NR 20.16(2)
(2)
Exceptions. Subsection
(1) does not apply to the following streams:
NR 20.16(2)(a)
(a) Lake Michigan tributaries, major Green Bay tributaries, all other tributary streams, rivers and ditches to Green Bay upstream to the first dam or lake.
NR 20.16(2)(b)
(b) All tributaries to Lake Superior except 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 Orienta dam.
NR 20.16 History
History: Cr.
Register, May, 1999, No. 521, eff. 6-1-99; am.
Register, December, 1999, No. 528, eff. 1-1-00; r. and recr.
Register, September, 2000, No. 537, eff. 3-1-01;
CR 01-012: renum. from NR 20.15,
Register November 2001 No. 551, eff. 4-1-02;
CR 02-016: am. (1) (a) 16.,
Register January 2003 No. 566, eff. 3-1-03;
CR 09-018: am. (1) (b) 2.
Register February 2010 No. 650, eff. 3-1-10;
CR 15-023: am. (1) (a), 1., r. 2.
Register December 2015 No. 720, eff. 1-1-16
; CR 21-021: am. (1) (a) 3., 4., 5., 7., 12., 15.
Register November 2021 No. 791, eff. 4-1-22.
NR 20.18
NR 20.18 Total daily bag limits. Daily bag limits identified in s.
NR 20.20 are individual water limits that apply to the waters or portions of waters specified and may be combined with daily bag limits for other waters or portions of waters, but no person may exceed the total daily bag limit in this section unless authorized by s.
NR 20.35 or for a specific water listed in s.
NR 20.20,
21.04,
22.04 or
23.05 (5). -
See PDF for table 
NR 20.19(1)(1)
Possession limit table. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the following possession limits are established.
-
See PDF for table NR 20.19(2)
(2)
Possession limit exceptions. The following fish do not contribute to a person's possession limit:
NR 20.19(2)(a)
(a) Catfish caught on setlines, set or bank poles on the Fox river upstream from the DePere dam in Brown county.
NR 20.19(2)(c)
(c) Any species of fish caught on Nebish, Pallette, Mystery, Spruce, or Escanaba lakes in Vilas county unless specified in s.
NR 20.20 (64).
NR 20.19(2)(d)
(d) Any species of fish lawfully received by and stored at a fish distribution service, as defined in s.
29.001 (28), Stats., for redistribution.
NR 20.19 History
History: CR 21-058: cr.
Register March 2022 No. 795, eff. 4-1-22;
CR 23-058: am. (1) (table) Register June 2024 No. 822, eff. 7-1-24. NR 20.20
NR 20.20 County and statewide table. In this section, subs.
(1) through
(72) list waters or portions of waters by county and specify authorized methods, open seasons, daily bag limits and size restrictions for the taking of fish that are exceptions to the general rules specified in sub.
(73). Daily bag limits identified in this section are individual water limits that apply to the waters or portions of waters specified and may be combined with other waters or portions of waters, but no person may exceed the total daily bag limit in s.
NR 20.18 unless authorized by s.
NR 20.35 or for a specific water listed in s.
NR 20.20,
21.04,
22.04 or
23.05 (5). For the purposes of this section, “open water” means all water conditions that prevent a person from using ice as a platform for fishing.
-
See PDF for table NR 20.20 Note
Note: The history below shows all changes to s.
NR 20.20 published commencing March 1, 2024. For a complete history of s.
NR 20.20 from June 1, 1999, through April 1, 2022, see the note following s.
NR 20.65.
