Anglers fishing for northern pike in Minnesota should know that the Department of Natural Resources is committed to reviewing all existing special regulations that went into effect last season.

Special regulations that are working well and contributing to maintenance of high quality pike fisheries. Some special regulations may be modified or eliminated in favor of the North Central Zone regulation where that regulation is a better fit.

Staff in the DNR’s Northwest Region have reviewed 37 lakes with special regulations for northern pike. Of those, 27 have shown improvement under special regulations, are providing high quality pike fisheries, and will be maintained.

Six lakes that have not responded well under special regulation are proposed to be dropped and would revert to the North Central Zone regulation. Four lakes are being proposed for a modification to the current special regulation.

All special regulations being dropped or modified will be posted at the public access site during the coming open water season. Public comments on these proposals can be submitted to the local area fisheries office anytime this summer or at public input meetings to be held next fall.

Lakes where special regulations are proposed to be dropped and revert to North Central Zone regulation are:

• Big Lake, Beltrami County, Bemidji Area Fisheries Office, 218-308-2339
• Elk Lake, Clearwater County, Bemidji Area Fisheries Office, 218-308-2339
• Ada Lake, Cass County, Walker Area Fisheries Office, 218-547-1683
• Ten Mile Lake, Cass County, Walker Area Fisheries Office, 218-547-1683
• Maud Lake, Becker County, Detroit Lakes Fisheries Office, 218-846-8292
• Eunice, Becker County, Detroit Lakes Fisheries Office, 218-846-8292

Lakes where special regulations are proposed to be modified:
• Upper Red Lake, Beltrami County, Bemidji Area Fisheries Office, 218-308-2339
• 8th, 9th & 10th Crow Wing lakes Hubbard County, Park Rapids Area Fisheries Office, 218-732-4153

Learn more about the pike regulations at mndnr.gov/pike.