Subdivision 1. Open season. (a) The commissioner shall, by rule, prescribe the open season and open state waters for netting lake whitefish and ciscoes. The commissioner may open specific lakes and waters that are otherwise closed if the commissioner posts notice of the date and time in appropriate public places at least 48 hours before the open season begins.
(b) The commissioner may close specific lakes and waters that are otherwise open under this subdivision if the commissioner posts notice of the closing at a minimum of three sites on the shore of the waters, including all public water-access sites. Before closing waters under this paragraph, the commissioner shall determine that the closure is necessary to protect game fish populations.
Subd. 2. Restrictions. (a) Netting lake whitefish and ciscoes is subject to the restrictions in this subdivision.
(b) A person may not use:
(1) more than one net;
(2) a net more than 100 feet long; or
(3) a net more than three feet wide.
(c) The mesh size of the net may not be less than:
(1) 1-3/4 inches, stretch measure, for nets used to take ciscoes; and
(2) 3-1/2 inches, stretch measure, for all other nets.
(d) A net may not be set in water, including ice thickness, deeper than six feet.
(e) The commissioner may designate waters where nets may be set so that portions of the net extend into water deeper than six feet under conditions prescribed by the commissioner to protect game fish. A pole or stake must project at least two feet above the surface of the water or ice at one end of the net.
(f) A net may not be set within 50 feet of another net.
(g) A person may not have angling equipment in possession while netting lake whitefish or ciscoes.
Subd. 3. Fish may not be sold. Notwithstanding section 97C.391, subdivision 1, lake whitefish and ciscoes taken under this section may not be bought or sold.
Subd. 4. No limit on rough fish netted. Lake whitefish and ciscoes taken under this section may be taken and possessed without limit. Rough fish caught while netting may be retained. All other fish taken while netting must be returned to the water immediately.
1986 c 386 art 3 s 61; 1988 c 588 s 14; 1991 c 259 s 22; 1993 c 231 s 63-65; 1Sp2021 c 6 art 2 s 77
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 97 - 102 — Game And Fish
Section 97C.001 — Experimental Waters.
Section 97C.005 — Special Management Waters.
Section 97C.007 — Northern Pike Experimental And Special Management Waters.
Section 97C.02 — Acquiring Critical Aquatic Habitat.
Section 97C.021 — Angling Restricted In Trout Streams.
Section 97C.025 — Fishing And Motorboats Restricted In Certain Areas.
Section 97C.035 — Endangered Fish Populations.
Section 97C.041 — Commissioner May Remove Rough Fish And Catfish.
Section 97C.045 — Removing Rough Fish From Boundary Waters.
Section 97C.051 — Special Permits To Use Piscicides.
Section 97C.055 — Removing Dead Fish.
Section 97C.061 — Dragging Weight Or Anchor Through Vegetation.
Section 97C.065 — Pollutants In Waters.
Section 97C.071 — Structures In Public Waters.
Section 97C.075 — Fish Screens In Flowing Waters.
Section 97C.077 — Fish Screens In Lakes.
Section 97C.081 — Fishing Contests.
Section 97C.085 — Permit Required For Tagging Fish.
Section 97C.087 — Special Fish Management Tags.
Section 97C.201 — State Fish Stocking Prohibited Without Public Access.
Section 97C.203 — Exchanging Fish Or Wildlife Resources; Disposal Of State Hatchery Products.
Section 97C.205 — Transporting And Stocking Fish.
Section 97C.211 — Private Fish Hatcheries.
Section 97C.215 — Special Permits For United States Agents.
Section 97C.301 — License Required To Take Fish.
Section 97C.303 — Conservation Angling License.
Section 97C.305 — Trout-and-salmon Stamp Validation.
Section 97C.311 — Lake Superior Fishing-guide License.
Section 97C.315 — Angling Lines And Hooks.
Section 97C.317 — Fishing By Party.
Section 97C.321 — Restrictions On Unattended Lines.
Section 97C.325 — Restrictions On Taking Fish.
Section 97C.327 — Measuring Fish Length.
Section 97C.331 — Snagging Fish Prohibited.
Section 97C.335 — Use Of Artificial Lights To Take Fish Prohibited.
Section 97C.341 — Certain Aquatic Life Prohibited For Bait.
Section 97C.342 — Disease-free Certification; Frozen Or Dead Fish Bait.
Section 97C.345 — Restrictions On Using And Possessing Nets And Spears.
Section 97C.351 — Fish Nets; Tags.
Section 97C.355 — Shelters On Ice; Dark Houses And Fish Houses.
Section 97C.361 — Restrictions On Fish Houses And Dark Houses In Boundary Waters Canoe Area.
Section 97C.371 — Spearing Fish.
Section 97C.375 — Taking Rough Fish By Spearing.
Section 97C.376 — Bow Fishing.
Section 97C.381 — Harpooning Rough Fish.
Section 97C.385 — Commissioner's Authority To Regulate Winter Fishing.
Section 97C.391 — Buying And Selling Fish.
Section 97C.395 — Open Seasons For Angling.
Section 97C.411 — Sturgeon And Paddlefish.
Section 97C.415 — Trout And Salmon.
Section 97C.417 — Reporting Invasive Carp.
Section 97C.501 — Minnow Licenses Required.
Section 97C.502 — Minnows And Leeches; Invasive Species Training Required.
Section 97C.511 — Minnow Seines.
Section 97C.515 — Imported Minnows.
Section 97C.521 — Transporting Carp Fingerlings Prohibited.
Section 97C.525 — Restrictions On Transporting Minnows.
Section 97C.611 — Turtle Species; Limits.
Section 97C.621 — Areas May Be Closed To Taking Turtles.
Section 97C.701 — Taking Mussels.
Section 97C.801 — Taking Rough Fish On Mississippi River.
Section 97C.805 — Netting Lake Whitefish And Ciscoes.
Section 97C.811 — Commercial Fishing In Inland Waters.
Section 97C.815 — Commercial Fishing Areas.
Section 97C.821 — Possessing, Selling, And Transporting Commercial Fish.
Section 97C.825 — Lake Of The Woods And Rainy Lake Fishing.
Section 97C.831 — Namakan And Sand Point Lakes; Commercial Fishing.
Section 97C.835 — Lake Superior Commercial Fishing.
Section 97C.836 — Lake Superior Lake Trout; Expanded Assessment Harvest.
Section 97C.841 — Apprentice License.
Section 97C.843 — Possession For Commercial Netting.
Section 97C.845 — Interference With Commercial Fishing.
Section 97C.851 — Commercial Fishing In International Waters; Resort Owners.
Section 97C.855 — Upper And Lower Red Lake And Nett Lake; Transportation, Sale, And Disposal.
Section 97C.861 — Fish Vendors; Requirements.