SF 490

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/26/2021 09:40am

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; providing for catch-and-release bass fishing outside
the season; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 97C.395, subdivision 1.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 97C.395, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Dates for certain species.

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

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

(2) for lake trout, from January 1 to October 31;

(3) for the winter season for lake trout, brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, and
splake on all lakes located outside or partially within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area,
from January 15 to March 31;

(4) for the winter season for lake trout, brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, and
splake on all lakes located entirely within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, from January
1 to March 31;

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

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

(b) new text begin Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass may be taken through catch-and-release
fishing methods outside of the season prescribed under paragraph (a).
new text end

new text begin (c) new text end The commissioner shall close the season in areas of the state where fish are spawning
and closing the season will protect the resource.