Year -round bass fishing in MN 2026?

[Smallie_Hawgin]

Just an info thread here. I have been working hard to make this happen since 1999 and certainly it does not happen without a lot of help and others that care about the same topic. Jimmy Bell with Student Angler Tournament Trail and Lund has been instrumental and recently testified for HF 2824 and SF 3031. Both have passed their respective committee reviews and will be included in the omnibus bills for each branch. Those need to have a finalized vote and then our governor has to OK it too. Now this is just the statute language that needed to be changed to accommodate the catch and release language that will be found in rule. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/626...22all%22%7D%5D

American Sportfish Association and a group called MNFish are advocating for the catch and release season change as well.
MN_Fish_ASA_CR_Bass.jpg
Anyway, stay tuned!!! Let's hope our politicians view this as important. If you feel inclined to send a note to the authors of each respective bills, their info is found on the flyer. It certainly would not hurt to have them hear from their constituents!!!

[RFeyoMN]

[BassPundit]

[bass-o-maticjm]

Thanks for all of your work on this!

[Macsimus]

Thanks Eric!

[bassburch]

Do you know when this gets voted on??

[brianf.]

Eric, thanks for all your work on this. I hope it passes though not optimistic. Not sure why Minnesota bass are so much more special and in need of protection vs. those in every other state and Canadian province! This change should've been done decades ago IMO but politics shut it down time and time again.

[kondan]

Seems like most lake property owners would not like bass anglers all year round hence it never passed lol.

[brianf.]

I understand they pulled the continous season off both bills. If thats true, it figures. Lawmakers here are smarter than the other 49 states and all Canadian provinces that have a continous bass season.

[Smallie_Hawgin]

I understand they pulled the continous season off both bills. If thats true, it figures. Lawmakers here are smarter than the other 49 states and all Canadian provinces that have a continous bass season.

I have not heard that, or seen proof of it yet. The legislative session is a strange one this year for sure. I know both respective committees had recommended it in each of the omnibus bills... But then things stall out until tit for tat partisan nonsense issues allow it to be included. But, I am also not in the legislature... So, not really sure what, why, or how they decide to include stuff or not. Fingers crossed either way. Might be a good time to reach out to selected reps... The session is not done for another week and this one will likely go to a special session if the budget crap is not figured out.

[RFeyoMN]

F'n Minnesota!!

[DeBo]

Absolutely baffled by seasons in this state. C&R bass opens right before the spawn more or less. A huge % of the walleyes are stocked put and take so what’s being protected? And Pike might be the worst of all. Hi limits and the DNR expressly wants us to harvest more yet they are closed during the cold water times where they are the best eating. And during all this pan fisherman are incidentally catching all of these fish on a somewhat regular basis.

Have there ever been discussions to break the openers up by zone a bit? The Fairmont lakes and Lake Vermillion are on different planets weather/climate wise.

[RFeyoMN]

It has nothing to do with science.

[brianf.]

It has nothing to do with science.

This^^^

[Smallie_Hawgin]

Absolutely baffled by seasons in this state. C&R bass opens right before the spawn more or less. A huge % of the walleyes are stocked put and take so what’s being protected? And Pike might be the worst of all. Hi limits and the DNR expressly wants us to harvest more yet they are closed during the cold water times where they are the best eating. And during all this pan fisherman are incidentally catching all of these fish on a somewhat regular basis.

Have there ever been discussions to break the openers up by zone a bit? The Fairmont lakes and Lake Vermillion are on different planets weather/climate wise.

You are correct! Oddly enough, the seasons have been in place as a result of the tourism industry, not due to biological concerns. "A tradition in Minnesota since 1948, the governor's fishing opener kicks off Minnesota's summer tourism season and promotes the development of the state's recreation industry."

Ultimately, it would be best to just have catch and release seasons for all species and the opener be the start of harvest season. It would simplify a ton of regulations and allow anglers to get out more frequently if the weather was cooperative.

[RFeyoMN]

Exactly right.
There shouldn't be one day in the year we cannot fish for any species of fish in this state.
"Harvest" season...i'm OK with that. But ni fishing, period...very lame.