FISHING REGULATIONS
1996-97

[Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources]

Regulations & Advisories

Inland Game Fish Factsheets

Fish Information

Fishing Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers

Fishing Information for Kids

Fisheries Management Information

License
Angling Methods and Lures
Bait
Seasons, Bag Limits, and Length Limit
Restricted Fishing Areas
Other

Catch And Release

Clamming

Establishing Residency
Frog, Crayfish, and Turtles
Health Advisory for Eating Fish

Ice Fishing

Indian Reservations

Lake Sturgeon Tags

Measuring Fish

Minnow Regulations

Motor Trolling

Public Access

Record Fish

Rough Fish

Tagged Fish

Urban Fish

Warden Fishing

General Inland Waters

Wisconsin- Minnesota Boundary Waters

Summary of Major Regulations Changes for 1996-1997

Fishing License/Stamp Information

• Resident individual (annual) fishing license--Fee $12.00
• Resident combination (husband and wife) license--Fee $20.00. Issued to a legally married husband and wife who meet residency requirements.
• Resident sports license--Fee $38.00. This license allows fishing and hunting (but only for certain game).
• Resident conservation patron license--Fee $100.00. This license serves as a substitute for separate license and stamps for annual fishing, sturgeon spearing, inland trout fishing, Great Lakes trout and salmon fishing, hunting small game, deer, bear, waterfowl, archer hunting, and trapping. You also receive an admission sticker for state parks, state forests and state trails, and a one-year subscription to Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine.
• Resident reduced rate fishing license--Fee $5.00. Require of anglers 16 and 17 years of age and anglers 65 years of age or older. Residents born before January 1, 1927 do not need a fishing license. Simply carry proof of age when fishing.
• Free Resident Permanent Fishing License for Disabled residents who provide proof that they are receiving Social Security Disability Benefits, Railroad Retirement or Veteran's disability compensation (70%). Available only at DNR offices or County Clerk Offices. Disabled nonresidents need to buy a regular nonresident license.
• Free Annual Resident Armed Forces Fishing License for members of the U.S. armed forces who exhibit proof that they are in active service with the armed forces and that they are
• Resident a resident on furloung or leave.
• Nonresident individual (annual) fishing license--Fee $28.00
• Nonresident 4-day individual license--Fee $13.00
• Nonresident 5-day individual license--Fee $18.00
• Nonresident 15-day family license--Fee 28.00. Includes children under 18.
• Nonresident annual family license--Fee 48.00. Includes children under 18.

Lost Fishing License/Stamps

Quality Fishing Opportunities in Wisconsin

Muskellunge

40'' minimum length limit

• Bone Lake-T35N R16W S06
• On all Wisconsin/Minnesota boundary waters
  
  Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass
  22'' minimum length limit
  
  
• Found nowhere in Polk County
  
  Walleye
  18'' minimum length limit
  
  
• Found nowhere in Polk County
  
  Northern Pike
  32'' minimum length limit
  
  
• Largon Lake

Available Fishing Publications

Regulations & Advisories: 
  Hook and Line Regulations                       FM-301 
  Trout Regulations                               FM-302 
  Spearing & Netting Regulations                  FM-304 
  Boating Regulations                             LE-301 
  Health guide to eating Sport Fish               IE-019 
  Wisconsin Fish Records Ruler                    FM-702 
  (Ruler adheres to your boat to measure your catch) 

Inland Game Fish Factsheets: 
  Lake Sturgeon                                   FM-704 
  Muskellunge                                     FM-705 
  Bullheads                                       FM-706 
  Northern Pike                                   FM-707 
  Walleye                                         FM-708 
  Large Mouth Bass                                FM-709 
  Yellow Perch                                    FM-710 
  Bulegill                                        FM-711 
  Crappies                                        FM-712 
  Catfish                                         FM-713 
  Pumpkinseed                                     FM-714 

Fish Information: 
  Filleting Northern Pike                         FM-401 
  How to skin Bullheads                           FM-412 
  Identification of Muskellunge & Northern Pike   FM-503 
  Sturgeon Sketchbook                             FM-801 
  Watch Out!! (Guide to WI Fish Hatcheries)       FM-815 

