Title Minnesota Statutes, Minnesota Statutes

97C.021 ANGLING RESTRICTED IN TROUT STREAMS. A person may only take fish from a designated trout stream during the open season for trout in the stream. History: 1986 c 386 art 3 s 5

97C.025 FISHING AND MOTORBOATS RESTRICTED IN CERTAIN AREAS. (a) The commissioner may prohibit or restrict the taking of fish or the operation of motorboats by posting waters that: (1) are designated as spawning beds or fish preserves; (2) are being used by the commissioner for fi…

97C.035 ENDANGERED FISH POPULATIONS. § Subdivision 1.Conditions. If the commissioner determines that fish are in danger of dying, or if waters will be restored with the use of piscicides, the commissioner may rescue the fish under subdivision 2 or allow taking of the fish under s…

97C.041 COMMISSIONER MAY REMOVE NATIVE ROUGH FISH, COMMON CARP, AND RAINBOW SMELT. The commissioner may take native rough fish, common carp, and rainbow smelt with seines, nets, and other devices. The commissioner may hire or contract persons, or issue permits, to take the fish. …

97C.045 REMOVING COMMON CARP AND NATIVE ROUGH FISH FROM BOUNDARY WATERS. The commissioner may enter into agreements with North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Iowa, relating to the removal of common carp and native rough fish in boundary waters. The agreements may include: (…

97C.051 SPECIAL PERMITS TO USE PISCICIDES. § Subdivision 1.Permit. (a) The commissioner may issue a special permit, without a fee, to apply piscicides to restore waters at the permittee's expense. The commissioner may by rule prescribe insurance requirements for permit applicants…

97C.055 REMOVING DEAD FISH. The commissioner shall remove and dispose of dead fish that accumulate in or upon the shores of public waters in quantities that are a public nuisance or are detrimental to game fish. History: 1986 c 386 art 3 s 12

97C.061 DRAGGING WEIGHT OR ANCHOR THROUGH VEGETATION. A person may not use a motorboat to drag an anchor or other weight through aquatic vegetation, except by commissioner's rule. History: 1986 c 386 art 3 s 13; 1991 c 259 s 23

97C.065 POLLUTANTS IN WATERS. A person may not dispose of any substance in state waters, or allow any substance to enter state waters, in quantities that injure or are detrimental to the propagation of wild animals or taint the flesh of wild animals. Each day of violation is a se…

97C.071 STRUCTURES IN PUBLIC WATERS. A person may not construct or maintain a dam or other obstruction, except a boat pier, in or over public waters without a permit from the commissioner. The commissioner may establish permit conditions for the construction or modification of a …

97C.075 FISH SCREENS IN FLOWING WATERS. A person may not obstruct a creek, stream, or river to prevent the passage of fish with a rack or screen without the permission of the commissioner. The person that erected the obstruction, or the owner of the land where the obstruction is …

97C.077 FISH SCREENS IN LAKES. § Subdivision 1.Lake in single county. If all or a major part of a navigable lake is located within a single county and has been stocked with fish by the United States government, the county board, in order to maintain fish in the lake and prevent t…

97C.081 FISHING CONTESTS. § Subdivision 1.Restrictions. A person may not conduct a fishing contest on waters except as provided in this section. § Subd. 2. [Repealed, 1Sp2011 c 2 art 5 s 70] § Subd. 3.Contests requiring permit. (a) Unless subdivision 3a applies, a person must hav…

97C.085 PERMIT REQUIRED FOR TAGGING FISH. A person may not tag or otherwise mark a live fish for identification without a permit from the commissioner, except for special fish management tags as authorized under section 97A.551. History: 1993 c 231 s 52; 1Sp2005 c 1 art 2 s 114

97C.087 SPECIAL FISH MANAGEMENT REGISTRATION. § Subdivision 1.Registration. If the commissioner determines it is necessary to require that a species of fish be registered, the commissioner shall prescribe, by rule, the species to be registered, registration procedures, and endors…