NR 20.20 History
History: CR 23-009: am. (1) (g) 1., (2) (h) 3., cr. (5) (a) 2., am. (5) (i) 1., (6) (g) 1., (9) (e) 1., (11) (g) 2., 3., cr. (13) (em), am. (14) (d) 1., am. (16) (h) 2., (17) (g) 1m., (h) 1., (18) (h) 1., 2., (20) (e) 2., (23) (f) 1., (24) (f) 1., (25) (d) 1., (g) 2., cr. (26) (c) 2., am. (26) (h) 3., (27) (h) 2., (28) (d) 1., (29) (f) 1., (32) (f) 1., (33) (g) 1., cr. (35) (bm), am. (36) (a) 1., cr. (36) (b) 2., am. (36) (e) 1., cr. (37) (cm), am. (37) (g) 1., 4., (39) (d) 2., cr. (39) (d) 4., am. (39) (g) 1., (42) (f) 1., 2., (43) (a) 1., (b) 1., (45) (g) 1., (47) (g) 1., (48) (b) 1r., r. (49) (c) 1., am. (49) (c) 2., (50) (c) 1., (g) 1., 2., 3., (51) (h) 1., (54) (e) 3., (55) (f) 1., (56) (g) 1., (h) 1., 2., cr. (57) (d) 2., am. (57) (f) 1., 4., 5., cr. (57) (f) 6., am. (60) (d) 3m., (61) (e) 1., (62) (f) 1., (64) (d) 1., (65) (d) 1., cr. (68) (cm), am. (70) (b) 2., 3., (f) 1., (71) (f) 1., (72) (g) 1., (73) (o) 7. Register February 2024 No. 818, eff. 4-1-24; CR 23-058: am. (4) (h) 1r., cr. (25) (b) 2., am. (38) (d) 4., (44) (c) 2., (d) 2., (g) 1., cr. (50) (f) 4m., am. (60) (a) 2., (64) (d) 2., (f) 2., (i) 2., (73) (f) 4.
Register June 2024 No. 822, eff. 7-1-24.
NR 20.25(1)(1)
On the first Saturday and consecutive Sunday of June and the third Saturday and consecutive Sunday of January each year, no fishing license is required to fish the inland or outlying waters, pursuant to s.
29.197 (3), Stats.
NR 20.25(2)
(2) The license waiver of sub.
(1) does not apply to commercial fishing license requirements.
NR 20.25 History
History: Cr.
Register, May, 1999, No. 521, eff. 6-1-99;
CR 13-001: am. (1)
Register August 2013 No. 692, eff. 9-1-13.
NR 20.30
NR 20.30 Department permitted to take fish. No provision in this chapter prohibits the department, its agents, wardens or representatives of the bureau of fisheries management and habitat protection from taking any of the fish mentioned at any time they deem it advisable and necessary to promote the general conservation progress.
NR 20.30 History
History: Cr.
Register, May, 1999, No. 521, eff. 6-1-99.
NR 20.33
NR 20.33 Special open and closed seasons. NR 20.33(1)(1)
Season closure under unusual conditions. NR 20.33(1)(a)
(a)
Water level reduction. Pursuant to par.
(e), the department may close the season for fishing in all or part of any inland water which has experienced sudden water level reduction or where a sudden reduction is imminent as a result of dam failure, draw down or other loss of water supply. The closed season shall remain in full force and effect until the department determines that the water has been returned to its original level and the season is open pursuant to par.
(e) 2. The department may close the season when it finds after scientific investigation and study, that all of the following have occurred:
NR 20.33(1)(a)1.
1. Game fish have been or will be unusually concentrated due to the drop in water level and may, therefore, be more vulnerable to angler harvest.
NR 20.33(1)(a)2.
2. The remaining game fish population structure cannot easily be replaced if subjected to continued angler harvest.
NR 20.33(1)(a)4.
4. Continued sport fishing may result in a depletion of the game fish supply.
NR 20.33(1)(a)5.
5. Closure of the season is necessary to conserve the game fish supply until water levels are restored and to insure the citizens of this state continued opportunities for good fishing.
NR 20.33(1)(b)
(b)
Fish concentrated under ice. Pursuant to par.
(e), the department may close the season for fishing through the ice in all or part of any inland water. The closed season shall remain in full force and effect until the water is no longer covered with ice and the season is opened pursuant to par.
(e) 2. The department may close the season when it finds, after scientific investigation and study, that all of the following apply:
NR 20.33(1)(b)1.
1. The body of water is not expected to experience significant loss of its game fish population due to loss of oxygen.
NR 20.33(1)(b)2.
2. Ice cover has caused an unusual concentration of game fish, increasing their vulnerability to angler harvest.
NR 20.33(1)(b)3.
3. Continued sport fishing would deplete the supply of game fish.
NR 20.33(1)(b)4.
