Chapter NR 23

NR 23.02(8m) (8m) “Safe harvest” means a level of harvest that incorporates an appropriate margin of safety, estimates of the population and acceptable exploitation rates which will reasonably prevent harvest of more than 35% of the population of adult walleyes or 27% of the population of adult muskellunge. The margin of safety assures that the true safe harvest is not exceeded in more than 1 of 40 cases. For waters where a population estimate has not been made, a regression model based upon population estimates from other waters will be used. The margin of safety used depends upon the age of the population estimate and whether a regression model was used.

NR 23.02(8n) (8n) “Secretary” means secretary of the department of natural resources.

NR 23.02(9) (9) “Sport fishing” means fishing, when authorized, with hook and line, spearing and the use of a dip net.

NR 23.02(10) (10) “Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters” means the following waters that form the interstate boundary water between the states of Wisconsin and Michigan:

- See PDF for table

- See PDF for table

NR 23.02 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1986, No. 363, eff. 4-1-86; emerg. cr. (8m), eff. 5-5-89; cr. (8m) and (8n), Register, November, 1989, No. 407, eff. 12-1-89; correction in (5) and (8) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, January, 1999, No. 517; cr. (4m), am. (10) (l), Register, June, 1999, No. 522, eff. 7-1-99; CR 04-024: am. (1) and (7) Register December 2004 No. 588, eff. 1-1-05; CR 09-051: renum. (1) to be (1m), cr. (1) Register June 2010 No. 654, eff. 7-1-10; CR 17-061: r. (1) Register February 2018 No. 746, eff. 3-1-18.

NR 23.03 NR 23.03 General restriction. Except as specifically allowed by this chapter, fishing in and possession of fishing equipment on the Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters is prohibited.

NR 23.03 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1986, No. 363, eff. 4-1-86.

NR 23.04 NR 23.04 Reciprocity. Residents of Wisconsin and Michigan holding a resident fishing license from their respective states, or residents of other states holding a non-resident fishing license issued by Wisconsin or Michigan, may, in conformity with this chapter, fish by hook and line; spear and use dip nets to take minnows and rough fish in the Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters.

NR 23.04 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1986, No. 363, eff. 4-1-86.

NR 23.05 NR 23.05 Hook and line fishing.

NR 23.05(1) (1) No person may use more than 3 hooks, baits or lures. The line or lines shall be attended at all times.

NR 23.05(1m) (1m) No person may set, use or operate a landing net for any purpose other than for the purpose of landing fish legally hooked or to take fish as authorized with the use of dip nets under this chapter or ch. NR 20.

NR 23.05(2) (2) Any fish taken and retained in possession that is not released freely into the water immediately after capture shall be considered part of the angler’s daily bag limit.

NR 23.05(3) (3) No person may take fish by snagging or foul hooking unless authorized by s. NR 20.06.

NR 23.05(4) (4) No person may fish for fish of any variety during the closed season for trout in the Brule river upstream from the railroad bridge in section 29, township 42 north, range 34 west, Iron county, Michigan and section 25, township 41 north, range 15 east, Florence county, Wisconsin and in the Montreal river above the Saxon Falls flowage, except that rough fish may be taken by hand.

NR 23.05(5) (5) The seasons, size limits and bag and possession limits for hook and line fishing in the Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters for the species listed in this subsection, except as provided in ss. NR 23.06 and 23.085, are as follows:

- See PDF for table

NR 23.05 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1986, No. 363, eff. 4-1-86; am. (5) (d), Register, November, 1988, No. 395, eff. 12-1-88; am. (5) (h), cr. (5) (i), Register, December, 1989, No. 408, eff. 1-1-90; am. (5) (g), Register, January, 1991, No. 421, eff. 2-1-91; am. (1) (c), Register, March, 1992, No. 435, eff. 4-1-92; am. (5) (intro.), (a) and (b), r. and recr. (5) (d), (e), (f) and (h), cr. (5) (j), Register, November, 1993, No. 455, eff. 1-1-94; am. (2), Register, May, 1996, No. 485, eff. 6-1-96; am. (5) (d) 1., r. (5) (d) 2., Register, January, 1999, No. 517, eff. 4-1-99; correction in (3) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, June, 1999, No. 522; am. (5) (c), Register, December, 1999, No. 528, eff. 4-1-00; reprinted to correct error in (5) (d) 1., Register November 2001 No. 551; CR 03-014: r. and recr. (5) (c) Register November 2003 No. 575, eff. 4-1-04; CR 04-012: am. (5) (intro.) and (e) Register December 2004 No. 588, eff. 4-1-05; CR 06-011: am. (5) (c) 1. Register September 2006 No. 609, eff. 10-1-06; CR 08-010: cr. (1m) Register November 2008 No. 635, eff. 4-1-09; CR 09-051: cr. (5) (c) 1m. Register June 2010 No. 654, eff. 7-1-10; CR 10-025: am. (5) (d) 1. Register October 2010 No. 658, eff. 11-1-10; CR 11-006: cr. (5) (k) Register October 2011 No. 670, eff. 4-1-12; CR 13-019: am. (5) (d), (e) Register December 2013 No. 696, eff. 4-1-14; EmR1511: emerg. am. (h), eff. 5-1-15; EmR1609: emerg. am. (h), eff. 2-3-16; CR 15-042: am. (5) (h) 1., 2., cr. (5) (h) 3., 4. Register March 2016 No. 723, eff. 4-1-16; CR 15-066: am. (5) (c) 1., 1m. Register May 2016 No. 725, eff. 6-1-16; CR 19-009: am. (5) (intro.) Register February 2020 No. 770, eff. 3-1-20; CR 19-016: cr. (d) 1m., renum. (5) (d) 1. to (5) (d) 2. and am., am. (5) (e) Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4-1-20; CR 21-058: am. (4), r. and recr. (5) Register March 2022 No. 795, eff. 4-1-22.

NR 23.055 NR 23.055 Modifications in daily bag limit and minimum size limit in response to tribal harvest.

NR 23.055(1) (1) Adjustment. In order to prevent a total harvest of more than 35% of the adult walleye population or 27% of the adult muskellunge population, the secretary may lower the daily bag limit on walleye or adjust size limits for walleye or muskellunge in specific waters in response to the harvest goals or actual harvest of the Chippewa Bands for their spear, net or trap fisheries. The adjusted daily bag and size limits shall be in effect until the first Sunday in March of the year following the tribal harvest. The safe harvest levels on individual waters shall be determined by the department.

NR 23.055(1)(a) (a) Walleyes. The daily bag limit may be reduced in response to harvest by the Chippewa Bands’ spear, net, or trap fisheries. The extent of the reduction depends upon the percent of the safe harvest taken and the age of the population estimate used to determine the safe harvest or if a regression model was used to determine the safe harvest. The daily bag limits to be used with the different percentages and for various basis of determining the safe harvest are as follows:

- See PDF for table

NR 23.055(1)(b) (b) Muskellunge. The minimum size limit will be increased when the department is notified by the Chippewa bands that their harvest goal on an individual water is 60% or more of the safe harvest. The minimum size limits to be used with different percentages of the safe harvest are as follows:

- See PDF for table

NR 23.055(2) (2) Readjustment. In response to actual tribal harvest, the secretary may raise the daily bag limit or reduce the minimum size limit to the limit specified as appropriate using the percent of the safe harvest level expected to be harvested as indicated in sub. (1). If a new population estimate is made, the safe harvest level shall be changed accordingly and the daily bag limit or minimum size limit shall be adjusted according to the percentage of the new safe harvest level that is expected to be harvested as indicated in sub. (1). The readjusted daily bag and size limits shall be in effect until the first Sunday in March of the year following the tribal harvest.

NR 23.055(3) (3) Bag and possession limits.

NR 23.055(3)(a) (a) Reduced daily bag limits calculated pursuant to this section are individual lake limits and may be combined, but no person may exceed a total daily bag limit of 5 walleyes.

NR 23.055(3)(b) (b) While fishing no person may possess fish on any water in excess of the bag limit or under the size limit for that water.

NR 23.055(4) (4) Notice. Adjustments and readjustments of bag limits and minimum size limits under subs. (1) and (2) shall become effective upon publication of the adjustment or readjustment in the official newspaper in the area affected.