97C.201 STATE FISH STOCKING PROHIBITED WITHOUT PUBLIC ACCESS. The commissioner and state agencies may only stock fish in waters where there is public access. The commissioner may stock fish in any stream within privately owned lands where the public is granted free access to and …

97C.202 WATER-QUALITY MONITORING AT STATE FISH HATCHERIES. (a) The commissioner, in conjunction with the commissioners of health, agriculture, and the Pollution Control Agency, must test the source water at the state fish hatcheries located in the cities of Altura, Lanesboro, and…

97C.203 EXCHANGING FISH OR WILDLIFE RESOURCES; DISPOSAL OF STATE HATCHERY PRODUCTS. (a) The commissioner shall dispose of fish hatchery products or exchange fish or wildlife resources only after they have been tested for certifiable diseases. The testing must have been completed …

97C.205 TRANSPORTING AND STOCKING FISH. (a) Except on the water body where taken, a person may not transport a live fish in a quantity of water sufficient to keep the fish alive, unless the fish: (1) is being transported under an aquaculture license as authorized under sections 1…

97C.211 PRIVATE FISH HATCHERIES. § Subdivision 1.License required. A person may not operate a private fish hatchery without a private fish hatchery license. A private fish hatchery is a facility for raising fish, including minnows, for sale, stocking waters, angling, or processin…

97C.215 SPECIAL PERMITS FOR UNITED STATES AGENTS. The commissioner may issue a special permit, without a fee, to an authorized agent of the United States to conduct fish culture operations, rescue work, and related fishery operations. History: 1986 c 386 art 3 s 21

97C.301 LICENSE REQUIRED TO TAKE FISH. § Subdivision 1.Requirement. Unless exempted under section 97A.445, 97A.451, or 97A.465, subdivision 1, a person must have a license to take fish as provided in this section. § Subd. 2.Angling. A person may not take fish without an angling l…

97C.303 CONSERVATION ANGLING LICENSE. § Subdivision 1.Availability. The commissioner shall make available a conservation angling license according to this section. Conservation angling licenses shall be offered for resident individuals and resident married couples. § Subd. 2.Dail…

97C.305 TROUT-AND-SALMON STAMP VALIDATION. § Subdivision 1.Requirement. Except as provided in subdivision 2 or section 97A.405, subdivision 2, a person over age 18 and under age 65 required to possess an angling license must have a trout-and-salmon stamp validation to: (1) take f…

97C.311 LAKE SUPERIOR FISHING-GUIDE LICENSE. § Subdivision 1.License required. A person may not operate a charter boat and guide anglers on Lake Superior or the St. Louis River Estuary for compensation without a fishing guide license. For purposes of this subdivision and section …

97C.315 ANGLING LINES AND HOOKS. § Subdivision 1.Lines. An angler may not use more than one line, except that: (1) two lines may be used to take fish through the ice; (2) the commissioner may, by rule, authorize the use of two lines in areas designated by the commissioner in Lake…

97C.317 FISHING BY PARTY. While two or more persons are taking fish by angling as a party, the total number of fish taken and the total number of fish possessed by the party may not exceed the limit of the number of persons in the party that may take and possess fish by angling. …

97C.321 RESTRICTIONS ON UNATTENDED LINES. § Subdivision 1.General prohibition. A person may not take fish by angling with a set line or an unattended line except as provided in this section and rules adopted under the game and fish laws. § Subd. 2.Ice fishing. A person may use an…

97C.325 RESTRICTIONS ON TAKING FISH. (a) Except as specifically authorized, a person may not take fish with: (1) explosives, chemicals, drugs, poisons, lime, medicated bait, fish berries, or other similar substances; (2) substances or devices that kill, stun, or affect the nervou…

97C.327 MEASURING FISH LENGTH. For the purpose of determining compliance with size limits for fish in this chapter or in rules of the commissioner, the length of a fish must be measured from the tip of the nose or jaw, whichever is longer, to the farthest tip of the tail when ful…