4. A closed season is necessary to conserve the game fish supply and insure the citizens of this state continued opportunities for good fishing;
NR 20.33(1)(c)
(c)
Fishery rehabilitation. Pursuant to par.
(e), the department may close the season for fishing in all or part of any inland water in which fish have been removed or destroyed as a result of a rehabilitation program, to reestablish a good supply of game fish and insure the citizens of this state future opportunities for good fishing. The closed season shall remain in full force and effect until opened pursuant to par.
(e) 2., scientific investigation indicates the game fish population has achieved a harvestable surplus of fish of desirable size, and reopening the season does not conflict with the closed seasons for each species specified in sub.
(1).
NR 20.33(1)(d)
(d)
Presence of nonindigenous species. Pursuant to par.
(e), the department may close the season for all bait harvest in all or part of any water that has been documented to contain detrimental species that are not indigenous to the waters of the state in order to prevent the further transport of nonindigenous species to other waters of the state. The department shall open the season pursuant to par.
(e) 2., if the department determines that the nonindigenous species is no longer present or the nonindigenous species no longer poses a threat to other waters of the state.
NR 20.33(1)(e)1.1. A closed season under par.
(a),
(b),
(c) or
(d) shall become effective only after one or more public informational meetings are held by the department. The closed season shall be put into effect by publication of a notice in the state newspaper, posting the notice on or in the vicinity of the shore of the water affected, and by providing any other notice which the department deems reasonable.
NR 20.33(1)(e)2.
2. A closed season under par.
(a),
(b),
(c) or
(d) shall be discontinued only after publication of a notice in the state newspaper and removal of the notices posted on or in the vicinity of the shore of the water affected.
NR 20.33(2)
(2)
Urban fishing program. The department may establish an urban fishing program by posting the open and closed seasons on specified waters. The department shall post notice on the affected waters that a special fishing season applies. The notice shall state the name or description of the water to which the special fishing season applies, the persons permitted to fish during the special fishing season and the time period of the special fishing season. The department may designate or remove a body of water in accordance with the requirements of s.
29.053 (2) (a), Stats.
NR 20.33(3)
(3)
Temporary dip netting authorization. The department shall open the season for fishing with dip nets in any waters when it finds after scientific investigation and study that the fish populations in the waters are threatened with imminent mortality because of depletion of dissolved oxygen or other adverse habitat conditions under which fish will not survive. During the open season all species of fish may be taken by means of dip nets not more than 3 feet in diameter or 3 feet square, but no person may have more than 25 pounds and one fish of any species of game fish of any size in possession. No person may fish with more than one dip net. The open season shall be put into effect by posting a notice thereof on or in the vicinity of the shore of the waters affected, the posting being deemed by the department to be the most feasible way of notifying the public that the open season for fishing with dip nets is in effect. The open season shall remain in full force and effect only so long as the waters are covered with ice and so long as the posting is continued.
NR 20.33(4)
(4)
Fishery rehabilitation. The department may open the season for fishing with dip nets, minnow seines or spears in waters for which a permit for treatment with a toxicant has been issued. During the open season all species of fish of any size may be taken with no bag or possession limit. The open season shall be from the date of issuance of said permit until the commencement of treatment and shall be put into effect by posting a notice thereof on or in the vicinity of the waters affected and by publication in one or more newspapers having wide circulation in the area affected.
NR 20.33(5)
(5)
Harvest quotas and special early closure of the sturgeon spearing season. NR 20.33(5)(a)
(a)
Harvest quota. The total allowable annual harvest for the Lake Winnebago system shall be based on an average annual harvest or exploitation rate of 5% of the estimated Lake Winnebago system population of adult female sturgeon, 5% of the estimated population of juvenile female sturgeon and 5% of the estimated population of male sturgeon.
NR 20.33(5)(a)1.
1. Lake Winnebago shall be allocated 90% of the Lake Winnebago system harvest cap for adult female sturgeon, 80% of the Lake Winnebago system harvest cap for juvenile female sturgeon, and 80% of the Lake Winnebago system harvest cap for male sturgeon. For the February 2006 sturgeon spearing season, Lake Winnebago shall be allocated 100% of the harvest cap for all cohorts as there is no season on the upriver lakes that year.
