Michigan-Wisconsin Boundary Water Regulations
Michigan and Wisconsin share several boundary waters and while the states strive to have consistent regulations across the border there are some discrepancies. Anglers are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves on fishing regulations for both states. Anglers with a valid Michigan or Wisconsin fishing license can fish either state’s boundary waters, however, anglers are required to adhere to the state-specific regulations based on their location while fishing these shared boundary waters. For example, anglers fishing in Michigan waters must follow Michigan's fishing regulations and anglers fishing within Wisconsin's portion of the boundary waters must follow Wisconsin's fishing regulations.
The interstate boundary waters in which fishing is to be governed by the special regulations are: The L. Michigan waters between the breakwalls at the mouth of the Menominee R. beginning at an imaginary line drawn between the most lakeward point of each breakwall. Menominee R., its sloughs and impoundments (Menominee, Dickinson, Iron Cos., Michigan; Florence, Marinette Cos., Wisconsin); Brule R. (Iron Co., Michigan; Florence and Forest Cos., Wisconsin); Brule Island Impoundment, upstream to a line running east-west through the first island upstream from the junction of the Brule and Paint Rivers (Iron Co., Michigan; Florence Co., Wisconsin); Smoky L. (Iron Co., Michigan; Vilas Co., Wisconsin); Norwood L., Lac Vieux Desert, Crystal L., Mill L., Big Bateau L., Mamie L. (Cisco Chain), West Bay L. (Cisco Chain), Big L. (Cisco Chain), Crampton L., Plum L., Tenderfoot L., Roach L., Little Presque Isle L., Cyrus L., Basin L., Stateline L. (Gogebic Co., Michigan; Vilas Co., Wisconsin); East Fork Montreal R. up to the mouth of Layman Cr. (Gogebic Co., Michigan; Iron Co., Wisconsin); Montreal R. (Gogebic Co., Michigan; Iron Co., Wisconsin).
NOTE: Cowboy Lake (Dickinson Co.), west of Iron Mountain, is NOT part of the MI-WI Boundary Waters.
Legal fishing methods
- All residents of Michigan and Wisconsin holding a resident sport fishing license from their respective state, or residents of states other than Michigan and Wisconsin holding a sport fishing license issued by either Michigan or Wisconsin may fish in the boundary waters.
- Up to 3 lines per person with a total of 3 hooks or baits may be used.
- Lines must be attended at all times.
- Crayfish may not be possessed or used for bait on Michigan-Wisconsin boundary waters.
- Dip nets not exceeding 9 feet square or in diameter, without walls may be used in the Menominee R. from April 1- May 14 for taking of suckers, redhorse, carp, Smelt, and Burbot (except from Hattie Street Bridge in Marinette-Menominee to Menominee Dam upstream and within 200 feet of all other dams).
- Fish shanties used in ice fishing must be legibly marked with the name and address of owner, and persons placing a shanty on these waters shall remove the shanty by midnight of March 15. In Wisconsin boundary waters, fish shanty doors cannot be locked from inside during occupancy.
Weekly Fishing Report
Each week discover the latest fishing hot spots and tips used to catch specific species throughout Michigan—all courtesy of the DNR’s Weekly Fishing Report! You can access the weekly fishing report online or have it delivered to your inbox by signing up for DNR email updates.
