Help,what are the rules when fishiing a river that borders 2 states?

[throttleplate]

I fished a river dam yesterday that makes up the border between minnesota and south dakota, fishing is legal for all speciaes in south dakota year round while minnesota is closed for certain species.

A fellow angler from south dakota told me that being these are boundary waters between 2 states that me with only the minnesota license was legally able to fish from the south dakota bank side from the dam to 300 yards downstream and also legal for me to keep the fish which minnesota has closed at this time of year even while fishing from the minnesota side.

 

I cannot find on the innerweb any rules about this. Anyone know the rules, @gimruis?

[gimruis]

You might have to be a little more specific on the river or border water @throttleplate. Many border waters shared between two states have specific regulations.   You can PM me if you want to avoid posting it publicly.

 

I used to fish Big Stone Lake years ago with just a MN resident angling license.  It always had a specific date in which it opened up, which, if I can remember correctly, was often in April sometime.  That was why we often went there, because it opened earlier than MN inland waters.

[Choporoz]

Most such waters are defined in the regs of one or both jurisdictions.   Sometimes it is easy-to-understand reciprocity.   Sometimes it is unnecessarily complicated.  

[Scott F]

On the Minnesota fishing regulations website, the rivers on the boundaries between North Dakota and Minnesota have year round open seasons for all species except for sturgeon. 
 

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fishing/regs.html?section=definitions&topic=inland

[slowworm]

I looked at the regs Scott F posted and it isn't immediately clear to me what the interstate waters are, but that may be lack of familiarity with the local geography.  If I was visiting for a week for fishing I would be unsure what it actually says.

 

Here in NH it is very clearly spelled out.

 

Interstate Waters - New Hampshire Freshwater Fishing | eRegulations

 

 

[TnRiver46]

I’d call and ask, interweb can easily lead people astray. And I’d probably ask two game wardens instead of just one 

[gimruis]

25 minutes ago, Scott F said:

On the Minnesota fishing regulations website, the rivers on the boundaries between North Dakota and Minnesota have year round open seasons for all species except for sturgeon. 

 

He's looking for info on a border water along South Dakota and Minnesota.  I presume the reason he's asking is to avoid having to buy a nonresident SD angling license and already has a nonresident MN angling license.

[casts_by_fly]

page 64 outlines all of the rules specific to the border waters, except license reciprocity.  Bag limits and season looks to be continuous (aka open) for most everything.

 

https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/regulations/fishing/fishing_regs.pdf?v=20240313-32&view=fit&view=fit&pagemode=bookmarks

 

 

page 58 outlines the license requirements.

 

What license do I need to fish border waters?

• Minnesota residents must have a Minnesota license.

• Residents of a state bordering that water must have their state’s license.

• Other nonresidents may purchase a Minnesota or the bordering state’s nonresident license.

 

Can I fish anywhere on the border waters with a Minnesota license?

• In Canadian border waters, Minnesota residents or nonresidents fishing with a Minnesota nonresident license, may only fish the Minnesota portion of the Canadian border waters. To fish the Canadian portion, you must have a Canadian license and may need a Remote Access Border Crossing Permit.

• In other border waters, Minnesota residents or nonresidents fishing with a Minnesota nonresident license, may fish throughout the defined waters bordering the 2 states.

[gimruis]

2 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

Other nonresidents may purchase a Minnesota or the bordering state’s nonresident license.

 

2 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

In other border waters, Minnesota residents or nonresidents fishing with a Minnesota nonresident license, may fish throughout the defined waters bordering the 2 states.

 

These are the two items that apply to him, I think.  He's a resident of Fargo, ND and has a nonresident MN angling license.  So when he's fishing a SD/MN border water he may fish throughout those borders waters of the two states.

[casts_by_fly]

2 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

 

These are the two items that apply to him, I think.  He's a resident of Fargo, ND and has a nonresident MN angling license.  So when he's fishing a SD/MN border water he may fish throughout those borders waters of the two states.

 

That's how I read it as well if he's a ND resident.  

[Bankc]

Sounds easier than the Red River and Lake Texoma's rules.  

On Lake Texoma, you needed an Oklahoma license to fish the "Oklahoma side" and a Texas license to fish the "Texas side".  You also need a map and good navigation skills (or GPS) to figure out which "side" you are on, because the official border is all squiggly between the two and doesn't run halfway down the lake like one might think.  In fact, there are banks on the Texas side that belong to Oklahoma and banks on the Oklahoma side that belong to Texas.  So, to make it easier, both states passed laws awhile back so you can now purchase a separate Lake Texoma fishing license to fish the whole lake, and only that lake, instead of buying two separate state fishing licenses.  However, leave the lake and enter the Red River that feeds it, and you're back to fishing one side or another or buying two state fishing licenses again.  Also, the boating and fishing regulations change depending on which side of the lake/river you're on, regardless of having a Texoma fishing license.  Though, for Lake Texoma proper, the fishing regulations are specific to that lake and apply to the whole lake.  And I'm not sure how the boating regulations differ between the two states.  But I think they're pretty close, so it's usually not a problem.  

 

Anyway... Why is it so convoluted?  Because the Longhorns and Sooners play football against each other.  And no.  I'm not kidding.  

 

But here's a map to laugh at:

 

[throttleplate]

2 hours ago, Scott F said:

On the Minnesota fishing regulations website, the rivers on the boundaries between North Dakota and Minnesota have year round open seasons for all species except for sturgeon. 
 

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fishing/regs.html?section=definitions&topic=inland

 

Many thanks to @Scott Ffor showing, leading me to the correct page of the minnesota regs, i myself didnt dig deep enough on the regs page but @Scott Fdid and it explains the exact waters in my question, Lake traverse, Mud lake and Boise de Sioux river. In minnesota waters bass and walleye are closed till middle of May, on these noted boundary waters those fish are open year round. Thankyou again Scott F.

