Rules & Regulations
Cast net laws in Minnesota
Permit-only — very narrowInformational only — this is not legal advice
Fishing regulations change, sometimes with little notice, and can vary further by county, water body, or season within a state. This page is a starting point for research, not a substitute for the law. Always verify current rules directly with your state's fish & wildlife agency or TakeMeFishing.org before you fish. BasicGear is not responsible for citations, fines, or gear seizures resulting from reliance on this page.
Last verified: 2026-07-08 — regulations are re-checked periodically; see the date above before assuming this is current.
Summary
Cast nets are legal only under an individual DNR permit, for gizzard shad specifically, on three named river stretches (Mississippi, Minnesota, St. Croix). It isn't a general baitfish tool statewide.
Size, mesh & licensing
- Max size
- 5 ft radius
- Mesh
- 3/8–5/8 in bar measure, monofilament only
- Water type
- Freshwater — three named river reaches only
- License
- MN fishing license plus a separate DNR cast-net permit (invasive-species training, DNR-tagged net, max 2 nets, season Jul 1–Nov 30)
Recommended BasicGear net
No recommendation — This isn't a general-purpose allowance — it requires an individual DNR permit, a DNR-tagged net, and use is limited to three named river stretches for gizzard shad only. Apply through Minnesota DNR before buying gear specifically for this.
Official source
Last verified: 2026-07-08
See all 50 states, or shop the cast net lineup for Minnesota.