The 2025 Minnesota fishing opener is this weekend. It's a weekend when anglers of all ages take to the open water in a time-honored tradition. Whether you will be fishing off a dock, or on a boat, we first want to wish you luck, but if you aren't about luck, I've got 5 lakes here in Minnesota where you will find some great walleye to fish for.

Before we go into my ranking of the top-5 walleye fishing lakes here in Minnesota, let's get into what the limit is this year on Mille Lacs Lake. According to the Minnesota DNR, the walleye limit for 2025 is: "Licensed anglers can keep a maximum of two walleyes per day, with the following restrictions: both walleyes must be at least 17 inches long, and only one of them can be 20 inches or longer. All other walleyes must be released immediately."

Get our free mobile app

Lake of the Woods limit for 2025: "The daily and possession limit for walleye and sauger combined on Lake of the Woods in 2025 is 6, with no more than 4 being walleye. Walleye and sauger between 19.5 and 28 inches must be immediately released, and only one walleye over 28 inches can be possessed."

Upper Red Lake's 2025 limit for walleye: The "daily and possession limit of five walleyes. Only one walleye over 17 inches is allowed in possession."

Lake Vermilion: "The daily and possession limit for walleye on Lake Vermilion is four. However, all walleye between 20 and 26 inches must be immediately released. Only one walleye over 26 inches can be kept." 

Leech Lake: "The daily and possession limit for walleye on Leech Lake is four, with only one walleye over 20 inches allowed."

Now that we've got the 2025 limits out of the way, which are enforced starting on Saturday when open water fishing begins in Minnesota, here are my top-5 Minnesota lakes for walleye fishing.

Coming in at number 5...

5. Lake Vermilion

You really can't go wrong fishing on any of these lakes, but saying that, I did promise a top-5. Vermilion slots in at 5 on my list. Vermilion offers up islands for wind breaks and has great structure for walleye fishing. It's a big body of water, coming in at 40,000 acres.

4. Leech Lake

Leech comes in at number 4 on my list for top-5 walleye fishing lakes. Leech is more of a Muskie lake, but through the conservation efforts, the walleye population has begun to grow.

3. Mille Lacs Lake

Mille Lacs Lake gets ranked at number 3 on my list of top-5 Minnesota walleye lakes. The mud flats on the lake offer great walleye opportunities, and it is one of the busiest lakes for the opener because of how close it is to the Twin Cities. Looking for a place to stay while up on Mille Lacs? Appeldoorns is one of the morning show's favorites. 

2. Upper Red Lake

Upper Red comes in at number 2 on my list of top-5 walleye fishing lakes. During May and June, the walleye are practically jumping in your boat, which makes for a very fun time out of the water and lots of memories to be made. Just remember your limits.

1. Lake of the Woods

The top of my list for walleye fishing is the one I'm heading up to the week of Memorial Day, Lake of the Woods. Think world-class walleye, trophy-sized opportunities, and acres upon acres of open water for you to one your craft. (You can still join me up at Ballards May 26-28 on the Walleye Connection, get your details here)

Get our free mobile app

All lakes are great lakes

Like I wrote earlier, it's super hard to pick a great lake for walleye fishing, as they all offer something different and unique. Whatever lake you are on for the opener this weekend, I hope you catch some personal bests and have a great time.