Minnesota Bill Passed Allows for Year-Round Bass Fishing Season
Keith Lusher 07.15.25

Minnesota anglers will soon have the opportunity for year-round bass fishing of largemouth and smallmouth bass following the passage of legislation that establishes a continuous open season for these popular sport fish. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jim Nash (R-Waconia), received broad bipartisan support and backing from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR), angling organizations, and the Student Angler Organization. The legislation amends Minnesota Statutes section 97C.395 to remove seasonal restrictions that previously limited bass fishing to the same schedule as walleye season.
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Under the previous regulations, bass fishing was only permitted from the Saturday two weeks prior to Memorial Day weekend through the last Sunday in February, leaving anglers without access to these species during spring months when many prefer to fish. The new year-round season will operate primarily as catch-and-release fishing during the traditional closed period. According to the DNR’s Bass Technical Team, catch-and-release angling will remain in effect for the first two weeks of the general fishing season throughout most of the state, with the northeast zone maintaining its existing harvest season that begins with the walleye opener.
Brad Parsons, DNR fisheries section manager, emphasized that bass populations in Minnesota are thriving and can support the expanded fishing opportunities. “Bass are doing quite well in this state,” Parsons said. “We see this as an opportunity to provide more angling experience with no biological risk.”
The DNR’s justification for the change points to strong biological evidence supporting the decision. Survey data shows that bass length frequencies have improved across the state, recruitment has remained stable, and abundance has been generally increasing. The agency noted that while individual nests can fail when bass are angled during spawning, such failures have not been shown to reduce overall bass recruitment.
Minnesota joins most other states in offering year-round bass fishing opportunities. According to the DNR’s Bass Technical Team, no other states maintain a closed season for bass except for the northern part of Maine.
The legislation serves multiple purposes beyond expanding angling opportunities. Nash cited the potential economic benefits for Minnesota’s resort industry, which has faced challenges in recent years. “The resort region has suffered in years past,” Nash explained. “Having the ability to go and angle for bass without a limitation of a season would be very helpful and beneficial for them.”
The change is also expected to boost youth participation in fishing. Jimmy Bell, president of the Student Angler Organization, noted that the year-round season will help high school fishing teams recruit new members before schools close for summer. “We’ve seen a huge increase in student angling in the state of Minnesota,” Bell said. “We’ve got to keep them engaged, and the way that you keep them engaged is giving them more opportunity.”
The DNR addressed potential enforcement concerns about anglers targeting walleye and pike during their closed seasons while ostensibly fishing for bass. However, the agency noted that anglers can already target these species out of season by fishing for perch or crappies, and that cooler water temperatures during the extended season would result in low release mortality for bass and unintended species.
The new regulations will take effect statewide, giving Minnesota anglers unprecedented access to largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing throughout the year while maintaining conservation measures to protect fish populations during critical spawning periods.