Minnesota · USA
Jay Gould Lake
- Region
- Minnesota, USA
- Regulation zone
- Minnesota statewide regulations
Species in Jay Gould Lake
Black Crappie
Bluegill
Bowfin (dogfish)
Brown Bullhead
Green Sunfish- Hybrid Sunfish
Largemouth Bass
Northern Pike
Pumpkinseed
Rock Bass
Shorthead Redhorse
Smallmouth Bass
Walleye
White Sucker
Yellow Bullhead
Yellow Perch
Tap a species for Bump Board's full tactics guide.
Seasons & limits — Minnesota statewide regulations
| Species | Season | Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger (and their hybrid) | May 9, 2026 - Feb. 28, 2027 | 6 combined total (only 1 walleye over 20" in possession) | — |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass — statewide (Southern and North-central zones) | Catch-and-release only Mar. 1 - May 22, 2026; harvest season May 23, 2026 - Feb. 28, 2027 (smallmouth bass catch-and-release only Sept. 14, 2026 - Feb. 28, 2027) | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass | — |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass — Northeast Zone | Catch-and-release only Mar. 1 - May 8, 2026; harvest season May 9, 2026 - Feb. 28, 2027 | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass | — |
| Crappie (white or black and their hybrids) | Continuous | 10 combined total | — |
| Sunfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, green, orangespotted, northern, warmouth, and their hybrids) | Continuous | 20 combined total | — |
| Rock bass | Continuous | 30 | — |
| Perch | Continuous | 20 daily, 40 in possession | — |
| Bowfin, buffalo, carp, carpsuckers, freshwater drum, goldeye, redhorse, and suckers | Continuous | No limit | — |
| Bullhead | Continuous | 100 | — |
| Northern pike | May 9, 2026 - Feb. 28, 2027 | Northeast Zone: 2 (only 1 over 40" in possession; all from 30-40" must be immediately released). North-central Zone: 10 (not more than 2 over 26"; all from 22-26" must be immediately released). Southern Zone: 2 (minimum size 24") | — |
Always confirm regulations with the official state regulations before fishing — rules change, and waterbody-specific exceptions apply.
Waterbody-specific rules
- Location: Including connected Jay Gould Lake, Blackwater Reservoir, and Mississippi River upstream to the State Highway 6 and County Road 63 bridges, and downstream to the Pokegama dam
- Sunfish: Daily limit five.
More Minnesota lakes
Species: Minnesota state fisheries lake records, via the Bump Board dataset.