Fishing Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers: 
  Wisconsin Fishing Poster                        FM-204 
  Wisconsin Lakes Bulletin                        FM-800 
  Wisconsin, A Great State to Fish                FM-744 
    (Inland Lakes and Fisheries) 
  Ice Fishing-What to know before you go.         FM-751 
  Fishing and Boating on the Mississippi River    FM-745 
  Fishing & Boating, Access For Everyone          FM-757 
  Guide to Wisconsin Aquatic Plants               WR-173 

Fishing Information for Kids: 
  These Are fish... Sometimes they Bite           FM-741 
  Watch Me Grow (child's growth poster)           FM-742 
  Catch'n' Color Coloring Poster                  FM-743 
  Fishing for Fun, Fishing for the Future         FM-754 

Fisheries Management Information: 
  Sport Fish Restoration Pamphlet                 FM-748 
  WI Fishing & Boating Investment Report          FM-749 
  DNR Fish & Wildlife Update Newspaper 

Statewide Fishing Restrictions

License

• to fish in any waters of this state without a Wisconsin fishing license and stamp as required. You must have your fishing license with you fishing and be able to present it to a warden upon request. Even waters with no public access are considered waters of this state and the appropriate license, tag, or stamp is still required.
• to possess, loan, or borrow another person's license, tag, or stamp.

Angling Methods and Lures

• to fish with more than three hooks, baits, or lures.
• to take fish by any means other than angling unless otherwise provided.
• to leave any fish line unattended except when using licensed setlines or bank poles.
• to fish using the technique commonly known as "jug" fishing in all waters of the state.
• to possess or use spears, snag hooks, gill net, trammel nets, hoop nets or fish traps or to use or possess on the water unlicensed setlines, bank poles and trotlines. See 1996 Wisconsin Spearing and netting Regulations pamphlet for more information.
• to fish by snagging, fouling, or attempting to hook fish other than in the mouth.
• to keep foul-hooked or snagged fish not hooked in the mouth.
• to take fish other than rough fish by hand.
• to take fish by using a firearm or pellet gun.
• to fish with a hook and line while using a dip net or having a dip net attached to your boat.
• to motor troll except in counties and waters listed in the section Special Regulations for Polk County.

Bait

• to release unused bait fish into state waters.
• to possess live crayfish while fishing or while possessing angling equipment on any inland water, except the Mississippi River.
• to use goldfish or alewife in any form of bait in state waters.
• to remove insect larvae from a trout stream except for licensed angler to use the larvae while fishing in that same stream.

Seasons, Bag Limits, and Length Limit

• to fish for a species of fish during the closed season for that species.
• to possess a fish that is below the minimum length limit established for the waters being fished.
• to take, catch, kill, or fish for any variety of fish in excess of the daily bag limit.
• to possess more than the daily bag limit of fish while you're fishing or while you're on the water or ice.
• to transport fish subject to length limit, unless you leave the skin and scales intact (on the fish); the heads and tails can't be removed unless the dressed fish or fillets meet the minimum length limit.
• to sort fish. Any fish you take into possession which you do not release immediately is part of your daily bag limit.
• to fish in trout streams when the trout season is closed except that rough fish may be taken by hand.

Restricted Fishing Areas

• to fish in fish refuges. Refuges are posted "NO FISHING" with DNR or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service signs.
• to fish using any method other than hook and line within 200 feet of a fishway, lock or dam.
• to fish within 500 feet of any DNR net or weir when the area is posted by the DNR.

Other

• to deposit fish entrails into Wisconsin waters.
• to use or possess a box or container in which to hold live fish unless a legible tag bearing the owners or user's name and address is attached to the container. Containers and live boxes use used by anglers while fishing are except from this requirement.
• to buy, sell, or trade any game fish
• to transport live rough fish into or within the state without permit from the DNR.
• to withhold all catchand fishing effort information when interviewed by authorized DNR creel clerk.

Northern Pike

General Information

Catch And Release
Fish you wish to release, and fish less than the legal minimum length limit, should be handled carefully with wet hands and played as little as possible. When fish are deeply-hooked, cut the line as closely to the hook as possible and let the fish go.

