Anglers don’t have to buy a walleye stamp to fish for walleye, but doing so helps support the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) walleye stocking program.
Anglers who want to support Minnesota’s walleye stocking program can do so by simply purchasing a walleye stamp wherever Minnesota fishing licenses are sold.
More than 32,000 anglers bought the stamp in 2010. Stamp sale proceeds were used to purchase 200,000 walleye fingerlings from the private sector for stocking and improve an important walleye rearing pond. “When you purchase a stamp, your voluntary contribution goes into a dedicated account for walleye stocking,” said C.B. Bylander, outreach section chief for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). “The account is used to support the state’s rearing and transportation of walleye and the purchase of walleye from certified private producers.”
A walleye stamp validation costs $5. For $2 more, the DNR will mail the actual stamp to anglers as a collector’s item. This year’s stamp was created by artist Stuart Nelson of Cloquet, who painted a walleye about to strike a leech and jig. A walleye stamp is not required to fish for or keep walleye. “It’s never too late to snag a walleye stamp,” Bylander said. “They are available year-round and can be purchased days, weeks or even months after you’ve bought your fishing license.”
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