DNR seeks feedback for potential changes to winter trout season

St. Paul — The Minnesota DNR is seeking feedback on potential changes to winter trout season dates.

Currently, the season has two start dates for lakes inside and outside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Generally, the winter trout season starts Jan. 1 for lakes entirely within the BWCA. For trout lakes outside the BWCA, the season starts the Saturday closest to Jan. 15.

Beth Holbrook, research scientist with the DNR, said the survey is intended to help the agency clarify the language surrounding the start and end dates for the winter trout season.

“This survey is really to ask some questions to help us clean up the language around the start and end dates for the winter trout season in lakes, and that includes both lake trout and stream trout lakes, but not Lake Superior,” Holbrook said.

The survey on the proposal opened Oct. 15 and will run through Jan. 31, 2027.

Holbrook said the goal is to make a recommendation for a change in statute by February. Implementing those changes would take more than a year, with the 2028 season as the earliest target. Based on the survey results, changes would not take effect the following season and potentially make it longer.

DNR staff review existing regulations annually to determine whether changes or repeals are needed. Holbrook said the agency wants to address confusion surrounding the season’s start dates and make the regulations uniform across all lakes. If new rules were adopted, they would affect all trout waters in Minnesota.

“We’re trying to strike a balance here between with simpler regulations that are easier to understand and easier to follow versus respecting that the Boundary Waters is sort of a unique situation and a unique fishing opportunity,” Holbrook said.

Holbrook said the DNR would monitor how a potentially longer season affects trout waters throughout the state. She said the agency recognizes that increased fishing opportunities could result in fewer large fish and more fish being harvested. The DNR would also monitor the season’s biological effects.

Holbrook said an average of 125,000 people purchase trout stamps annually. Minnesota has 291 designated trout lakes available to anglers. She said the survey gives anglers and businesses an opportunity to share their thoughts on how to manage the species in the future.

“We want to provide fishing opportunities and for people to enjoy the resource, but we also have an obligation to manage that resource so that future generations also can have that opportunity,” Holbrook said.

Those interested in providing feedback on potential changes to the winter trout season can do so at https://engage.dnr.state.mn.us/fisheries-public-input-wildlife-public-input/surveys/winter-trout-season-dates-questionnaire