Clamming

People who wish to gather more than 50 pounds of clams a day or buy or sell any commercial clamming regulations. For information on these regulations, call or write DNR's Bureau of Fisheries Management, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707, (608) 266-1877.

Establishing Residency

You are eligible to obtain a resident license if:

• you live at a permanent address in Wisconsin for 30 consecutive days immediately before you apply for a license, vote in Wisconsin, pay Wisconsin income taxes, or have a Wisconsin driver's license;
• you are on active military duty stationed in Wisconsin;
• you are a full-time undergraduate student in residence at a Wisconsin college or university offering a Bachelor's degree; or,
• you are an alien residing in the state while attending a Wisconsin high school or agricultural short course at the University of Wisconsin.

Frog, Crayfish, and Turtles

A fishing or small game license is required to take these species. See separate 1996 Wisconsin Spearing and Netting Regulations pamphlet for open seasons, possession limits, and other restrictions.

Health Advisory for Eating Fish

Fish from most Wisconsin lakes and streams are clean and provide a healthy choice for one's diet.

However, there are some waters where fish contain contaminants that may be harmful to your health.
For public health protection, the DNR routinely monitors chemicals in fish collected from water located throughout Wisconsin. After consulting the Division of Health, this state issued an update fish contaminant advisory each year.

Precautions recommended in the advisory range from advice to remove fat and skin before cooking and eating some fish, to a strong statement advising that you not eat certain fish. Generally, the advice is aimed at protecting children under 18 (including infants), women in their childbearing years, and women who are nursing infants.

For a free copy of a list of waters with fish consumption advisories, contact any DNR office or write to or call: WDNR, Bureau of Fisheries Management, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707, (608) 266-1877.

Ice Fishing

Fishing holes cut through the ice must be measure no more than 12 inches across. The doors of enclosed fishing shelters must be readily open from outside while occupied; they may be locked while not in use. The shelter owner's name and address must be permanently attached to the outside of the shelter. Each letter must be at least one inch square in size and and kept legible at all times. After the date for removing shelters from the ice, you may continue to use a portable shelter, but you must remove it when it is not occupied.

All ice fishing shelters must be completely removed from:

• Inland waters north of Highway 64 by March 15.
• Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters by March 15.
  
  

Indian Reservations

Indian reservations in Wisconsin are governed by a unique blend of federal, state, and tribal laws. You should find out about current tribal policies for natural resources use at each headquarters before entering a reservation to hunt or fish. Failure to do so may place you in conflict with the law and subject you to enforcement action.

Lake Sturgeon Tags

If you fish for lake sturgeon with hook and line, you must first obtain a free tag. You are allowed one tag for inland waters. After you catch a lake sturgeon of legal length that you wish to keep, immediately attach your tag to the fish, just in front of the sturgeon tail, then register your catch at the DNR registration station no later than 6p.m. the day after you caught the fish.

Measuring Fish

Fish must be measured in a straight line from the tip of his snout to the end of the compressed tail.

Minnow Regulations

It is illegal for anyone to possess more than 600 minnows except licensed bait dealers and residents younger than 16 years of age. It is also illegal for nonresidents to sell minnows, frogs, or craytfish as bait. Residents more than 16 years old must have a bait dealer's license to sell minnows, frogs, or crayfish for bait. Residents under 16 years old can possess no more than 5,000 of species and sell less than $500 dollars worth annually without a bait dealers license. Unless you have a permit from the DNR, you may not use minnows seines or minnow dip nets of any type or description in inland trout streams or tributary spring ponds. During the open trout season, people who do not possess a bait dealers license can't use more than three minnows traps to remove minnows from trout streams.

Bait minnows may be taken, where allowed, by the following methods only:

• Hook and line.
• With seines no more than 35 feet long with a mesh no longer than one-half inch stretch measure in inland waters. Fifty-foot lengths of senies may be used in Minnesota boundary waters.
• With dip net no more than eight feet in diameter or square.
• With traps no more than 24 inches long and 16 inches in diameter or square with a throat measuring one-half inches or less. All traps must bear their owner's name and address and be emptied at least once every 48 hours. On Minnesota boundary waters, minnows must be removed from traps at least once a day from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset.

