The Department of Natural Resources is moving ahead with its plan to lower Minnesota’s walleye bag limit by putting its formal recommendation up for public feedback and possible legal review.
The agency hopes to make the change from six walleye to four, with the new limit to take effect March 1, 2027, said Brian Nerbonne, a DNR regional fisheries manager. The new rule also would reduce the overall limit for walleye someone can have in their possession from six to four and clarify border water regulations for all species.
“We are ready to move ahead,” Nerbonne told the Minnesota Star Tribune on Monday, Jan. 12, “and we think now is the time.”
Climate change, invasive species’ effect on habitat and advances in fish-finding technology are among the stressors on walleyes motivating the change, Nerbonne said.
“We are coming at this from a bunch of different angles,” he told the Minnesota Star Tribune. “We have excellent walleye fishing. We want to keep it that way.”
The DNR telegraphed its proposed change several years ago after the idea was rejected by the Legislature. The agency opted to internally make the regulation change, which has picked up steam in recent years.
The agency already solicited some public feedback last summer, through both a broad online survey and a targeted sampling of licensed anglers. Cutting the limit to four had 61% approval among about 3,000 respondents to the online survey, Nerbonne said. Some favored keeping the possession limit at six, while cutting the daily bag to four. The targeted survey also reflected support, he added.
The DNR again is soliciting public comment, through early March. An administrative judge will review all comments and could call a public hearing if there are enough requests, Nerbonne said.
