Minnesota DNR announces open water fishing regulations for Upper Red Lake

photo: MN Dept. of Natural Resources

Anglers fishing on Upper Red Lake during the 2026 open-water season that starts Saturday, May 9, will have a five-walleye possession limit, with only one walleye longer than 17 inches allowed. This is the same regulation that was in place for the 2025 open-water season.

“Upper Red Lake walleye have been managed at a level that, among other factors, resulted in a number of recent strong year classes,” said Andy Thompson, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources area fisheries supervisor for Bemidji. “This regulation is an opportunity for anglers to keep abundant young walleye while also maintaining spawners at a level that continues to produce successful year classes.”

Spawning stock levels on Upper Red Lake have a “sweet spot” where abundance is high enough to produce newly hatched walleye, known as fry, but not so high that young fish don’t survive well due to competition for food. Through this regulation, the Minnesota DNR is seeking to keep the fishery in this condition by focusing harvest on the plentiful immature fish under 17 inches, so that future numbers of spawning walleye aren’t higher than desired, and overall harvest doesn’t exceed agreed-upon levels established with Red Lake Nation.

Walleye management on Upper Red Lake is a collaborative effort between Red Lake Nation and the Minnesota DNR, governed by a joint harvest plan revised by the Red Lakes Fisheries Technical Committee in 2015 and again in 2025. Winter harvest regulations for 2026-2027 will be determined after the summer fishing season and fall assessment netting.

The Upper Red Lake Citizen Advisory Committee reviews walleye harvest totals and regulation options, and provides recommendations for the state waters of Upper Red Lake. Current fishing regulations for Upper Red Lake are detailed on the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/fishing/upper-red-lake-regulations.html).

The DNR reminds anglers to protect Upper Red Lake and all Minnesota waters from aquatic invasive species by cleaning and draining watercraft and equipment, and putting unwanted bait in the trash. A decontamination station is available at the Tamarac River Big Bog Public Water Access, referred to locally as Homestead Park.