NR 20.33(5)(a)2.
2. The upriver lakes shall be allocated 10% of the Lake Winnebago system harvest cap for adult female sturgeon, 20% of the Lake Winnebago system harvest cap for juvenile female sturgeon, and 20% of the Lake Winnebago system harvest cap for male sturgeon.
NR 20.33(5)(a)3.
3. The number of upriver lakes sturgeon spearing licenses or carcass tags issued annually for each upriver lakes sturgeon spearing season shall be determined by the department. The department shall base its determination for each upriver lakes sturgeon spearing season upon:
NR 20.33(5)(b)
(b) Conditions for season closure. The department shall close the season for spearing sturgeon on Lake Winnebago if the actual harvest on Lake Winnebago meets or exceeds 90% of the total allowable annual harvest of adult female sturgeon, juvenile female sturgeon or male sturgeon from Lake Winnebago, as determined by the department. The department shall close the season for spearing sturgeon on the upriver lakes if the actual harvest on the upriver lakes meets or exceeds 90% of the total allowable annual harvest of adult female sturgeon, juvenile female sturgeon or male sturgeon from the upriver lakes, as determined by the department. The department shall close the season for spearing sturgeon on the Lake Winnebago system if the actual harvest on the Lake Winnebago system meets or exceeds 90% of the total allowable annual harvest of adult female sturgeon, juvenile female sturgeon or male sturgeon from the Lake Winnebago system, as determined by the department.
NR 20.33(5)(c)
(c)
Announcement and notice of season closure. The season closure for the lake Winnebago sturgeon spearing season or the upriver lakes sturgeon spearing season or both shall be announced by a department press release to local media and to the official state newspaper on the day that actual harvest meets or exceeds 90% of the total allowable annual harvest of juvenile female sturgeon, adult female sturgeon or male sturgeon for that season, based upon the registration of harvested sturgeon pursuant to s.
NR 20.07 (6). The department shall post notice of the closure in the vicinity of Lake Winnebago or the upriver lakes or both and provide other notice deemed reasonable by the department.
NR 20.33(5)(d)
(d)
Effective date of season closure. The season closure shall take effect at 1:00 p.m. on the day following issuance of the department press release announcing the season closure in par.
(c) when the actual harvest meets or exceeds 90% but is less than 100% of the total allowable annual harvest of juvenile female sturgeon, adult female sturgeon or male sturgeon for that season, based upon the registration of harvested sturgeon pursuant to s.
NR 20.07 (6). The season closure shall take effect at 7:00 a.m. on the day following issuance of the department press release announcing the season closure in par.
(c) when the actual harvest meets or exceeds 100% of the total allowable annual harvest of juvenile female sturgeon, adult female sturgeon or male sturgeon for that season, based upon the registration of harvested sturgeon pursuant to s.
NR 20.07 (6).
NR 20.33 History
History: Cr.
Register, May, 1999, No. 521, eff. 6-1-99; cr. (5),
Register, December, 1999, No. 528, eff. 1-1-00;
CR 02-014: am. (5) (c),
Register September 2002 No. 561, eff. 10-1-02; emerg. r. and recr. (5) (c) eff. 2-2-05;
CR 05-073: r. and recr. (5)
Register January 2006 No. 601, eff. 2-1-06;
CR 17-061: am. (5) (c), (d)
Register February 2018 No. 746, eff. 3-1-18;
CR 17-051: am. (5) (d)
Register March 2018 No. 747 eff. 4-1-18; merger of (5) (d) treatments by
CR 17-051 and
CR 17-061 made under s.
13.92 (4) (bm) Register March 2018 No. 747.
NR 20.35
NR 20.35 Alternate size and bag limits. NR 20.35(1)(1)
Purpose. Notwithstanding any provision of either ch.
NR 21,
22,
23 or this chapter, for all or part of any inland, boundary or outlying water, the department may apply the alternative size limits, bag limits or both under this section for fish species identified in order to provide for better use and management of the fishery resource of the water to which the proposed alternate limit would apply.
NR 20.35(2)
(2)
Procedure. The department shall follow the following procedures in applying an alternate size limit or bag limit under this section:
NR 20.35(2)(a)
(a)
Notice. The department shall prepare and distribute a notice of its intent to apply an alternate limit under this section. The notice shall be published as a class 1 notice under ch.
