Rules & Regulations

 

Rules & Regulations for Ice Fishing Lake of the Woods

~Provided by the Minnesota DNR~ 

(excluding Four Mile Bay and the Rainy River)

 

Lines

No more than 2 lines can be used by one angler.  This includes the use of tip-ups, rattle reels, and fishing poles.  No angler may leave their line(s) unattended.  If you leave the sleeper, ensure your lines are out of the water.

 

Limits and Size Restrictions (dressed sauger count as walleye)

 

Walleye/Sauger

From December 1 to April 14, the daily and possession limits are as follows:  6 in the aggregate, no more than 4 may be walleye, and not more than 1 walleye over 28.0 inches (examples: 5 sauger/1 walleye, or 4 sauger/2 walleye, or 3 sauger/3 walleye).  All walleye in possession must be less than 19.5 inches in length or greater than 28.0 inches in length.  All walleye that are 19.5 to 28.0 inches in length, inclusive, must be immediately returned to the water.

 

Northern Pike
All northern pike in possession must be less than 30 inches or greater than 40 inches in length.  All northern pikes that are 30 – 40 inches in length, inclusive, must be immediately returned to the water.  A person’s daily and possession limit for northern pike is 3, and must not include more than 1 northern pike over 40 inches in length.

 

Tullibee

No limit and no slot limit

 

Perch

20 Perch per day with a total of 40 in possession

 

Burbot (eelpout)

No limit and no slot limit

 

Kept fish

All fish kept must be countable.  Walleye and northern pike must be measurable.  Do not freeze fish into a clump or a bucket of water.

 

Possession of Fillets

Filleting fish is only allowed on the lake when in immediate preparation of a meal (fish may not be filleted on the lake for transport).  Immediate preparation of a meal means that you are in the process of preparing a meal that is to be cooked and consumed shortly thereafter (i.e. oil is hot in the pan).  Unconsumed cooked fillets will count towards your daily and possession limit.  Carcasses of fish that were filleted for a meal on the lake must be maintained for the duration of the day and in such a way that they are measurable and countable.  These carcasses are part of your daily and possession limit.  Carcasses may be disposed of the following day, allowing you to replenish your limit.