Michigan-Wisconsin Boundary Water Regulations
(Hook & Line Only -- Use of spear, bow & arrow and crossbow prohibited)
Michigan-Wisconsin Boundary Water Regulations
Species | Waters | Seasons | Minimum Size (inches) | Daily Possession Limit |
---|---|---|---|---|
Trout, Salmon see (NOTE 1) | Smoky L., Montreal R., and Menominee R. mouths to 1st dam. | Open All Year | 10" | 5 |
Menominee R. and Montreal R. above 1st dam. Brule R. mouth to US-2 | Last Sat. in | 7" | ||
Brule R. above US-2 bridge | Brook Trout 8" | |||
Smallmouth & Largemouth Bass | All boundary waters | Open All Year | Catch-and-Immediate-Release | |
3rd Sat. in June - Dec. 31 | 14" | 5 in any combination | ||
Walleye, Sauger | All boundary waters except rivers and impoundments | 1st Sat. in May - March 1 | 15" | 5 in any combination |
All rivers and impoundments | March 2 - Fri. before 1st Sat. in May | 1 | ||
1st Sat. in May - March 1 | 5 in any combination (See NOTE 2) | |||
Northern Pike | All boundary waters | 1st Sat. in May - March 1 | none | 5 |
Bluegill, Crappie, Sunfish, Yellow Perch | All boundary waters | Open All Year | none | 25 in any combination |
Muskellunge (including Tiger Muskellunge) | All boundary waters | Open All Year | Catch-and-Immediate-Release | |
1st Sat. in June - Dec. 31 | 50" (Mandatory Registration) | (See NOTE 3) | ||
Lake Sturgeon | Menominee R. | 1st Sat. in Sep. - Sep. 30 | 60" (Mandatory Registration) | (See NOTES 3 & 4) |
Channel Catfish | All boundary waters | Open All Year | none | 10 |
Cisco, Lake Whitefish, Round Whitefish | All boundary waters | Open All Year | none | 10 in any combination |
All others | All boundary waters | Open All Year | none | none |
NOTE 1
No fishing is allowed during the closed season in the Brule R. upstream from U.S. Hwy 2 Bridge (T41N, R32W, S9) Iron Co., MI and the Montreal R. above Superior Falls flowage.
NOTE 2
On Lac Vieux Desert, the daily limit for Walleye is 3 with a minimum size limit of 18".
NOTE 3
Muskellunge and Lake Sturgeon harvest are both limited to 1 per angler per year (April 1 - March 31). Anglers are required to register Lake Sturgeon and Muskellunge harvest within 24 hours online, in person, or by phone.
NOTE 4
For the Menominee River, from Grand Rapids Dam downstream to the end of the breakwalls in Green Bay, the daily possession limit for Lake Sturgeon is 0, catch-and-immediate release Sturgeon fishing only.
Michigan - Indiana Border Lakes
Residents of Indiana or Michigan may fish the whole lake, but must abide by the regulations in the waters they are fishing. Nonresident license holders (for either state) may only fish in the waters under which the jurisdiction applies for that nonresident license. Nonresidents would need Indiana and Michigan nonresident licenses to fish both sides.
South Clear Lake - Indiana, St. Joseph Co./Michigan, Berrien Co., Indiana Lake - Indiana, Elkhart Co./ Michigan, Cass Co., Fish Lake - Indiana, La Grange Co./Michigan, St. Joseph Co., Lake George - Indiana, Steuben Co./Michigan, Branch Co., Long Lake -Indiana, Steuben Co./Michigan, Hillsdale Co.
Sylvania Wilderness Area Regulations
The following lakes in Gogebic Co. are subject to special regulations: Banks, East Bear, West Bear, Clark, Corey, Cub, Deer Island, Dorothy, Elsie, Fisher, Florence, Germain, Glimmerglass, Golden Silence, Hay, Helen, High, Honey, Jay, Johnston Springs, Katherine, Kerr, Liluis, Lois, Loon, Louise, Marsh, Moss, Mountain, Snap Jack, Trapper and Whitefish. NOTE: Crooked Lake is covered under general statewide fishing regulations.
Seasons: Statewide seasons apply for all fish species, except that no fishing shall be allowed before the last Sat. in April or after Oct. 31 of each year.
Size Limits
- Lake trout: minimum 30"
- Walleye: minimum 20"
- Northern pike: minimum 30"
- All other species: no size limit
Possession Limits
- Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass must be returned immediately to the water without injury and may not be possessed on the special regulation lakes of the Sylvania Wilderness Area.
- Northern Pike, Walleye and Lake Trout: not more than 1 fish of any of these species.
- All other species: 10 singly or in any combination of species.
Method of Take
- Hook-and-line fishing only, not to exceed 3 lines to which may be attached a total of 6 hooks on all lines. All hooks attached to a manufactured artificial lure shall be counted as 1 hook.
- Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used. “Artificial lure” means any lure that is man-made, in imitation of or as a substitute for natural bait, used to attract fish for the purpose of taking them, and shall include artificial flies. Barbless hooks are defined as a hook from which all barbs have been deleted when manufactured, filed off, or pinched down.
- Live bait, dead or preserved bait or organic or processed food may not be used or possessed at any time on special regulation Sylvania Wilderness Area lakes.