Motor Trolling

"Motor trolling" is trailing a lure, bait, or similar device used to attach or catch fish from a boat while being propelled (forward or back) by a motor or a sail or while being towed by a boat being propelled by a motor or a sail. Motor trolling is illegal except in same counties and waters as listed in the section titled Special Regulations for Polk County. Casting and immediate retrieval of a bait or lure while positioning a boat is not trolling. "Backtrolling" is only legal; in waters where motor trolling is allowed. "Position fishing" is fishing from a boat where the fishing line extends vertically into water while the boat is maneuvered (forward or back) by a motor used to position the boat over underwater structure. Position fishing is allowed statewide in all waters.

Public Access

Many public fishing piers and boarding docks are now wheelchair-accessible. To receive information regarding barrier-free public access sites on Wisconsin waters, contact your nearest DNR service center. Each service center has a copy of Fishing and Boating, Access for Everyone. Copies of individual location maps with descriptions of the amenities available at that site can be provided for you. This information may be especially useful for anglers with disabilities and other looking for good shorefishing opportunities.

Record Fish

If you think you or someone else has caught that may be state record, here's what to do:

• don't clean or freeze the fish.
• keep the fish cool--preferably on ice.
• Get the fish weighed as soon as possible on a certified scale (found in grocery, hardware stores, etc.)and witnessed by an observer.
• contact the nearest DNR office to get the species positively identified and to find out whether the fish is a state record.
  For a complete list of Wisconsin's record fish, contact any DNR office or wright to or call: WDNR, Bureau of Fisheries Management, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 537007, (608) 267-9426.
  
  

Rough Fish

Suckers, redhorse, carp, and other rough fish may be taken by hook and line or by hand. (See separate 1996 Spearing and Netting Regulations pamphlet).

Tagged Fish

DNR fisheries biologists attach tags to many fish for research purposes. If you catch a tagged fish, please notify the nearest DNR office with the tag number, when and where the fish was caught, it's length, and its weight. If you keep the fish, send in the tag; if you release it, leave the tag on the fish but be sure to record the tag number. Your help will make fishing in Wisconsin even better!

Urban Fish

Urban waters are small lakes and ponds which are intensively and cooperatively managed with a municipality. They are posted with signs and have a large part of the shoreline open for public access. Counties that have urban waters are mentioned in the Special Regulations for Polk County. A complete list of waters is available from the Southeast District office. All urban waters are open all year with no length limits. There is a daily bag limit of 1 gamefish (largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, sauger, and northern pike) and 10 panfish (bluegill, crappie, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, and bullhead). For more information, call the Urban Fishing Hotline (414) 163-8484 or (414) 263-8614.

Warden Fishing

Conservation wardens performing their duties may enter private land at any time. Wardens may also seize as evidence all fish taken or possessed in violation of the law, and any equipment used in connection with a violation.

Special Regulations for Polk County

• Balsam Lake: The minimum length limit for northern pike is 26" and the daily bag limit is 2.
• Bone Lake: The minimum length limit for muskellunge is 40".
• Largon Lake: The minimum length limit for northern pike is 32" and the daily bag limit is 1.
• Long Lake: The minimum length limit for northern pike is 26" and the daily bag limit is 2.
• Loveless Lake: The minimum length limit for northern pike is 26" and the daily bag limit is 2.
• St. Croix River: is part of the Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters. See those regulations.

FISH                               OPEN             DAILY              MINIMUM 
SPECIES                           SEASON            LIMIT              LENGTH

Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass
     Inland Waters                    May 4-March 1        5 of each               14 inches
     Northern Zone                    May 4-June 21        0 (catch & release)
                                      June 22- March 1     5 of each               12 inches

Rock, Yellow (striped) 
     and White Bass                   Open all year        none                    none

Bulegill, Pumpkinseed (sunfish)
     Crappie and yellow perch         Open all year        50 in total             none

Bullheads and rough fish              Open all year        none                    none

Catfish                               Open all year        10                      none

Cisco and whitefish                   Open all year        25 pounds plus one      none
                                                           more fish of either
                                                           species in total

Muskellunge (including Hybrids) 
     Inland waters north of           May 25-Nov. 30       1                       34 inches
     HWY 10

Northern pike
     Inland waters                    May 4-March1         5                       none

Paddlefish (spoonbill catdish)        CLOSED all year-no fishing for paddlefish.

