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Minnesota DNR Cuts Yellow Perch Limit on Mille Lacs Lake
Yellow perch anglers on Mille Lacs Lake will face tighter limits beginning Monday, as the moves to rein in harvest and protect the lake’s long-term balance as the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources moves to rein in harvest and protect the lake’s long-term balance.
Under the new regulation, the daily and possession limit for yellow perch drops from 10 fish to five. The change takes effect Feb. 9 and will remain in place through Nov. 30, 2026.
DNR officials say the adjustment is needed to keep the state within its allotted share of the annual perch harvest while maintaining a healthy population. Yellow perch are not only a popular target for anglers but also play a key role in the lake’s ecosystem as a primary forage species for walleye and other predators.
“Many anglers have enjoyed good perch fishing this winter on Mille Lacs Lake, even better than last winter,” said Brad Parsons, fisheries section manager for the Minnesota DNR. “Our perch harvest each of the last two years has been more than double what it was in earlier years going back to 2012.”
According to the DNR, the state’s perch harvest has surged in recent seasons as angler success increased. For 2026, Minnesota’s share of the allowable perch harvest is set at 36,500 pounds. As of Jan. 18, anglers had already harvested more than 17,000 pounds from the lake.
Harvest levels on Mille Lacs are set cooperatively each year by the state and Ojibwe Tribes, which retain treaty fishing rights on the lake. The shared management approach is designed to ensure the combined harvest remains within biologically sustainable limits.
While the DNR says the perch fishery remains healthy, officials stress that proactive adjustments are necessary when harvest accelerates.
“The perch population being high enough to draw significant angler interest is a positive sign for the health of the lake,” Parsons said. “At the same time, it’s important to manage harvest carefully so that balance is maintained for the future.”
Current Mille Lacs Lake regulations and updated harvest data are available through the Minnesota DNR’s website.
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