If I am reading it correctly, is it catch and release only on small mouth after 9/9 this year? We typically go mid September. It looks like the only species we can catch and eat would be pike, walleye and trout. Am I correct?

I would get a map out And read This

Look under inland waters and season limits.

Or you can call Jim at TGO because smallmouth bass are his favorite fish to catch.

Largemouth and smallmouth bass in the Northeast zone, north and east of US Hwy 53 from Duluth to International Falls and Pelican and Ash lakes in St. Louis County.
Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass 5/13/17 - 2/25/18 6 combined.

I read it as your fine to go if seasons don't change next year. They reverted a few years ago from the catch and release only up north.

Savage Voyageur: "I would get a map out And read This

Look under inland waters and season limits.

Or you can call Jim at TGO because smallmouth bass are his favorite fish to catch. "

TGO might liberate the limit because of his love for the smallmouth.

We will be on Seagull Lake on the Gunflint. The outfitter indicated small mouth was catch and release only after 9/9 this year. Is that not correct for Seagull?

ockycamper: "We will be on Seagull Lake on the Gunflint. The outfitter indicated small mouth was catch and release only after 9/9 this year. Is that not correct for Seagull?"

I think you can keep them? I think he is reading regs wrong? Somebody else see different?


info.dnr@state.mn.us -send them a email and they usually answer almost immediatly

There are indications for a catch and release season starting at that time but it applies to southern MN. Also the only special regs I found pertaining to seagull are for walleye.

seasons....

Here's what it says...
09/10/18 - 02/24/19 - Smallmouth Bass - 2018 Catch and Release season only - South and West of U.S. Hwy 53 from Duluth to International Falls except Pelican and Ash lakes in St. Louis County

05/12/18 - 02/24/19 - Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass - 2018 season -North and East of U.S. Hwy 53 from Duluth to International Falls and Pelican and Ash lakes in St. Louis County

Seagull is well NORTH and EAST of the boundaries for the catch and release zone. You will be fine.

I believe that the catch and release in the northern section was changed to catch and keep in 2017.

The Great Outdoors: "I believe that the catch and release in the northern section was changed to catch and keep in 2017."

That sounds about right. I wasn't sure either, so backtracked and found it changed in 2015. Time flies too fast it seemed like it just changed. It than went into detail on page 13.

MN. 2015 DNR Booklet - New Regulations for 2015
• New statewide 54” minimum length limit for muskellunge on inland waters
(page 13)

• Opened smallmouth bass to harvest in fall/winter in northeast Minnesota
(page 13)

I could be wrong, but didn't think it was in 2015???? (Possibly 2016???)
There was much confusion last summer (2017) as many customers asked if you could keep Bass after mid September.

One follow question. . .if you could come up the second, third or fourth week of September in the Seagull/Alpine area, which is best for fishing? (small mouth, bass, trout)

The Great Outdoors: "I could be wrong, but didn't think it was in 2015???? (Possibly 2016???)
There was much confusion last summer (2017) as many customers asked if you could keep Bass after mid September."

Pinetree is correct, the season did revert back to the old regulation of catch and keep all season back in 2015!!!
This is only in the northeast section of Minnesota.

ockycamper: "One follow question. . .if you could come up the second, third or fourth week of September in the Seagull/Alpine area, which is best for fishing? (small mouth, bass, trout)"

fishing in september can be a hit or miss , as far as lake trout goes the colder the water generally the shallower they are so the last week of sept. maybe best for lakers.

What about WAlleyes? How would last week of September look for them vs earlier in the month?

Last year we caught quite a few small mouth on Alpine second week of September, but only 1 walleye. Temps were in the 70's and one day in the 80's.