Question about what you can fish now and what you can't

[Gopher_Guy]

I know Walleyes don't open for 6 weeks on inland water, bass are a few weeks after that at least as far as keeping them goes. Does that mean that you can't fish at all for bass or walleye (or northern, etc) on inland waters until the opener? I grew up in southern MN along the Miss, so the seasons were always open thanks to the border waters. We primarily fished the river so we never had to worry about fishing out of season.

I release every fish I catch, so I'm not worried about keeping anything that I wind up catching. I'm just curious if it's legal at all to be out there fishing for walleyes or bass before the official opener on inland waters. It's a dumb question but one I never really have needed an answer for before. Now that I live in the metro and there are so many fishing places accessible I'd like to know the answer to this question. Thanks!

[united jigsticker]

It IS ILLEGAL to target out-of-season species.

[Fisher Dave]

ACTUALLY .. the previous post is correct .. BUT .. it looks like you are in Hastings.. once you hit the st croix, mississippi confluence, border waters laws apply... walleyes are open now. (on the river)

[The_Duckslayer]

Quote:

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ACTUALLY .. the previous post is correct .. BUT .. it looks like you are in Hastings.. once you hit the st croix, mississippi confluence, border waters laws apply... walleyes are open now. (on the river)

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This got me to thinking... yeah I know we are in trouble now! So what happens if I am fishing on the ole Miss and on my way home just outside of Hooterville the warden pulls me over and sees that I have a couple of Walleyes. Is he going to beleive that I was fishing the Miss? Things that make ya go Hmmmm. Take care and N Joy the Hunt././Jimbo