615 This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 97C.621 Areas May Be Closed to Taking Turtles The commissioner can close specific waters to turtle harvesting when fish breeding operations are happening. This … 97C.701 Taking Mussels This section governs the taking of mussels in Minnesota. The commissioner may set size limits and conditions for taking, … 97C.705 This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 97C.711 This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 97C.801 Taking Native Rough Fish on Mississippi River This section sets rules for taking native rough fish on the Mississippi River using commercial methods. It establishes a … 97C.805 Netting Lake Whitefish and Ciscoes This section governs netting lake whitefish and ciscoes (tullibees) in Minnesota. The commissioner sets the open season … 97C.811 Commercial Fishing in Inland Waters This section defines inland waters for commercial fishing purposes and sets the rules for commercial fishing in … 97C.815 Commercial Fishing Areas This section allows the commissioner to designate specific areas as commercial fishing areas. Designation determines … 97C.821 Possessing, Selling, and Transporting Commercial Fish This section sets rules for possessing, selling, and transporting fish taken under commercial fishing licenses. Such … 97C.825 Lake of the Woods and Rainy Lake Fishing This section governs commercial fishing on Lake of the Woods and Rainy Lake. The commissioner may not issue new … 97C.827 This section has been repealed and is no longer in effect. 97C.831 Namakan and Sand Point Lakes; Commercial Fishing This section allows licensed commercial operators to take lake whitefish, common carp, and native rough fish from … 97C.835 Lake Superior Commercial Fishing This section governs commercial fishing in Lake Superior, capping the licenses at 25 residents. To qualify, a resident … 97C.836 Lake Superior Lake Trout; Expanded Assessment Harvest This section allows licensed commercial operators to take limited quantities of lake trout from specific Lake Superior … 97C.841 Apprentice License Commercial fishing license holders can list one apprentice on their license. The license holder or the apprentice must … 97C.843 Possession for Commercial Netting When commercial nets are lawfully set, fish that are accidentally caught but not covered by the license do not count as … 97C.845 Interference With Commercial Fishing This section prohibits three acts that interfere with commercial fishing. A person may not knowingly place or maintain … 97C.851 Commercial Fishing in International Waters; Resort Owners Resort owners in the international waters area from Pigeon Point to the North Dakota border cannot get licenses to buy, … 97C.855 Upper and Lower Red Lake and Nett Lake; Transportation, Sale, and Disposal The commissioner may allow by rule the transportation, sale, and disposal of fish caught within the Red Lake Indian … 97C.861 Fish Vendors; Requirements A person may not sell fish using a motor vehicle without a fish vendor's license. A licensed fish vendor or the vendor's … 97C.865 Fish Packers Fish packers who process and package fish for sale must have a license and keep records of their operations. This … 97C.871 Crayfish The commissioner can adopt rules for taking, importing, buying, selling, possessing, and transporting crayfish, …