Open Water Spearing & Netting

A spear is defined as a pole tipped with a minimum of three barbed tines which are a minimum of three inches (3") long and each tine having a barb extending perpendicular which is greater than 1/8 inch.

Except while setting gillnets or fyke nets, members may not possess any other fish harvesting devices while spearing.

Permits: Members must possess a valid open water spearing permit and tribal ID when spearing and abide by the requirements of that permit. Each tribe determines how it will issue spearing permits. Generally, permits are issued on a “first come, first served” basis during the day at tribal conservation departments or registration stations. At night, many tribes allow remaining available permits to be issued at the designated boat landing. Also, some tribes may issue spearing permits to members of other tribes. 

Open Seasons: Open water spearing is generally available from ice out to ice in; however, your tribe may close a season if a quota is reached while using a quota management system. Tribes open only certain lakes to spearing each night. Check with your tribe to determine what lakes you may spear for which species each night.

Spearing Hours: There are generally no set times that spearing must begin or end. However, a monitoring crew must be present at the designated boat landing, or you must have a valid alternative monitoring permit, before spearing can begin. Some tribes may designate specific end times, check with your tribe to see if this applies to you.

Locations: You may only spear on a lake or designated stream segment for which you have a valid spearing permit. You must enter and exit a body of water only at designated boat landings. You may exit a body of water at another location in dangerous weather conditions or for your safety. 

Monitoring: You must return to your designated landing, or designated alternative monitoring location, to have your fish counted and identified. All fish will be counted and identified as to species, and a sample will be measured on each lake each night. If you have not harvested any fish, you must still return to the landing or monitoring location to turn in your permit.

Bag Limits: Members must abide by the daily bag limit listed on their spearing permit. Daily bag limits for walleye and muskellunge may not exceed the remaining respective tribal quota for the designated body of water.

No member may possess any other fish harvesting device while engaged in netting, except while setting gillnets or fyke nets members may also possess a spear or gear for open water hook and line fishing, snagging, or setlines.

Permits: Members must possess a valid netting permit and tribal ID when netting and abide by the requirements of that permit. Each tribe determines how it will issue netting permits. Generally, permits are issued on a “first come, first served” basis during the day at tribal conservation departments or registration stations. At night, many tribes allow remaining available permits to be issued at the designated boat landing. 

Open Seasons: Netting, other than gillnetting, is generally available year around. Gillnetting is generally only open June 1 to March 1. Your tribe may also close a season if a quota is reached while using a quota management system. Check with your tribe to determine what lakes you may net for which species each night.

Netting Hours: There are no set times that netting must begin or end. However, a monitoring crew must be present at the designated boat landing when lifting nets. 

Locations: You may only net on a lake or designated stream segment for which you have a valid netting permit. Gillnets may only be used on lakes 1000 acres or larger. You must enter and exit a body of water only at designated boat landings. You may exit a body of water at another location in dangerous weather conditions or for your safety. 

Gear: Fyke nets must have a metal or plastic tag, stamped or engraved with the member's fishing identification number, attached to it. Fyke nets must also be marked with a buoy, visible from shore, and/or an anchor flag. The length and mesh size of a gillnet may not exceed the limits listed on the member's permit. Gillnets must be marked with two white flags on the inside of the net and one white flag on the outside and have an identification tag attached to each flagpole. Each gillnet must be lifted at least two (2) times in each continuous 24-hour period.

Monitoring: You must return to your designated landing for monitoring after lifting nets. All fish will be counted and identified as to species, and a sample will be measured on each lake each night. If you have not harvested any fish, you must still return to the landing or monitoring location to turn in your permit.

Bag Limits: Members must abide by the daily bag limit listed on their netting permit. Daily bag limits for walleye and muskellunge may not exceed the remaining respective tribal quota for the designated body of water.

A spear is defined as a pole tipped with a minimum of three barbed tines which are a minimum of four-and-a-half inches (4 1/2") long and each tine having a barb extending perpendicular which is greater than 1/8 inch.

Members may not possess any other fish harvesting devices while spearing, except on Mille Lacs Lake where a member may possess a spear while setting a net.

Permits: Members must possess a valid open water spearing permit and tribal ID when spearing and abide by the requirements of that permit. Each tribe determines how it will issue spearing permits. Generally, permits are issued on a “first come, first served” basis during the day at tribal conservation departments, registration stations, or designated landings. 

