SF 3031

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 07/15/2025 11:02 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to game and fish; providing for a continuous open season for taking
largemouth and smallmouth bass; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section
97C.395.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97C.395, is amended to read:

97C.395 OPEN SEASONS FOR ANGLING.

Subdivision 1.

Dates for certain species.

(a) The open seasons to take fish by angling
are as follows:

(1) for walleye, sauger, northern pike, new text begin and new text end muskellunge, deleted text begin largemouth bass, and smallmouth
bass, deleted text end the Saturday two weeks prior to the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through the
last Sunday in February;

(2) for brown trout, brook trout, lake trout, rainbow trout, and splake, between January
1 through October 31 as prescribed by the commissioner by rule except as provided in
section 97C.415, subdivision 2; and

(3) for salmon, as prescribed by the commissioner by rule.

(b) The commissioner shall close the season in areas of the state where fish are spawning
and closing the season will protect the resource.

Subd. 2.

Continuous season for certain species.

For new text begin largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, new text end
sunfish, white crappie, black crappie, yellow perch, channel catfish, rock bass, white bass,
yellow bass, burbot, cisco (tullibee), lake whitefish, common carp, and native rough fish,
the open season is continuous.