Yellowstone Lake Overview
Fishing Regulations in Yellowstone Lake
Special Fishing regulations: This lake has special fishing regulations that differ from statewide or border water regulations for those species identified below and take precedence. Regulations listed below are currently in place. Visit the fishing regulations page for links to upcoming regulations for specific lakes.
Special Waterbody Regulations
- Motor Trolling is allowed with up to 3 hooks, baits, or lures, per angler.
- Catch and release fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open year round unless otherwise noted.
Special Species Regulations
- Rock, yellow, and white bass: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
- Round goby: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a wdnr office.
- Rough fish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
- White perch: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a wdnr office.
- Catfish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
- Bowfin: Open All Year: Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only).
- Shortnose gar: Open All Year: Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only).
- Longnose gar: Open All Year: Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only).
- Shovelnose sturgeon: Closed: No fishing allowed.
- Ruffe: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a wdnr office.
- Panfish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25.
- Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass: May 4, 2024 to March 2, 2025: Daily combined bag limit of 2 fish for walleye, sauger and their hybrids 15”-18”, and largemouth and smallmouth bass 12”-15”.
- Muskellunge and hybrids: May 4, 2024 to December 31, 2024: The minimum length limit is 50” and the daily bag limit is 1.
- Northern pike: May 4, 2024 to March 2, 2025: Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only).
- Trout: See specific regulations: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/fishing/trout/.
- Walleye, sauger, and hybrids: May 4, 2024 to March 2, 2025: Daily combined bag limit of 2 fish for walleye, sauger and their hybrids 15”-18”, and largemouth and smallmouth bass 12”-15”.
- Bullheads: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
- Cisco and whitefish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
- Lake sturgeon: Closed: No fishing allowed.
- Paddlefish: Closed: No fishing allowed.
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Fish Species
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Yellowstone Lake Bluegill abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Yellowstone Lake Channel catfish abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Yellowstone Lake Crappie abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Yellowstone Lake Largemouth bass abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Yellowstone Lake Muskellunge abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.| Survey Year | Largest Fish (in) |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 20 |
| 2018 | 21 |
| 2015 | 20 |
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Yellowstone Lake Smallmouth bass abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Yellowstone Lake Walleye abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.| Survey Year | Largest Fish (in) |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 20 |
| 2018 | 21 |
| 2015 | 20 |