985, Stats., in a general circulation newspaper in the vicinity of the water and, if the proposal has statewide significance, in the official state newspaper. A copy of the notice shall be sent to individuals and organizations which the department believes may be interested in the matter. The notice shall include a description of the water affected, the fish species affected, the alternate limit which will apply, and the date the alternate limit will take effect. The notice shall invite the public to submit written comments and indicate that a public information meeting will be held on the alternate limit if requested in writing within 10 days after the notice is published.
NR 20.35(2)(b)
(b)
Public information meeting. If a public information meeting is requested under par.
(a), the department shall conduct the public information meeting in the vicinity of the affected water. At the meeting the department shall describe the factual basis for its intended decision and shall receive comments from the public on the matter.
NR 20.35(2)(c)
(c)
Determination. If, based on facts and information available to it, including comments received in response to the notice and at any public information meeting which may be held, the department concludes that a condition described in sub.
(3) affects fish in a specific water, it shall apply the corresponding alternate limit. The alternate limit shall take effect upon the posting of the notice under par.
(d).
NR 20.35(2)(d)
(d)
Posting. The department shall post notice at public access sites on the affected water that an alternate limit applies to a species of fish found in that water. The notice shall set out the name or description of the water or that part of the water to which the proposed alternate limit would apply, the species of fish affected, the corresponding alternate limit and the effective date of the alternate limit.
NR 20.35(2)(e)
(e)
List. The department shall maintain a current list of all waters to which an alternate limit under this section applies. The list shall be available for public inspection at the department's central office during regular office hours.
NR 20.35 Note
Note: The list will be available for review at the offices of the bureau of fisheries management and habitat protection, 101 South Webster Street, Madison, WI.
NR 20.35(3)(a)(a)
Size limits. If the department finds under sub.
(2) that one or more of the following conditions exists in a particular water, the corresponding alternate size limit shall apply to the named species of fish in that water.
NR 20.35(3)(a)1.
1. No size limit shall apply to walleye, largemouth bass or smallmouth bass if, for the particular species in a particular water, the department finds that at least one of the following conditions exist:
NR 20.35(3)(a)1.a.
a. Angler exploitation of the species is less than 15% of the population of fish larger than the original size limit.
NR 20.35(3)(a)1.b.
b. Total adult mortality for that species is less than 30% of the population.
NR 20.35(3)(a)1.d.
d. Walleye males do not grow to a length of at least 13 inches in 4 years or largemouth bass or smallmouth bass do not grow to a length of at least 12 inches in 5 years in all inland waters lying north of a line following state highway 77 from its bridge over the St. Croix river then east on state highway 77 to its intersection with state highway 27, then south on highway 27 to its intersection with state highway 64, then east along highway 64 to its end, then continuing east to the waters of Green Bay or in inland waters of Brown, Kewaunee or Door counties north of a line beginning with the state highway 29 bridge over the Fox river, then east along state highway 29 to its end, then continuing east to Lake Michigan.
NR 20.35(3)(a)1.e.
e. Largemouth bass or smallmouth bass do not grow to a length of at least 14 inches in 6 years in inland waters other than those identified in subd.
1. d. NR 20.35(3)(a)2.
2. Alternate size limits may apply to walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, muskellunge, catfish, northern pike, or panfish if, for the particular species in a particular water, the department finds that at least one of the following conditions exist:
NR 20.35(3)(a)2.a.
a. A lake restoration project is in place to reduce detrimental fish species that includes bio-manipulation of a waterbody through increasing the abundance and biomass of predator game fish. The department shall apply the following minimum size limits to particular species: 18-inch walleye, 18-inch largemouth or smallmouth bass, or 32-inch northern pike.
NR 20.35(3)(a)2.b.
b. Fish have been removed or destroyed as a result of a rehabilitation program to reestablish a good supply of game fish. The department shall apply the following minimum size limits to particular species: 18-inch walleye, 18-inch largemouth or smallmouth bass, or 32-inch northern pike.
