Non Resident kids under 18 Do NOT need a fishing license of any sort in the BWaters, correct? 1st time I have taken my son (and his buddy and dad). They are 13 and 14. Should be a great trip!

The cut-off is actually age 16.


Under 16 = no license required, but they have to be with a licensed parent/guardian and they don't get their own bag limit. ie, any fish they harvest counts against the adult's bag limit. No licensed adult present = no fishing.

For $5, your kids under 16 can get their own bag limit and fish without the accompanying licensed parent.

That same $5 license is also required for all 16 and 17 year old non-residents.

Another option is the non-resident "family" license, which is different from the individual license in that the parents and all under 16 get their own limits.

Is the license requierment the same in Quetico/Ontario?

thegildedgopher: "they have to be with a licensed parent/guardian and they don't get their own bag limit. ie, any fish they harvest counts against the adult's bag limit. No licensed adult present = no fishing.

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I don't think this is correct. MN Fishing regulation handbook under "Who doesn't need a fishing license" listed residents under 16, and goes on to say "Anyone not requiring a license is allowed to keep a possession limit of fish."

THEGrandRapids: "

thegildedgopher: "they have to be with a licensed parent/guardian and they don't get their own bag limit. ie, any fish they harvest counts against the adult's bag limit. No licensed adult present = no fishing.


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I don't think this is correct. MN Fishing regulation handbook under "Who doesn't need a fishing license" listed residents under 16, and goes on to say "Anyone not requiring a license is allowed to keep a possession limit of fish.""

I see your point and the language is confusing— really that applies to MANY parts of Minnesota’s regs which is why I think there are so many questions that come up. But if you read a couple pages further, this issue is specifically addressed for non-resident youth on page 20 of this year’s regs.

I have been stopped by a MN CO-- and gopher is correct. Under 16 $5 license needed for added limits to those with legit adult license. 16-17 age need $5 license to fish legally period.

thegildedgopher: "

THEGrandRapids: "

thegildedgopher: "they have to be with a licensed parent/guardian and they don't get their own bag limit. ie, any fish they harvest counts against the adult's bag limit. No licensed adult present = no fishing.



"

I don't think this is correct. MN Fishing regulation handbook under "Who doesn't need a fishing license" listed residents under 16, and goes on to say "Anyone not requiring a license is allowed to keep a possession limit of fish.""

I see your point and the language is confusing— really that applies to MANY parts of Minnesota’s regs which is why I think there are so many questions that come up. But if you read a couple pages further, this issue is specifically addressed for non-resident youth on page 20 of this year’s regs.



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So if you're a resident you can keep fish if you're under 16 in any situation, and if you're a non-resident you must be with an adult who has a license and then you can only keep as many fish as the adult license holder can legally keep?

Growing up in mn w (under 16) we never had licenses and always kept fish. I saw plenty of CO's and they never said anything. I've been buying licenses for 16 yrs now, so maybe things changed?

Correct -- resident kids and non-resident kids have different rules in MN. They expect tourists to pay for the privilege of harvesting fish -- the NR youth license is only $5, that gets them their own limit. Otherwise if they're fishing on their parent's NR license the kid doesn't get a separate bag limit.

I think this is good policy. Otherwise Wisco Willy could bring his 15 year old over to Minnesota to harvest a limit of walleyes to feed the fam while camping, with zero licensing.