What a Minnesota Spearing License Covers
A spearing license in Minnesota permits you to take fish using a spear, gig, or similar hand-held implement. It is separate from a regular fishing license and required in addition to it — you cannot spear legally with only a standard fishing license. The license covers spearing in public waters during open seasons for species the Department of Natural Resources allows you to take this way.
Spearing is legal year-round for certain rough fish like carp, suckers, and dogfish in most Minnesota waters. For game fish like northern pike and walleye, spearing is restricted to specific seasons and waters — typically winter under the ice in designated lakes. The spearing license itself does not tell you which species you can take or when; that information comes from the current Minnesota fishing regulations, which change annually.
You can purchase a spearing license from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) online, by phone, or through licensed vendors across the state. The license is valid for one calendar year from the date of purchase.
Key Takeaways
- A spearing license is required in addition to a regular fishing license and costs less than $20 for most residents.
- Spearing rough fish like carp and suckers is open year-round in most public waters, but game fish spearing is limited to specific seasons and lakes listed in the DNR regulations.
- You can buy a spearing license online through the DNR website, by phone at the DNR license center, or at sporting goods stores and bait shops that sell fishing licenses.
- The regulations booklet published by the DNR each year lists which waters allow spearing, which species are legal to take, and the exact dates seasons open and close.
Who Needs a Spearing License
Any person age 16 or older who wants to spear fish in Minnesota public waters must have a valid spearing license. Residents and non-residents both need one. Children under 16 may spear under the direct supervision of a licensed adult, but they do not need their own license.
If you hold a valid Minnesota fishing license, you already have permission to fish by rod and reel. The spearing license is an add-on that gives you permission to use a spear instead. You must carry both licenses with you while spearing.
Cost and Where to Buy
A one-year spearing license for a Minnesota resident costs less than $20. Non-resident licenses cost more — typically in the $30 to $40 range, though the exact amount varies by year. You can verify the current price on the DNR website or by calling the DNR license center.
Purchase options include the DNR website (mndnr.gov), the DNR license center by phone, or any of the hundreds of licensed vendors statewide — bait and tackle shops, sporting goods stores, and some grocery stores and gas stations. Online purchase is the fastest route if you need the license immediately; it is issued as a PDF you can print or show on your phone. Vendors typically issue licenses on the spot.
Spearing Seasons and Species by Water Type
Rough fish — carp, suckers, bowfin, and dogfish — can be speared year-round in most Minnesota public waters with no closed season. This makes rough fish spearing the most accessible option for someone new to the method, since you do not have to wait for a specific season to open.
Game fish spearing is much more restricted. Northern pike and walleye can be speared only during winter (under the ice) in specific lakes designated by the DNR. These lakes change from year to year, and the exact opening and closing dates vary. Some lakes open in December, others in January; some close in February, others in March. The current list of open waters and dates appears in the Minnesota Fishing Regulations booklet published each year by the DNR.
Muskellunge (musky) spearing is legal in a small number of designated waters during winter, but opportunities are limited. Largemouth and smallmouth bass cannot be speared at any time in Minnesota.
How to Find Current Regulations and Open Waters
The Minnesota DNR publishes a new Fishing Regulations booklet each year, usually available by late February or early March. This booklet lists every lake and river section where spearing is allowed, which species you can take in each water, and the exact dates each season opens and closes. You can download the PDF from mndnr.gov or pick up a printed copy at any DNR office, license vendor, or bait shop.
The DNR website also has an interactive map tool where you can search by lake name or location to see what fishing methods are allowed and what species are in season. This tool is updated as regulations change and is often faster than flipping through the booklet if you are researching a specific lake.
Regulations can change from one year to the next, so do not rely on a booklet from a previous year. Always check the current year's rules before you go spearing.
What You Must Carry While Spearing
You must have both your spearing license and your regular fishing license with you at all times while spearing. Both must be valid and current. If you are checked by a conservation officer and cannot produce either license, you can be cited for fishing without a license.
You should also carry a copy of the current year's Fishing Regulations booklet or have the DNR regulations app on your phone so you can verify that the water you are in and the species you are targeting are legal to spear on that date. A conservation officer may ask you to show that you know the rules for the water you are fishing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a spearing license if I already have a regular fishing license?
Yes. A regular fishing license covers rod and reel fishing only. To spear, you must buy a separate spearing license in addition to your fishing license. You must carry both licenses with you.
Can I spear walleye in Minnesota?
Only in specific lakes during winter (under the ice), and only during the dates listed in the current year's Fishing Regulations booklet. Not all lakes allow walleye spearing, and seasons vary by lake. Check the regulations before you go.
What if I spear a fish that turns out to be illegal to take?
You must immediately release it unharmed if possible. Keeping an illegal fish can result in a citation. If you are unsure whether a species is legal in the water you are fishing, do not spear it — check the regulations first.
How long is a spearing license valid?
A spearing license is valid for one calendar year from the date you purchase it. If you buy it in March, it expires December 31 of that year. If you buy it in December, it expires December 31 of the following year.
Can children spear fish in Minnesota?
Children under 16 can spear under the direct supervision of a licensed adult but do not need their own spearing license. The supervising adult must have both a valid fishing license and a valid spearing license.