The following waters in the portions designated are closed to the taking of all fish during the periods specified to protect fish spawning areas. Look for signs at access sites and in the areas as noted. All dates are inclusive.
Additional closures or openings may be posted here up to 48 hours prior to the law taking effect.
Seasonal closures help protect fish when they are concentrated in areas during their spawning season. The number of spawning area closures is highest on years when winter persists longer than normal.
Current closures
Last update: Thursday, April 03, 2025 @ 09:37 am CDT UFN=Until Further Notice
Slide text left for complete information
| Name | Location | County | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Island River | Both sides of Highway 1 (T.62 R.12 S.23,26) | St Louis | April 23-May 13 |
| Beaver River | Portion upstream of Bear Island Lake (T.62 R.13 S.35) | St. Louis | April 23-May 13 |
| Birch River | Both sides of County Road 21 (T.61 R.13 S.26,27) | St. Louis | April 23-May 13 |
| Blackduck River | County Rd 32 north to Red Lake Reservation boundary | Beltrami | April 23-May 13 |
| Burntside River | Both sides of County Road 88 at bridge (T.63 R.13 S.26) | St. Louis | April 23-May 13 |
| Clearwater River | Below Clearwater Lake Dam for 900 feet | Clearwater | April 23-May 13 |
| Coburn Creek | State Highway 71 to Blackduck Lake T.151, R.32, S.11,12,13 | Beltrami | April 23-May 13 |
| Cross River (inlet to Gunflint Lake) | from the Gunflint Trail to Gunflint Lake | Cook | April 1-May 27 |
| Dead River | Downstream of County Highway 14 to Walker Lake T.134, R.40, S.2,3 | Otter Tail | April 23 -May 31 |
| Dittberner Creek | Lower tributary to Lake Miltona (T.130 R.38 S.14,15,23,24) | Douglas | April 15-May 31 |
| Everett Creek | Between Everett Lake and Twin Lakes (T.64 R.12 S.31; (T.64 R.13 S.36) | St. Louis | April 23-May 13 |
| Example Creek | Lower tributary to Lake Example T.129, R.35, S.34 | Pretend | April 15-May 31 |
| Jewett Lake | Southwest shore T.134, R.43, S.23 | Otter Tail | April 23-June 30 |
| Junco Creek | From the first log dam above County Road 57 downstream to Devil Track Lake, including Devil Track Lake within 300 yards of the mouth of the Junco River (T.62 R.1 S.21,28) | Cook | May 14-May 27 |
| Lake Le Homme Dieu | Perry Lang Bay (T.128 R.37 S.5) | Douglas | April 15-May 31 |
| Lake Maud | Southwest Bay | Becker | May 9-June 10 |
| Lake Miltona | Northwest Bay (T.130 R.38 S.23) | Douglas | April 15-May 31 |
| Little Gunflint-Little North channel | The channel between Little Gunflint and Little North Lakes, including Little Gunflint Lake within 300 yards of the channel mouth, and Little North Lake within 100 yards of the channel head (T.65 R.2 S.16). | Cook | April 1-May 31 |
| Maligne River (also known as Northern Light Rapids) | On the Ontario side of Saganaga Lake | Cook | April 1-May 31 |
| Mississippi River | Below Ottertail Power Dam to County 12 | Beltrami | April 23-May 13 |
| Moody's Creek | From County Road 432 upstream 1/2 mile | Itasca | April 9-June 30 |
| Pelican River | 500 feet upstream and 500 feet downstream from Dunton Locks Bridge between Muskrat Lake and Lake Sallie | Becker | April 23-May 21 |
| Pelican River | Below Bucks Mill Dam to Buck Lake and from Big Detroit Lake upstream to State Highway 34 | Becker | April 23-May 22 |
| Saganaga Falls | On the Minnesota‑Ontario border where the Granite River enters Saganaga Lake | Cook | April 1-May 31 |
| Sea Gull River | Sea Gull Lake through Gull Lake to Saganaga Lake approximately 1/3 north of the northern-most narrows, including all of Sag Narrows | Cook | April 1-May 27 |
| Shagawa River | Both sides of both road crossings at Winton (T.63 R.11 S.19; (T.63 R.12 S.24) | St. Louis, Lake | April 23-May 13 |
| Shotley Brook | State Highway 72 to Upper Red Lake | Beltrami | April 23-May 13 |
| Tamarac River | From Upper Red Lake upstream to Beltrami- Koochiching county line | Beltrami | April 23-May 13 |
| Toad River | Inlet to Big Pine Lake upstream to County Road 13 T.137, R.38, S.32 | Otter Tail | April 23-May 31 |
| Turtle River | Below Three Island Dam to Turtle River Lake | Beltrami | April 23-May 13 |
| Unnamed Creek | Flowage between Lake Ida and Lake Charlie (T.129 R.38 S.25,26,36) | Douglas | April 15-May 31 |
| Unnamed Stream | Between Big Sand Lake and Emma Lake (T.141, R.34, S.23) | Hubbard | April 30-UFN |