Ruffe, White Perch                    CLOSED all year-none may be possessed.

Lake sturgeon
     ST. Croix R., from Upper         CLOSED all year-no fishing for lake sturgeon.
     St. Croix Lake to                NOTE: Spearing lake sturgeon through the ice may 
     Minnesota                        by allowed on on this water.See 1996 Spearing and 
                                      Netting Regulations for more information.

Shovelnose sturgeon
     Inland waters                    Open all year        25                       none

Walleye and sturger                   May 4-March 1        5 in total               15 inches
     (including Hybrids)

• Goldfish and alewife may not by possessed or used for bait. Live crayfish may be used for bait on the Mississippi River Only-not on other Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters.
• It is illegal to fish using any method other than hook and line within 300 feet of any fishway, lock or dam on the Mississippi River and within 200 feet of these structures on any other waters.
• Motor trolling IS permitted on Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters.
• You need A Wisconsin fishing license to fish on these boundary waters. However, you must obey Minnesota dishing regulations, not Wisconsin's, when you fish on Minnesota's side of the boundary waters. Wisconsin residents not having a Wisconsin fishing license but who are fishing under authority of a Minnesota nonresident license, are not allowed to fish on Wisconsin's side of these boundary waters. Residents of this state other than Wisconsin or Minnesota may fish in these waters with either license.
• Fishing is prohibited within 300 feet below the Red Dam and Alma Dam from March 1 through April 30 and within 300 feet below the Onalaska Dam from March 15 through April 25.

FISH                               OPEN              DAILY            MINIMUM 
SPECIES                           SEASON             LIMIT            LENGTH

Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass
     St. Louis R. and St. Croix       May 25-March 1        5 in total           12 inches
     upstream from Hwy 70 
     St.Croix. from Hwy 70            May 25-March 1        5 in total           14 inches
     downstream to Hwy 10 at 
     prescott
     Mississippi R.                   Open all year         5 in total           14 inches

Catfish
     St. Louis R. and the St.         Open all year         10 in total          none 
     Croix R. downstream to Hwy.   
     10 at prescott
     Mississippi R.                   Open all year         25 in total          none

Muskellunge (including Hybirds)
     St. Louis R., St. Croix R        May 25-March 1        1                    36 inches
     and Mississippi R. Below 
     Prescott

Northern pike
     St. Croix R. Downstream          May 4-March 1         5                     none
     to Hwy 10 at prescott
     Mississippi R.                   Open all year         5                     none
     St. Louis R.                     May 11-March 1        2                     none

Yellow perch, rock bass,              Open all year         25 of each            none
     and crappie

Bluegill,and pumpkinseed              Open all year         25 of total           none

White bass and yellow bass            Open all year         25 of total           none

Lake Sturgeon (if taken with 
hook and line it must be tagged 
and registered. More info.)
     Mississippi R, St Louis R,         CLOSED ALL YEAR
     and St Croix R upstream from 
     St. Croix Falls
     St. Croix downstream             Sept 7-Oct 15         1 per person          50 inches
     form St. Croix Falls

Shovelnose sturgeon
     All Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary CLOSED all year
     waters above the Red Wing Dam on
     the Mississippi R, St. Louis R, 
     and St. Croix R.
     All Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary  Open all year        10                     none
     waters below the Red Wing Dam on
     the Mississippi R.

Walleye and sturger
     St Croix R downstream to Hwy 10    May 4-March 1       6 in total             none for sauger;
     at prescott                                                                   15 inches for walleye
     St. Louis R.                       May 11-March 1      2 in total             none for sauger;
                                                                                   15 inches for walleye
     Mississippi R. downstream from     Open all year       6 in total             none for sauger;
     Red Wing Dam                                                                  15 inches for walleye

Ruffe, White Perch                    CLOSED all year-none may be possessed.

Trout and salmon---see trout regulations pamphlet.

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