The pic belowis of Traverse lake dam called reservation dam.

 

Border Waters: South Dakota

 

To what waters do these regulations apply?

Seasons and regulations apply to the following waters:

• Big Stone County: Big Stone Lake.
• Lincoln County: Hendricks Lake.
• Traverse County:Lake Traverse, Mud Lake, Bois de Sioux River to North Dakota border, and Mustinka River from the mouth to the Minnesota State Highway 117 Bridge.

Are daily and possession limits different?

No. Daily and possession limits are the same unless otherwise noted.

 

Seasons and Possession Limits

Today's date: 3/13/24

Species	Season	Possession Limit
Carp, sucker, redhorse, sheepshead (drum), buffalo, burbot, bowfin, gar, white bass	Continuous	No limit
Walleye and Sauger	Continuous	4, 1 over 20"
Northern Pike angling	Continuous	6
Northern Pike spearing	11/15/24 - 2/23/25
Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass	Continuous	6
Crappie	Continuous	10
Sunfish	Continuous	10

[2tall79]

We had a state tournament on the Columbia many years ago.  Had to have a Washington and Oregon license if you were going to fish both sides.  I was able to get a 3 day Oregon license for the dates of the tournament, so not so bad.

[casts_by_fly]

17 hours ago, Bankc said:

Sounds easier than the Red River and Lake Texoma's rules.  

On Lake Texoma, you needed an Oklahoma license to fish the "Oklahoma side" and a Texas license to fish the "Texas side".  You also need a map and good navigation skills (or GPS) to figure out which "side" you are on, because the official border is all squiggly between the two and doesn't run halfway down the lake like one might think.  In fact, there are banks on the Texas side that belong to Oklahoma and banks on the Oklahoma side that belong to Texas.  So, to make it easier, both states passed laws awhile back so you can now purchase a separate Lake Texoma fishing license to fish the whole lake, and only that lake, instead of buying two separate state fishing licenses.  However, leave the lake and enter the Red River that feeds it, and you're back to fishing one side or another or buying two state fishing licenses again.  Also, the boating and fishing regulations change depending on which side of the lake/river you're on, regardless of having a Texoma fishing license.  Though, for Lake Texoma proper, the fishing regulations are specific to that lake and apply to the whole lake.  And I'm not sure how the boating regulations differ between the two states.  But I think they're pretty close, so it's usually not a problem.  

 

Anyway... Why is it so convoluted?  Because the Longhorns and Sooners play football against each other.  And no.  I'm not kidding.  

 

But here's a map to laugh at:

 

 

Well that sure looks fun!

 

Luckily here, all of the states have agreed boundary water regs that make sense.  Either license is good.  Launch from either state and fish the whole thing.  Specific bag/season limits to the whole water regardless of the state.  NJ/PA on the delaware is the big one, but NJ/NY have one or two and PA/other have a couple that impact.

[Zcoker]

Not a river but we have that same kind of situation down here off the Florida Key's bridges, where one side of the bridge is Gulf waters and the other side is Atlantic waters, both with a different set of FWC fishing regulations, which is usually size limits, bag limits, off season, etc. for specific fish. Best I can make out of it is to just follow the rules for whichever side is fished. 

[Munkin]

We have the same crap with the Potomac River. Maryland owns the Potomac River except for the portion that flows through DC. Now say for me as a resident of Maryland wants to fish all the sections of the Potomac here is what I need.

 

Western Maryland Potomac boarder with West Virginia I need a resident fishing license. With this I can even fish from the WV shore. MD and WV have a reciprocity agreement so both sets of residents can fish this section. 

 

Moving downstream into DC I now have to buy a DC license because they do not have a reciprocity agreement with Maryland or Virginia.

 

Now at the Potomac below DC "which most people refer to as the Lower Potomac" I have to buy a second MD license as this portion of the river is tidal. If I signed up for an open tournament that now requires a VA license. While I can fish the main river I need a VA license to fish any of the coves on the VA side.

 

Allen

[Choporoz]

1 hour ago, Munkin said:

We have the same crap with the Potomac River. Maryland owns the Potomac River except for the portion that flows through DC. Now say for me as a resident of Maryland wants to fish all the sections of the Potomac here is what I need.

 

Western Maryland Potomac boarder with West Virginia I need a resident fishing license. With this I can even fish from the WV shore. MD and WV have a reciprocity agreement so both sets of residents can fish this section. 

 

Moving downstream into DC I now have to buy a DC license because they do not have a reciprocity agreement with Maryland or Virginia.

 

Now at the Potomac below DC "which most people refer to as the Lower Potomac" I have to buy a second MD license as this portion of the river is tidal. If I signed up for an open tournament that now requires a VA license. While I can fish the main river I need a VA license to fish any of the coves on the VA side.

 

Allen

Allen, I agree that there are some intricacies, especially when it comes to DC and with PRFC.  However, I believe (and I hope) that you are incorrect about upper Potomac above DC, and lower Potomac below DC to 301 bridge.  I am fairly certain that MD and VA have full reciprocal agreements above and below DC... bank to bank.  And saltwater licenses and regs do come into play below 301.

[TnRiver46]

The only spot like this I can think of in my region is south Holston lake on the border of VA and TN, they came up with a reciprocal agreement 

[Smirak]

Look up the reciprocity laws. For example, I can fish the Georgia side of the chattahoochee (sp?) river but am an Alabama resident. There’s a few more border rivers like the elk river up in N Alabama where I live that border Alabama and TN.  I can fish Pickwick lake in MS. And if I want to, I can fish three states in one on the TN river (MS, AL, TN)