97C.331 SNAGGING FISH PROHIBITED. § Subdivision 1.General prohibition. A person may not: (1) intentionally take fish by snagging; or (2) use a snag line, snag pole, snag hook, or cluster of fish hooks, designed to be placed in or drawn through the water to hook the body of a fish…

97C.335 USE OF ARTIFICIAL LIGHTS TO TAKE FISH PROHIBITED. (a) A person may not use artificial lights to lure or attract fish or to see fish in the water while spearing, except that while angling or spearing, a person may: (1) affix a lighted artificial bait with hooks attached to…

97C.341 CERTAIN AQUATIC LIFE PROHIBITED FOR BAIT. (a) A person may not use live minnows imported from outside of the state, game fish, goldfish, or carp for bait. Notwithstanding paragraphs (b) and (d), the commissioner may adopt rules to authorize the use of game fish eggs as ba…

97C.342 DISEASE-FREE CERTIFICATION; FROZEN OR DEAD FISH BAIT. § Subdivision 1.Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given: (1) "Water body" means waters identified by a unique Department of Natural Resources public water identification n…

97C.345 RESTRICTIONS ON USING AND POSSESSING NETS AND SPEARS. § Subdivision 1.When use prohibited. Except as specifically authorized, a person may not take fish with a spear from the third Monday in February to the Friday before the last Saturday in April and may not take fish wi…

97C.351 FISH NETS; TAGS. A person may not possess a fish net unless specifically authorized or a tag is attached bearing the name and address of the owner when the net is not in use and the name and address of the operator when the net is in use, as prescribed by the commissioner…

97C.355 SHELTERS ON ICE; DARK HOUSES AND FISH HOUSES. § Subdivision 1.Identification required. All shelters on the ice of state waters, except portable shelters under subdivision 2a but including dark houses and fish houses, must have: (1) the owner's name and address, (2) the ow…

97C.361 RESTRICTIONS ON FISH HOUSES AND DARK HOUSES IN BOUNDARY WATERS CANOE AREA. A person may only use a portable fish house or dark house within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. The house must be removed from the waters and collapsed or disassembled each night. The house may no…

97C.363 STORING GARBAGE AND OTHER WASTE ON ICE. § Subdivision 1.Prohibition. A person using a shelter, a motor vehicle, or any other conveyance on the ice of state waters may not deposit garbage, rubbish, cigarette filters, debris from fireworks, offal, the body of a dead animal,…

97C.371 SPEARING FISH. § Subdivision 1.Species allowed. Only common carp, native rough fish, catfish, lake whitefish, cisco (tullibee), and northern pike may be taken by spearing. § Subd. 2.Dark houses required for certain species. Catfish, lake whitefish, cisco (tullibee), and n…

97C.375 TAKING NATIVE ROUGH FISH AND COMMON CARP BY SPEARING. (a) A resident or nonresident may take native rough fish and common carp by spearing according to paragraph (b) and during the times, in waters, and in the manner prescribed by the commissioner. (b) Suckers may be take…

97C.376 BOW FISHING. § Subdivision 1.Season. (a) The regular bow-fishing season for residents and nonresidents is from May 1 through the last day in February at any time of the day. (b) The early bow-fishing season for residents and nonresidents is open only south of State Highwa…

97C.381 HARPOONING NATIVE ROUGH FISH. A resident or nonresident may use a rubber powered gun, spring gun, or compressed air gun to take native rough fish and common carp by harpooning. The harpoon must be fastened to a line not more than 20 feet long. The commissioner may prescri…

97C.385 COMMISSIONER'S AUTHORITY TO REGULATE WINTER FISHING. § Subdivision 1.Effect on summer angling season. If the commissioner closes the statutory open season for spearing a game fish or native rough fish species in any waters, the commissioner must, in the same rule, close t…

97C.391 BUYING AND SELLING FISH. § Subdivision 1.General restrictions. A person may not buy or sell fish taken from the waters of this state, except: (1) minnows; (2) common carp; (3) smelt taken from Lake Superior and rivers and streams that flow into Lake Superior; (4) fish tak…

97C.392 [Never effective, 2004 c 215 s 29; 2004 c 255 s 51]