Be sure to view definitions for help in reading these tables.
LARGEMOUTH AND SMALLMOUTH BASS SEASONS
| General Inland Waters | Dates for Hook and Line Harvest |
|---|
| Northern Zone - Largemouth bass harvest | First Saturday in May through the first Sunday in March of the following year |
| Northern Zone - Smallmouth bass harvest | Third Saturday in June through the first Sunday in March of the following year |
| Northern Zone – Largemouth and smallmouth bass catch and release | At all other times of the year |
| Southern Zone - harvest | First Saturday in May through the first Sunday in March of the following year |
| Southern Zone – catch and release | At all other times of the year |
| Lake Winnebago system waters | Continuous |
| Boundary and Outlying Waters | Dates for Hook and Line Harvest |
|---|
| St. Louis River | Saturday preceding Memorial Day to March 1 |
| St. Croix River upstream from the dam at St. Croix Falls | Saturday preceding Memorial Day to, but not including, the second Monday in September |
| St. Croix River upstream from the dam at St. Croix Falls - catch and release | Second Monday in September to March 1 |
| St. Croix River downstream from the dam at St. Croix Falls to the Hwy 10 Bridge at Prescott | Saturday preceding Memorial Day to March 1 |
| Mississippi River | Continuous |
| Lake Superior and connected sloughs, Kakagon River - Largemouth bass harvest | First Saturday in May to the first Sunday in March of the following year |
| Lake Superior and connected sloughs, Kakagon River - Smallmouth bass harvest | Third Saturday in June to March 1 |
| Lake Superior and connected sloughs, Kakagon River – largemouth and smallmouth bass catch and release | At all other times of the year |
| Outlying waters of Green Bay and Lake Michigan within 1/4 mile of Washington, Detroit, Plum, Pilot, Hog or Rock Islands | July 1 to March 1 |
| Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters - Largemouth bass harvest | First Saturday in May to the first Sunday in March of the following year |
| Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters - Smallmouth bass harvest | Third Saturday in June through November 30 |
| Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters – largemouth and smallmouth bass catch and release | At all other times of the year |
| Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters | Continuous |
ROCK, YELLOW AND WHITE BASS
| Waters | Dates for Hook and Line Harvest |
|---|
| General Inland Waters | Continuous |
| Boundary Waters | Dates for Hook and Line Harvest |
|---|
| All other tributaries, streams, rivers and ditches to Green Bay upstream to the first dam or lake | First Saturday in May to March 1 |
| Major Green Bay tributaries | Continuous |
| Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters | Continuous |
| Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters - lakes | Continuous |
| Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters | Continuous |
PANFISH - (BLUEGILL, CRAPPIE, SUNFISH, YELLOW PERCH)
| Waters | Dates for Hook and Line Harvest |
|---|
| General Inland Waters | Continuous |
| Boundary and Outlying Waters | Dates for Hook and Line Harvest |
|---|
| All other tributaries, streams, rivers and ditches to Green Bay upstream to the first dam or lake | First Saturday in May to March 1, but the open season for yellow perch is May 20 to March 15 |
| Lake Michigan, Lake Michigan tributaries | Continuous, but the open season for yellow perch is June 16 to April 30 |
| Lake Superior | Continuous |
| Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters | Continuous |
| Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters | Continuous |
| Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters | Continuous |
CHANNEL AND FLATHEAD CATFISH
| Waters | Dates for Hook and Line Harvest |
|---|
| General Inland Waters | Continuous |
| Lower Wisconsin River (Columbia, Dane and Sauk counties) below the Prairie du Sac Dam downstream to the railroad bridge at Sauk City | First Saturday in May to November 30 |
| All tributary streams, rivers and ditches to Green Bay upstream to the first dam or lake, except Duck Creek downstream from the first dam above the Pamperin Park Footbridge in the Village of Howard excluding its tributaries, Fox River downstream from De Pere Dam, Suamico River downstream from CTH HS, East River downstream from Hoffman Road (CTH XX), Brown County | First Saturday in May to the first Sunday in March of the following year |
| Boundary and Outlying Waters | Dates for Hook and Line Harvest |
|---|
| Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters | Continuous |
| Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters | Continuous |
| Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters | Continuous |
WHITEFISH/CISCO
| Waters | Dates for Hook and Line Harvest |
|---|
| General Inland Waters | Continuous |
| Green Bay, major Green Bay tributaries, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Lake Michigan tributaries | Continuous |
| All other tributaries, streams, rivers and ditches to Green Bay upstream to the first dam or Lake | First Saturday in May to the first Sunday in March of the following year |
| Boundary Waters | Dates for Hook and Line Harvest |
|---|
| Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters | Continuous |
| Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters | Continuous |
| Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters | Continuous |
RUFFE, WHITE PERCH AND GOBIES
| Waters | Dates for Hook and Line Harvest |
|---|
| General Inland Waters | Closed all year, one of each may be killed and possessed for transport to a Wisconsin DNR office |
| Boundary and Outlying Waters | Dates for Hook and Line Harvest |
