Can you still go fishing before the season opener?

Question

I'm planning a trip up to Alexandria, MN before the fishing openers in mid-May. Is it still okay to fish? Or can we fish but just not keep anything we catch?

Answer 1

Closed fishing season is pretty self-explanatory. Go south. Maybe book a trip to Mexico for monster largemouth bass or go fish the spawn in East Texas or Florida.
Works for me.

Answer 2

This is a question for the Fishing and Hunting Dept. for the state you are planning on fishing. If there is a fishing season then I would venture to say that no you can not fish before the opener.

Answer 3

Your best bet is consult the pamphlet you get when you purchase
your fishing license, or access the state's fish comission on-line
and check out their rules.

Many states in the Northeast have "special regulations"
that permit catch and release fishing on certain bodies of water
(mostly streams and rivers) prior to opening day.
The majority of these rules apply to trout and specify whether it is fly-fishing only or if artificial lures are permitted.

Best bet is still to check the regulations

Answer 4

It is illegal to fish outside the season and you can be punished by having your equipment, even your vehicle, confiscated as well as a heavy fine and possible jail term. Each juristiction is different but in general, don't do it because it's not worth the penelties. The off season is there to allow the fish to reproduce and to give them time to recover before we start catching them again.

Answer 5

Only if you are a biologist working with the Dept. of Natural Resources, and only in official capacity while doing fish counts.
Everyone else has to wait.
Sometimes it seems like forever.

Answer 6

you can do whatever you want but don't get caugth