Metro area shore fishing guide
Within just a few miles of the IDS building or the State Capitol, you can catch crappie, catfish, walleye, sunfish, northern pike, muskellunge, bass, carp, and more.
You don't need a boat to catch these fish. Use this guide to learn about:
- Good shore fishing waters and Kids Fishing Ponds in the seven county metro area. Many of these lakes are close to downtown and close to your neighborhood. You can get to some of these lakes by bus, bicycle, or even walking. Many of these lakes and ponds are stocked annually by the Fishing in the Neighborhood Program with panfish.
- Catfish lakes.
- How to catch fish.
- Fish identification. Learn to recognize the most common species caught in Twin Cities lakes and rivers.
- Fishing equipment.
- Where to buy live bait.
- How to tie fishing knots.
Fishing licenses
- Minnesota fishing licenses - You need one before you can fish if you are age 16 or older. Buy them at any store that is a DNR license agent.
- Minnesota fishing regulations - Check them to know how many, and what size fish you are allowed to keep and other important information.
Note: The DNR has special fishing licenses for some people with physical, sensory, or mental disabilities. To see if you qualify, call the DNR Information Center [(651) 296-6157 or (888) MINNDNR; TTY: (651) 296-5484 or (800) 657-3929].
Are fish safe to eat?
Fish are not always safe to eat. Here is a general guide to eating fish caught from Twin Cities waters.
Lakes - Women of childbearing age and children, should eat only one meal per week of panfish, and one meal per month of walleye under 20 inches, northern pike under 30 inches and other species. Northern pike over 30 inches and walleye over 20 inches should not be eaten.
Other adults should not eat walleye, northern pike or other species more than once a week.
It is safe to eat bluegill, crappie, and other panfish.
Rivers - Women of child bearing age and children, should not eat any fish from Metro rivers.
Others should not eat any fish from these rivers more than once a month.
(Note: These are only general guidelines and are based on a more-detailed
report from the state Department of Health. For more information, call
(651)215-0950 or (800)657-3908 or check out fish
consumption advice 
online.)
Fishing from wheelchairs
Few metro areas in the country have as much wheelchair access to good fishing as the Twin Cities does.
The waters listed in this guide are rated on the following scale for people with physical disabilities:
- Excellent-Wheelchairs have complete and easy access to the water's edge. A fishing pier or deck is available.
- Fair-Hard, level grass or dirt bank leading to the water's edge. Depending on their ability, some wheelchair users may require help getting to the water.
- Poor-Steep or uneven shoreline is difficult to traverse in wheelchairs.
Retailers mentioned are included solely to inform anglers of popular options and not as an endorsement or recommendation by the DNR.
Illustrations by Jeff Tolbert