Open Seasons: Open water spearing is generally available from ice out to ice in; however, your tribe may close a season if a quota is reached while using a quota management system. Tribes open only certain lakes to spearing each night. Check with your tribe to determine what lakes you may spear for which species each night.

Spearing Hours: There are no set times that spearing must begin or end. However, a monitoring crew must be present at the designated boat landing before spearing can begin. 

Locations: You may only spear on a lake for which you have a valid spearing permit. You must enter and exit a body of water only at designated boat landings. You may exit a body of water at another location in dangerous weather conditions or for your safety. 

Monitoring: You must return to your designated landing to have your fish counted and identified. All fish will be counted and identified as to species, and a sample will be measured on each lake each night. If you have not harvested any fish, you must still return to the landing to turn in your permit.

Bag Limits: Members must abide by the daily bag limit listed on their spearing permit. Daily bag limits for walleye and other species may not exceed the remaining respective tribal quota for the designated body of water.

Open-water spearing of muskellunge is not allowed on Mille Lacs Lake. 

No member may possess any other fish harvesting device while engaged in netting, except while setting any net on Mille Lacs Lake a member may possess a spear.

Permits: Members must possess a valid netting permit and tribal ID when netting and abide by the requirements of that permit. Each tribe determines how it will issue netting permits. Generally, permits are issued on a “first come, first served” basis during the day at tribal conservation departments, registration stations, or designated landing.

Open Seasons: Netting is generally available year around. Some lakes have more restrictive open seasons for certain species. Your tribe may also close a season if a quota is reached while using a quota management system. Check with your tribe to determine what lakes you may net for which species each night.

Netting Hours: There are no set times that netting must begin or end. However, a monitoring crew must be present at the designated boat landing when lifting nets. 

Locations: You may only net on a lake for which you have a valid netting permit. Gillnets may only be used on lakes 1000 acres or larger and certain other named lakes. You must enter and exit a body of water only at designated boat landings. You may exit a body of water at another location in dangerous weather conditions or for your safety. 

Gear: All nets must comply with marking and identification requirements. Generally, gillnets may not exceed a maximum length of 100 feet (100'), a maximum depth of four feet (4'), and a maximum bar size of one-and-three-quarters inches (1.75"). Gillnets must be marked with two white flags on the inside of the net and one white flag on the outside and have an identification tag attached to each flagpole. Each gillnet must be lifted at least two (2) times in each continuous 24 hour period.

Monitoring: You must return to your designated landing for monitoring after lifting nets. All fish will be counted and identified as to species, and a sample will be measured on each lake each night. If you have not harvested any fish, you must still return to the landing to turn in your permit.

Bag Limits: Members must abide by the daily bag limit listed on their netting permit. Daily bag limits for walleye and other species may not exceed the remaining respective tribal quota for the designated body of water.

Wisconsin 1837 & 1842:

• Season: Sturgeon may only be harvested from June 1 through March 1, unless you possess a special permit for spring spearing of a sturgeon. Lakes subject to a sturgeon quota have no seasonal restrictions.
• Bag Limits:
  • On lakes not subject to a quota, a limit of one (1) sturgeon per person per year may be taken (by all methods combined).
  • On lakes not subject to a quota, one (1) sturgeon may be harvested by spear or snagging prior to June 1 by all tribes combined.
  • On lakes with adequate population estimates and which are subject to a quota system*, there is a daily bag limit of three (3).
  • Within designated river and stream segments, two (2) sturgeon per year may be taken (by spearing and allowable nets) by all tribes combined. 

                         *Currently the only lake subject to a quota is Yellow Lake in Burnett County.

• Before you take a sturgeon on a non-quota lake or in a river or stream segment, be certain that the allowable sturgeon hasn’t already been harvested by someone else by contacting GLIFWC.
• All sturgeon harvested must be registered no later than 5:00 pm on the third working day after harvest. 

Minnesota 1837:

• Sturgeon may only be harvested on the St. Croix River below Taylors' Falls.
• The open season is June 1 through March 1.
• Members are limited to one (1) sturgeon per person per year, for all methods combined.
• All sturgeon harvested must be registered no later than 5:00 pm on the next working day after harvest.