Mille Lacs Lake Summer 2026 Fishing Regulations Released
March 5, 2026
Today the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) released the 2026 summer open water fishing regulations for Mille Lacs Lake walleye. Walleye regulations continue to relax and anglers will have the opportunity to be able to keep three walleye per angler per day. Mille Lacs is also a world class bass, northern pike and muskie lake.
Below is a summary of the Mille Lacs Lake open water regulations followed by the MNDNR press release. Please be sure to verify all information directly with MNDNR.
Walleye: Starting with the Minnesota Open Water Fishing Opener at 12:01am on Saturday, May 9, 2026 and continuing through Sunday, February 28, 2027, anglers can keep three walleyes over 17″. Of the three walleyes allowed in possession, only one can be over 20″. All other walleyes must be immediately released.
Smallmouth Bass: The Smallmouth Bass season is now continuously open on Mille Lacs. Smallmouths are catch-and-release through Friday, May 22, 2026, and from Monday, September 14, 2026 until late May 2027. The smallmouth bass angling season is open from Saturday, May 23, 2026 until Sunday, September 13, 2026; during the angling season all bass greater than 17 inches must be immediately released. The combined smallmouth and largemouth bass limit is three (3).
Largemouth Bass: The Largemouth Bass season is now continuously open on Mille Lacs. Largemouths are catch-and-release through Friday, May 22, 2026, and from Monday, March 1, 2027 until late May 2027. The largemouth bass angling season is open from Saturday, May 23, 2026 until Sunday, February 28, 2027; during the angling season all bass greater than 17 inches must be immediately released. The combined smallmouth and largemouth bass limit is three (3).
Northern Pike: All pike greater than 30 inches must be immediately released. From Saturday, May 9, 2026 through Wednesday, March 31, 2027 the possession limit is five (5). The spearing season lasts from Saturday, November 15, 2026 to Sunday, February 28, 2027.
Muskellunge: All muskie less than 54 inches must be immediately released. The season lasts from Saturday, June 6, 2026 to Monday, November 30, 2026. If night fishing for muskie between the hours of 10pm to 6am in June, July or August, anglers can only target with artificial lures or sucker minnows longer than 8 inches.
Tullibee (Cisco): The tullibee season is continuously open. Possession limit is five (5).
Yellow Perch: The perch season is continuously open. The daily and possession limit is five (5).
Burbot (Eelpout): All burbot must be immediately released.
Night Closures: From Monday, May 11, 2026 through Monday, August 31, 2026, night closures will be in effect on Mille Lacs. from 10pm to 6am. Night fishing is allowed starting Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
Night Closure Exceptions: Pike and muskie fishing – beginning Saturday, June 6, 2026 and with artificial lures or sucker minnows longer than 8 inches – is allowed at night. Bow fishing is also allowed at night so long as neither angling equipment nor anything other than non-game fish are in an angler’s possession.
We’re looking forward to the open water fishing season at The Red Door Resort. Watch our various social media channels for catch photos, lodging updates and relaxation opportunities. And remember that the north shore of Lake Mille Lacs is only two hours from the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro. Hope to see you soon!
The full MNDNR press release is copied below.
Current Mille Lacs Lake open water fishing regulations can be found here. Statewide Minnesota fishing regulation information can be found here.
Summaries of past Mille Lacs Open Water Fishing Regulations can be found using the links below:
2025 Mille Lacs Open Water Regulations
2024 Mille Lacs Open Water Regulations
2023 Mille Lacs Open Water Regulations
2022 Mille Lacs Open Water Regulations
2021 Mille Lacs Open Water Regulations
News release: Minnesota DNR keeps three-walleye limit for 2026 open water season on Mille Lacs Lake
March 5, 2026
Anglers on Mille Lacs Lake will have the opportunity to harvest three walleyes starting on the fishing opener on Saturday, May 9. Harvested walleyes must be 17 inches or greater, with only one over 20 inches.
“We are pleased to keep the three-walleye limit for the open water season that was in place late last summer through the ice fishing season,” said Brad Parsons, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources fisheries section manager. “We have heard from anglers that they want the opportunity to harvest walleye on Mille Lacs when the population allows, especially early in the open-water season. The lake’s continued health will offer that again this season.”
State-licensed anglers share the harvest on Mille Lacs with Ojibwe Tribes that retain fishing rights by treaty. To conserve the fishery, an annual harvest level is set through discussion and agreement between the state and the Tribal Nations, with each party setting regulations to stay within their share of the harvest. This year’s harvest level reflects a slight decline in the adult walleye population that was observed in last fall’s assessment netting. Harvest is set at 105,300 pounds for state-licensed anglers and 79,700 pounds for Tribal fishing. The state’s share of the harvest in 2025 was 113,600 pounds.
As was the case in 2025, this year’s agreement allows the state additional flexibility in managing fishing by state-licensed anglers. With uncertainty about how many anglers will fish the lake and how good the fishing will be, it is difficult for the state to precisely predict how many pounds of harvest will result from a particular fishing regulation. This additional flexibility means that, if the state’s harvest is higher than projected when setting the regulation, the state will be allowed to keep the walleye fishery open so long as it does not exceed its share of the annual harvest by 15%. The state will adjust regulations during the season if needed to prevent harvest from significantly exceeding its 105,300 pound share. These adjustments could include moving to catch and release only for a portion of the season, if needed. Any pounds over the state harvest share must be deducted from the state’s potential harvest the following year. The open-water walleye regulation for Mille Lacs Lake will be in place through Monday, Nov. 30.
Mille Lacs Lake continues to experience changes in water clarity and the effects of invasive species such as zebra mussels and spiny water fleas. State and Tribal biologists study the lake’s complex food web, managing harvests for the long-term sustainability of the lake.
The DNR reminds anglers to protect Mille Lacs Lake and all Minnesota waters from aquatic invasive species by cleaning and draining watercraft and equipment and disposing of unwanted bait in the trash. A decontamination station is available 24/7 at the Shaw-Bosh-Kung Bay public access on the west side of Mille Lacs Lake, about 8 miles south of Garrison.
Complete Mille Lacs Lake fishing regulations and regularly updated surveys that show state-licensed angler catches of walleye, northern pike and yellow perch are available on the Minnesota DNR website.
