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Bield:Fish
Fish stocking schedule

Minnesota fish stocking schedule 2026.

Stocking NowMinnesota Department of Natural Resources

Minnesota's walleye stocking program is one of the largest in the country — millions of fry and fingerlings are released annually to supplement natural reproduction in lakes statewide. The state also stocks Lake Superior tributaries with chinook and coho salmon.

Official source

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Stocking Report

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources publishes the authoritative Minnesota stocking schedule — Annual updates in Searchable database format. For this week's actual stocking locations, dates, and volumes, view the official report directly.

View official Minnesota stocking report

This page summarizes the Minnesota stocking program for planning purposes. The agency report is the authoritative source — verify before any trip.

Primary stocked species in Minnesota

Typical stocking pattern by species. Heavy fill marks primary stocking months; moderate fill marks possible stocking. Verify exact dates against the official report.

  • Rainbow TroutOncorhynchus mykiss
    JanJan — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesFebFeb — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesMarMar — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesAprApr — heavy stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesMayMay — heavy stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesJunJun — heavy stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesJulJul — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesAugAug — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesSepSep — heavy stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesOctOct — heavy stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesNovNov — moderate stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inchesDecDec — no stocking Rainbow Trout typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inches
    Typical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inches
  • Brown TroutSalmo trutta
    JanJan — no stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesFebFeb — no stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesMarMar — moderate stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesAprApr — heavy stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesMayMay — heavy stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesJunJun — heavy stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesJulJul — no stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesAugAug — no stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesSepSep — heavy stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesOctOct — heavy stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesNovNov — moderate stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inchesDecDec — no stocking Brown Trout typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inches
    Typical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inches
  • Brook TroutSalvelinus fontinalis
    JanJan — no stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableFebFeb — no stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableMarMar — moderate stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableAprApr — heavy stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableMayMay — heavy stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableJunJun — heavy stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableJulJul — no stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableAugAug — no stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableSepSep — heavy stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableOctOct — heavy stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableNovNov — moderate stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchableDecDec — no stocking Brook Trout typical size: 8–11 inch catchable
    Typical size: 8–11 inch catchable
  • Lake TroutSalvelinus namaycush
    JanJan — no stocking Lake Trout typical size: 4–6 inch fingerling primarily; some yearling stockingsFebFeb — no stocking Lake Trout typical size: 4–6 inch fingerling primarily; some yearling stockingsMarMar — no stocking Lake Trout typical size: 4–6 inch fingerling primarily; some yearling stockingsAprApr — heavy stocking Lake Trout typical size: 4–6 inch fingerling primarily; some yearling stockingsMayMay — heavy stocking Lake Trout typical size: 4–6 inch fingerling primarily; some yearling stockingsJunJun — heavy stocking Lake Trout typical size: 4–6 inch fingerling primarily; some yearling stockingsJulJul — no stocking Lake Trout typical size: 4–6 inch fingerling primarily; some yearling stockingsAugAug — no stocking Lake Trout typical size: 4–6 inch fingerling primarily; some yearling stockingsSepSep — heavy stocking Lake Trout typical size: 4–6 inch fingerling primarily; some yearling stockingsOctOct — heavy stocking Lake Trout typical size: 4–6 inch fingerling primarily; some yearling stockingsNovNov — moderate stocking Lake Trout typical size: 4–6 inch fingerling primarily; some yearling stockingsDecDec — no stocking Lake Trout typical size: 4–6 inch fingerling primarily; some yearling stockings
    Typical size: 4–6 inch fingerling primarily; some yearling stockings
  • Chinook & Coho SalmonOncorhynchus tshawytscha / O. kisutch
    JanJan — no stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltFebFeb — no stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltMarMar — no stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltAprApr — heavy stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltMayMay — heavy stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltJunJun — heavy stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltJulJul — no stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltAugAug — no stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltSepSep — heavy stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltOctOct — heavy stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltNovNov — no stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smoltDecDec — no stocking Chinook & Coho Salmon typical size: 3–6 inch smolt
    Typical size: 3–6 inch smolt
  • WalleyeSander vitreus
    JanJan — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingFebFeb — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingMarMar — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingAprApr — heavy stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingMayMay — heavy stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingJunJun — heavy stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingJulJul — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingAugAug — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingSepSep — heavy stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingOctOct — heavy stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingNovNov — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerlingDecDec — no stocking Walleye typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerling
    Typical size: 1–2 inch fry; 2–4 inch fingerling
  • MuskellungeEsox masquinongy
    JanJan — no stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingFebFeb — no stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingMarMar — no stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingAprApr — heavy stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingMayMay — heavy stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingJunJun — heavy stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingJulJul — no stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingAugAug — no stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingSepSep — heavy stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingOctOct — heavy stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingNovNov — no stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerlingDecDec — no stocking Muskellunge typical size: 8–12 inch fingerling
    Typical size: 8–12 inch fingerling

Notable Minnesota programs

  • Lake Superior Salmon Program
  • Driftless Trout Streams
  • Walleye Stocking
  • Mille Lacs Walleye

State hatchery system

Minnesota operates 9 state-run fish hatcheries supporting the stocking program.

Weekly stocking alerts for Minnesota.

Bield: Fish reads Minnesota Department of Natural Resources's stocking reports and alerts you when your saved waters are stocked. Set your county once and you'll know the day fish hit your home river.

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