|---|
| Lake Michigan, Green Bay, Lake Michigan tributaries, major Green Bay tributaries | Continuous season for white perch, no open season for ruffe or gobies |
| All other tributary streams, rivers and ditches to Green Bay upstream to the first dam or lake | First Saturday in May to March 1 for white perch, no open season for ruffe or gobies |
| Lake Superior | Closed all year, one of each may be killed and possessed for transport to a Wisconsin DNR office |
| Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters | No open season for ruffe. No closed season for white perch. |
| Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters | Closed all year, one of each may be killed and possessed for transport to a Wisconsin DNR office |
| Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters | Closed all year, one of each may be killed and possessed for transport to a Wisconsin DNR office |
MUSKELLUNGE
| General Inland Waters | Dates for Hook and Line Harvest |
|---|
| Northern Zone - inland waters north of U.S. Hwy 10 (excluding Wisconsin - Michigan boundary waters) | Saturday nearest Memorial Day to December 31 (open water only) |
| Southern Zone - inland waters south of U.S. Hwy 10 | First Saturday in May to December 31 |
| Boundary and Outlying Waters | Dates for Hook and Line Harvest |
|---|
| Green Bay, Lake Michigan and Lake Michigan tributaries north of a line running due east from the eastern terminus of Waldo boulevard in the City of Manitowoc, all tributary streams, rivers and ditches to Green Bay upstream to the first dam or lake. | Saturday nearest Memorial Day to December 31 |
| Mississippi, St. Croix and St. Louis rivers | Saturday nearest Memorial Day to November 30 |
| Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters. | June 1 to December 31 |
| Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters | First Saturday in May to November 30 |
NORTHERN PIKE
| Waters | Dates for Hook and Line Harvest |
|---|
| General Inland Waters | First Saturday in May to the first Sunday in March of the following year |
| Boundary and Outlying Waters | Dates for Hook and Line Harvest |
|---|
| Green Bay, major Green Bay tributaries, Lake Michigan | Continuous |
| Lake Superior | Continuous |
| Lake Superior tributaries and connected sloughs upstream to the first dam or lake | First Saturday in May to March 1 |
| Lake Superior - spearing | Through the ice |
| Mississippi River from Prescott downstream | Continuous |
| St. Croix River to Prescott | First Saturday in May to March 1 |
| St. Louis River | Saturday 2 weeks prior to the Saturday nearest Memorial Day to March 1 |
| Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters | First Saturday in May to March 1 |
| Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters | First Saturday in May to March 1 |
| Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters | Continuous |
ROUGH FISH AND BULLHEADS
| Waters | Dates for Hook and Line Harvest |
|---|
| General Inland Waters | Continuous |
| Boundary and Outlying Waters | Dates for Hook and Line Harvest |
|---|
| All other tributaries, streams, rivers and ditches to Green Bay upstream to the first dam or lake | First Saturday in May to March 1 |
| Major Green Bay tributaries, Major Lake Michigan tributaries | Continuous |
| Green Bay and Lake Michigan | Continuous |
| Lake Superior | Continuous |
| Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters | Continuous |
| Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters | Continuous |
| Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters | Continuous |
LAKE STURGEON
| Waters | Dates for Hook & Line Harvest |
|---|
| Chippewa River: West Fork downstream from Moose Lake Dam (Sawyer Co.) and East Fork (Ashland Co.) downstream to the confluence of the Mississippi River (Pepin Co.) including sloughs, bayous, and flowages. Flambeau River: N Fork from Turtle-Flambeau Dam (Iron Co.) and S Fork (Price Co.) downstream to the confluence with the Chippewa River (Rusk Co.) including sloughs, bayous, and flowages. Butternut Lake (Price Co.) Jump River from the North and South Forks to the confluence with the Chippewa River (Rusk Co.), Yellow Lake, Little Yellow Lake, Danbury Flowage, Yellow River from Yellow Lake downstream to the Danbury Dam (Burnett Co.) Wisconsin River downstream from the Wisconsin Dells Dam | First Saturday in September to September 30th |
| Other Inland Waters | Closed all year to hook and line fishing. |
| Lake Winnebago system waters | Closed all year to hook and line fishing. |
| Spearing on the Upriver lakes (Lakes Poygan, Winnecone & Butte des Morts) | Second Saturday in February for 16 consecutive days unless harvest cap is triggered (participation dependent on random drawing for license purchase) |
| Spearing on Lake Winnebago | Second Saturday in February for 16 consecutive days unless harvest cap is triggered |
| Boundary & Outlying Waters | Dates for Hook & Line Harvest |
|---|
| Lake Superior | Continuous |
| Lake Michigan, Lake Michigan tributaries, Green Bay, Green Bay's tributary streams, rivers and ditches upstream to the first dam or lake | No open season |
| St. Croix River downstreams of St. Croix Falls | First Saturday in September to September 30 (harvest); October 1 to October 15 (catch and release only) |
| Mississippi River, St. Louis River and St. Croix River upstream from the dam at St. Croix Falls | No open season |
| Mississippi River upstream of the Red Wing Dam and St. Croix River from Prescott to Gordon Flowage | June 16 to March 1 (catch and release only) |
| Mississippi River downstream of the Red Wing Dam and St. Louis and Nemadji rivers | June 16 to April 14 (catch and release only) |
| Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters | No open season |
Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters
Menominee River below the Grand Rapids Dam - catch and release only | First Saturday in September to September 30th |
SHOVELNOSE STURGEON
| Waters | Dates for Hook and Line Harvest |
|---|
| General Inland Waters | Closed all year - no fishing for shovelnose sturgeon |
| Wisconsin River downstream from Prairie du Sac dam | Open all year |
| Boundary and Outlying Waters | Dates for Hook and Line Harvest |
|---|
| Mississippi River from the Red Wing Dam upstream and the St. Croix and St. Louis Rivers | No open season |
| Mississippi River from the Red Wing dam downstream | Continuous |
| Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters | Continuous |
| Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters | Not found in drainage. |
| Lake Michigan | Not found in drainage. |
| Lake Superior | Not found in drainage. |
TROUT AND SALMON
| Waters | Dates for Hook and Line Harvest |
|---|
| Early inland trout waters Catch and Release | 5 am on the first Saturday in January to the Friday preceding the First Saturday in May at midnight |
| General Inland Trout Season | First Saturday in May from 5:00 AM to October 15. |
| Boundary and Outlying Waters | Dates for Hook and Line Harvest |
|---|
| Mid lake reef complex | Continuous except there is no open season for lake trout |
| Green Bay, major Green Bay tributaries, all other waters of Lake Michigan, Lake Michigan tributaries | Continuous except for the open season for lake trout is March 1 to October 31 |
| All other tributary streams, rivers and ditches to Green Bay upstream to the first dam or lake | First Saturday in May to March 1 |
| Lake Superior (does not include Lake Superior tributaries) | Continuous except for the open season for lake trout is December 1 to September 30 |
| All Wisconsin-Michigan Boundary waters, except as listed below. | Last Saturday in April to September 30 |
| Montreal and Menominee rivers from their mouths upstream to the first dam and Smokey Lake | No closed season |
| Brule River (i.e., "boundary" Brule in Florence & Forest Counties) upstream from US Highway 2 | Last Saturday in April to September 30 |
WALLEYE, SAUGER AND HYBRIDS
| Waters | Dates for Hook and Line Harvest |
|---|
| General Inland Waters | First Saturday in May to the first Sunday in March of the following year |
| Fox River downstream from DePere | Continuous |
| Boundary Waters | Dates for Hook and Line Harvest |
|---|
| All other tributary streams & ditches to Green Bay upstream to the first dam or lake | First Saturday in May to the first Sunday in March of the following year |
| All other waters of Green Bay, major Green Bay tributaries, Lake Michigan tributaries | Continuous |
| Lake Superior | Continuous |
| Lake Superior tributaries | First Saturday in May to the first Sunday in March of the following year |
| Lake Winnebago System Waters | Continuous |
| St. Croix downstream to Prescott | Saturday nearest May 1 to March 1 |
| Mississippi River | Continuous |
| St. Louis River | Saturday 2 weeks prior to the Saturday nearest Memorial Day to March 1 |
| Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters, rivers and impoundments | Continuous |
| Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters - lakes | First Saturday in May to March 1 |
| Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters | Continuous |
WHITEFISH/CISCO
| Waters | Dates for Hook and Line Harvest |
|---|
| General Inland Waters | Continuous |
| Green Bay, major Green Bay tributaries, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Lake Michigan tributaries | Continuous |
| All other tributaries, streams, rivers and ditches to Green Bay upstream to the first dam or Lake | First Saturday in May to the first Sunday in March of the following year |
| Boundary Waters | Dates for Hook and Line Harvest |
|---|
| Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters | Continuous |
| Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters | Continuous |
| Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters | Continuous |
LAKE SUPERIOR TRIBUTARIES
Opening dates for trout fishing on Lake Superior tributary streams depend upon what stream you are fishing and where along the stream you plan to fish.
The standard trout season for all streams flowing into Lake Superior from their mouths upstream to the first impassible permanent barrier is the first Saturday in May at 5:00 a.m. to the last Sunday in September.
Many streams, however, with runs of fish from Lake Superior have an extended season, from the last Saturday in March to November 15. One example is the Brule River, downstream of Highway 2. Trout season on this stretch of the Brule opens on the last Saturday in March and closes on November 15.
For more information on the dates of and the Lake Superior tributary streams that fall under this extended trout season, please see the county and statewide table in the pdf version of Chapter NR 20.20, Fishing: Inland waters; Outlying waters [exit DNR] of the Wisconsin Administrative Code on the Revisor of Statutes Bureau Web site or the current Wisconsin Trout Fishing Regulations and Guide. You may download a copy of the trout regulations from our Web site.
The early opening season for trout on inland streams runs from first Saturday in March at 5:00 a.m. to the last Sunday in April at midnight. This early trout season for inland streams only applies to two Lake Superior tributaries:
- the White River and its tributaries from the White River Dam upstream to Pikes River Road Bridge, and
- the Iron River and its tributaries upstream from the sea lamprey barrier at the former site of the Orienta Dam.
