MN DNR sets 5-fish bag limit for Upper Red Lake walleye this summer

BEMIDJI — The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced its bag limits for the open-water walleye fishing season on Upper Red Lake, setting it at a hearty five-fish limit.

Within the five fish limit that begins May 10, one walleye over 17 inches is allowed.

“Upper Red Lake female spawning walleye have been managed at a level that has resulted in a number of strong year classes recently,” said Edie Evarts, Bemidji area fisheries supervisor for the DNR. “The summer regulation is an opportunity for anglers to keep abundant young walleye while also maintaining the breeding fish at a level that continues to produce successful year classes.”

To continue producing the most successful year classes, enough female spawning walleye need to be present to produce lots of newly hatched walleye, or fry. The DNR says if there are too many spawning walleye present, they produce too many fry that don’t survive well because they are competing for a limited amount of food.

The regulation aims to keep the lake’s stock of female spawning walleye in an ideal range by focusing angler harvest on the abundant immature fish under 17 inches, so future numbers of spawning walleye are not higher than desired. The regulation also aims to make sure overall harvest does not exceed agreed-upon levels.

“We now have 20 years of data from managing the lake since the walleye fishery reopened in 2006 and a good idea of the impact of fishing regulations from our annual angler creel surveys,” Evarts said.

Walleye management on Red Lake is a collaborative effort between the Red Lake Nation and the Minnesota DNR, governed by a joint harvest plan last revised in 2015.

Winter harvest regulations for 2025-26 on Upper Red will be set after reviewing summer harvest levels and completing the fall assessment netting.