ST. PAUL, Minn. — Authorities are tightening walleye regulations for three lakes in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area but loosening them for another popular northern Minnesota lake.

The Department of Natural Resources announced the changes Monday as part of special regulations for nearly three dozen waters statewide that take effect March 1.

For Saganaga, Sea Gull and Gull lakes in Cook County, walleyes must be at least 17 inches long and the bag limit will be three instead of six. The change is meant to protect small walleyes in those lakes, which all lie partly in the BWCA.

But the DNR will relax size restrictions to give anglers more chances to keep walleyes from Lake Winnibigoshish. The protected slot there will be 18 to 23 inches, compared with the previous 17- to-26 inch slot.