NR 20.35(3)(a)2.c.
c. An inland water has been documented to contain detrimental species, species nonindigenous to the waters of the state, or rough fish. In order to control the population of detrimental, nonindigenous, or rough fish species and protect the native fish populations, the department shall apply the following minimum size limits to particular species: 18-inch walleye, 18-inch largemouth or smallmouth bass, or 32-inch northern pike.
NR 20.35(3)(a)2.d.
d. The department finds that an evaluation of a size limit could not be completed before a sunset date listed in s.
NR 20.20. The department may extend the size limit under sub.
(2) and the limit shall remain the same and in full force and effect for 7 years from the date specified in s.
NR 20.20 or until a permanent rule change is in place, whichever occurs first. The determination to extend a size limit sunset date under sub.
(2) shall be made within two years prior to the sunset date listed in s.
NR 20.20.
NR 20.35(3)(b)
(b)
Bag limits. If the department finds under sub.
(2) that one or more of the following conditions exists in a particular water, the corresponding alternate bag limit shall apply to the named species of fish in that water. Alternate daily bag limits may apply to walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, muskellunge, catfish, northern pike, or panfish if, for the particular species in a particular water, the department finds that at least one of the following conditions exist:
NR 20.35(3)(b)1.
1. A lake restoration project is in place to reduce detrimental fish species that includes bio-manipulation of a waterbody through increasing the abundance and biomass of predator gamefish. The department shall apply the following daily bag limits to particular species: 3 walleye, 1 largemouth or smallmouth bass, 1 northern pike, or 10 panfish.
NR 20.35(3)(b)2.
2. Fish have been removed or destroyed as a result of a rehabilitation program to reestablish a good supply of game fish. The following daily bag limits shall apply to particular species: 3 walleye, 1 largemouth or smallmouth bass, 1 northern pike, or 10 panfish.
NR 20.35(3)(b)3.
3. An inland water has been documented to contain detrimental species, species nonindigenous to the waters of the state, or rough fish. In order to control the population of detrimental, nonindigenous, or rough fish species and protect the native fish populations, the department shall apply the following daily bag limits to particular species: 3 walleye, 1 largemouth or smallmouth bass, 1 northern pike, or 10 panfish.
NR 20.35(3)(b)4.
4. The department finds that an evaluation of a daily bag limit could not be completed before a sunset date listed in s.
NR 20.20. The department may extend the daily bag limit under sub.
(2) and the limit shall remain the same and in full force and effect for 7 years from the date specified in s.
NR 20.20 or until a permanent rule change is in place, whichever occurs first. The determination to extend a daily bag limit sunset date under sub.
(2) shall be made within two years prior to the sunset date listed in s.
NR 20.20.
NR 20.35(3)(c)
(c)
Statewide size and bag limits. Upon making a determination under sub.
(2), the department may establish that a general size and bag limit found in the statewide table under s.
NR 20.20 (73) is in effect or, for inland trout and salmon, the county base regulation for “all waters not listed” in each county in s.
NR 20.20 is in effect.
NR 20.35(3)(d)
(d)
Size and bag limits where fish consumption advisories have been established. The department may establish an alternate size or bag limit upon finding that one of the following conditions exist in fish sampled from a particular water: More than 10% of the fish tested of that species, in fillets with the skin on, contain .75 parts per million or more mercury, 2 parts per million or more PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl), 5 parts per million or more DDT (dichloro diphenyl trichloroethane), 5 parts per million or more Toxaphene, 0.3 parts per million or more Chlordane, or 0.3 parts per million or more Dieldrin. Upon making a determination under sub.
(2) (c):
NR 20.35(3)(d)1.
1. The size limit shall be established so that it allows consumption of fish of sizes which may be consumed under the recommendations of a health guide for eating fish in Wisconsin as published on the department's website.
NR 20.35(3)(d)2.
2. The bag limit shall be zero where the recommendation is that no fish should be consumed.
NR 20.35 Note
Note: “
Choose Wisely, A Health Guide for Eating Fish in Wisconsin” is a brochure that helps people plan how much fish they can safely eat. It is based on testing conducted on individual waters and also contains statewide recommendations. Printed copies may be available at department offices and the brochure is also located on the department's website. Information in Hmong and Spanish languages is available on the department's website.
