According to the DNR Lake Finder, Minnesota has just one Snail Lake -- in Ramsey County -- so this must be it. Here's a catch from 1913. (Photo courtesy mnhs.org) FISHERMEN NEED TO
KNOW THE GAME LAWS

Many Provisions Relating to Season, Sale and Methods Bewilder Vacationists SYNOPSIS IS PRESENTED Season for Black Bass Starts on May 29 – All Fish Can Be Caught After That. Vacationists who come to Minnesota from other states oftentimes are bewildered as to the laws relating to the game and fish. For the fishermen, the following information will be well to keep in mind: The trout season opens April 15 and lasts through August 31. Black, gray or Oswego bass can be caught, starting may 29, and continuing to the following March 1. Pike, muskallonge, crappies, perch, sunfish, catfish and sturgeon can be caught all months of the year except March and April. (This does not apply to the Minneapolis lakes, where all fishing is prohibited until May 29). The following synopsis, prepared by the Game and Fish commissioner, will prove helpful, since it gives in a few words the things that are unlawful so far as both game and fish are concerned: IT IS UNLAWFUL – To kill harmless birds. To hunt deer with dogs. To fish with more than one line. To fish within 100 feet of a fishway, dam or state fish hatchery. To break or destroy bird's nests or eggs. To place or receive game in cold storage. To hunt on land of another without permission. To wantonly waste or destroy game birds, animals or fish. To sell fish caught in lakes of Hennepin, Ramsey or St. Louis counties. To ship (except as baggage) brook trout, black, gray or Oswego bass. To obstruct the commission or its agents while gathering fish spawn. To carry guns in training dogs during close season on lands frequented by game birds. To deposit sawdust or refuse in waters planted by commission or where fish abound. To retain game more than five days after close of season unless tagged by commission. To hunt or carry firearms in state parks or forest reserves or to hunt in game refuges. To use traps, snares, artificial lights, nets, bird lime, set guns to kill game animals or birds. To serve bass, wild trout (except lake trout) or any kind of game in hotels or restaurants. To use the hunting license of another person – minimum penalty $50 – or use another's shipping coupon. To kill any game birds or animals in a way other than by shooting them with a gun held to the shoulder. To take fish in any other manner than by angling with hook and line, except that pickerel, suckers, redhorse, carp and bullheads may be speared. To use sink boats, floating batteries, sunken boxes, tubs or floating blinds when shooting, or to shoot waterfowl from motor boats, or on the open water outside natural growth of vegetation. The best method of assisting the State Game and Fish commission is in the organization of local game and fish protective associations, the members of which are pledged to promote manly sportsmanship, and to co-operate with the officers of the commission in enforcement of the laws. GAME LIMITS. Moose. One male antlered moose (not to be shipped out of the state unless mounted). Deer. Resident or non-resident of state, one deer. Every hunter must have a Big Game License. Game Birds. One day's bag, 10 birds of all varieties except ducks; 30 allowed in possession; duck, 15 in one day and 45 in possession. Non-resident allowed to ship 25 game birds to place of residence; resident, 45 birds, in 3 shipments of 15 each. Fish. Limit of black bass or wall-eyed pike, 15 in one day; crappies or trout of any variety, 25 in one day, unlawful to have more than 25 black bass in possession; no limit on other varieties. Non-resident may take 50 pounds with him to place of residence. No license required of resident for hook and line fishing. Non-resident license fee, $1 procured of game and fish commissioner, a county auditor, or local game warden. SALE OF FISH and GAME. Sale of Game. Prohibited at all times. It is an offense to sell, offer to sell or to buy game. Sale of Fish. Allowed during open season, except that sale of brook trout and bass is prohibited. Sale of pike from waters stocked by commission is unlawful. Sale of sunfish, perch and crappies from stocked lakes is prohibited at discretion of commission. Size of Fish Allowed to Be Taken. Pike, 14 inches in length or one pound, round weight; lake trout, two pounds, round weight or white fish, 2½ pounds round weight; black, gray or Oswego bass, nine inches in length; muskallonge, 30 inches in length; other fish except rock bass, sunfish and bullheads, six inches in length.

These anglers had their way with the "wall-eyed pike" in Crow Wing County's Whitefish Lake in 1917. (Photo courtesy mnhs.org)