A 2012 Legislative change in fishing regulations will allow winter stream trout fishing on all lakes entirely within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) to open earlier, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Stream trout angling will open Dec. 29 and close on March 31, 2013, for all lakes entirely within the BWCAW boundary. This is the same as the lake trout season for lakes within the BWCAW.
Stream trout are defined as splake, brook, brown and rainbow trout. The possession limit remains unchanged, at five, with not more than three fish longer than 16 inches.
The 2012 Minnesota Fishing Regulations handbook was printed prior to this rule change. Stream trout anglers should note the dates on page 28 are incorrect for lakes within the BWCAW. The dates for winter lake trout and stream trout fishing in lakes outside or partially outside the BWCAW are correctly listed as Jan. 12, 2013 - March 31, 2013.
For more information about lake or stream trout fishing in Minnesota, see the most current version of the handbook online at www.mndnr.gov/regulations or visit www.mndnr.gov/fishing/trout_lakes.
