1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to natural resources; providing for catch-and-release bass fishing outside 
1.3 	the season;amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 97C.395, subdivision 1.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 97C.395, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.6 		Subdivision 1.Dates for certain species. (a) The open seasons to take fish by angling 
1.7 	are as follows:
1.8 	(1) for walleye, sauger, northern pike, muskellunge, largemouth bass, and smallmouth 
1.9 	bass, the Saturday two weeks prior to the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend to the last 
1.10 	Sunday in February;
1.11 	(2) for lake trout, from January 1 to October 31;
1.12 	(3) for the winter season for lake trout, brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, and 
1.13 	splake on all lakes located outside or partially within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, 
1.14 	from January 15 to March 31;
1.15 	(4) for the winter season for lake trout, brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, and 
1.16 	splake on all lakes located entirely within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, from January 
1.17 	1 to March 31;
1.18 	(5) for brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, and splake, between January 1 to October 
1.19 	31 as prescribed by the commissioner by rule except as provided in section 97C.415, 
1.20 	subdivision 2; and
1.21 	(6) for salmon, as prescribed by the commissioner by rule.
2.1 	(b) Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass may be taken by catch-and-release fishing 
2.2 	methods outside the season prescribed under paragraph (a).
2.3 	(c) The commissioner shall close the season in areas of the state where fish are spawning 
2.4 	and closing the season will protect the resource.