Submitted photo Martin Luther College student Samuel Engel holds a 30-inch walleye he caught ice fishing on the Minnesota River at Minnecon Park in March 2023. Engel said the fish was too big for his ice fishing hole so he had to drill a second hole in the ice to get the fish out of the river. Engel released the fish, which he estimated to weigh about 13 pounds.

NEW ULM — The DNR established daily and possession limits for the new fishing license year beginning March 1.

For yellow bass, the limit this this game fish is set at 30, which is a combined limit between yellow bass and white bass, because many anglers may not be able to tell the difference between them. In some instances where yellow bass are proliferating, special regulations with higher bag limits may be used.

The Minnesota DNR added limits on whitefish, cisco and burbot (eelpout). There is no harvest allowed for American eel, reflecting their rare status and need for protection.

New Ulm fishing enthusiast Scott Sparlin said eels are netted for Asian fish markets as a valuable delicacy.

Sparlin said he caught a lot of walleyes and sauger, a fish that resembles walleye, near the Minnecon Park Minnesota River access this winter.

“I was out all winter on the Minnesota River fishing. There were lots of holes drilled at river accesses near Minnecon Park and near the Highway 4 bridge near Fort Ridgely. I don’t remember seeing such good ice fishing. It was phenomenal from ice up to the end of the season (Feb. 23), “ he said.

Sparlin said he heard reports of northerns and walleye being caught this winter near the Highway 4 bridge.

He said he kept and ate a number of the fish he caught on the river.

Sparlin said the Minnesota River was running so clear this winter, he was able to see fish in his ice fishing holes.

Francis Rieger, owner of R & R Bait & Tackle of New Ulm the river draws tourism to New Ulm.

“It brings a lot of people to town. People came into the bait shop and said they got some really nice fish. Just about everybody was getting their walleye limits here,” he said.

Rieger said fishing in Clear Lake south of New Ulm is rebounding thanks to Department of Natural Resources (DNR) efforts.

He said DNR regulations have been successful because fish samples are taken before regulations are made.

“They put in lots of seven to 11-inch perch, which are good eating size. The DNR also put northerns in Clear Lake south of New Ulm. There are also crappies in that lake,” he said.”

Rieger said Lake Hanska walleye fishing has improved and Wellner-Hageman Reservoir near Comfrey and Sanborn produced a good number of walleyes and crappies lately.

Also known as Mound Creek Reservoir, the 70-acre lake produced six species during DNR sampling. The most abundant fish were white sucker, bluegill, black crappie, walleye, yellow perch and green sunfish.

The DNR predicts bluegill angling should be good, if not excellent on Wellner-Hageman over the next few years.

For more information, visit the Minnesota DNR website at mndnr.gov/fishing.

Printed copies are available where Minnesota fishing licenses are sold.