NR 23.055 History History: Emerg. cr. eff. 5-5-89; cr. Register, November, 1989, No. 407, eff. 12-1-89; CR 09-051: am. (1) (intro.) and (2) Register June 2010 No. 654, eff. 7-1-10; CR 13-019: am. (2) Register December 2013 No. 696, eff. 1-1-14; EmR1511: emerg. am. (1) (intro.), (a), eff. 5-1-15; eff. 5-1-15; EmR1609: emerg. am. (1) (intro.), (a), eff. 2-3-16; CR 15-042: am. (1) (intro.), (a) Register March 2016 No. 723, eff. 4-1-16.

NR 23.06 NR 23.06 Dip nets.

NR 23.06(1) (1) Dip nets and landing nets may be used for taking suckers, redhorse, carp, smelt and lawyers or burbot from April 1 to May 14, in the Menominee river except in that portion from the upstream side of the Hattie Street Bridge in Marinette-Menominee upstream to the next dam and within 200 feet below dams on the river.

NR 23.06(2) (2) Dip nets used for taking, catching, and killing rough fish and smelt may not exceed 9 feet square or 9 feet in diameter with a bag not more than 4 feet deep when lifted.

NR 23.06(3) (3) No person may use or operate any dip net in any manner other than by raising and lowering it vertically when fishing.

NR 23.06 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1986, No. 363, eff. 4-1-86; renum. from NR 23.07, Register, November, 1993, No. 455, eff. 1-1-94; CR 08-010: am. (1) Register November 2008 No. 635, eff. 4-1-09.

NR 23.065 NR 23.065 Taking rough fish, catfish and bullheads by hand. Rough fish, flathead and channel catfish, and bullheads may be taken by hand in boundary waters within Wisconsin subject to the season dates, gear restrictions, daily bag limits and size limits established in ss. NR 20.05 and 20.20.

NR 23.065 History History: CR 19-009: cr. Register February 2020 No. 770, eff. 3-1-20.

NR 23.07 NR 23.07 Minnows. No person may sell, trade or barter minnows taken from Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters. No person may take fish other than smelt with nets or traps in the Montreal river downstream from the Superior Falls dam.

NR 23.07 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1986, No. 363, eff. 4-1-86; emerg. am. eff. 4-25-89; am. Register, December, 1989, No. 408, eff. 1-1-90; renum. from NR 23.08 and am. Register, November, 1993, No. 455, eff. 1-1-94; am., Register, November, 1995, No. 479, eff. 4-1-96.

NR 23.08 NR 23.08 Motor trolling. Trolling with up to 3 hooks, baits, or lures per person is authorized on all Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters, except that in Vilas county waters, trolling with one hook, bait, or lure per person and no more than three lines used per boat is authorized.

NR 23.08 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1986, No. 363, eff. 4-1-86; renum. from NR 23.09, Register, November, 1993, No. 455, eff. 1-1-94; CR 14-029: am. Register June 2015 No. 714, eff. 7-1-15; CR 14-029: am. Register June 2015 No. 714, eff. 5-4-18; CR 21-058: am. Register March 2022 No. 795, eff. 4-1-22.

NR 23.085 NR 23.085 Spearing. Notwithstanding seasons established in s. NR 20.20, no person may fish by the method of spearing on any Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters except that rough fish, flathead and channel catfish and bullheads may be taken by bow and arrow or crossbow in boundary waters within Wisconsin subject to the season dates, daily bag limits and size limits established in ss. NR 20.05 and 20.20.

NR 23.085 History History: CR 13-001: cr. Register August 2013 No. 692, eff. 4-1-14; CR 19-009: am. Register February 2020 No. 770, eff. 3-1-20.

NR 23.09 NR 23.09 Ice fishing. Buildings, vehicles, tents, fish shanties or similar enclosures may be used on the ice for fishing in the Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters.

NR 23.09(1) (1) The door of any enclosure or shelter shall be unlocked and readily opened from the outside at all times while the enclosure or shelter is occupied.

NR 23.09(2) (2) All shelters shall be removed from the ice on or before March 15, or prior to that time if ordered by the department when it determines the ice has become unsafe for travel.

NR 23.09(3) (3) All buildings, tents, fish shanties and similar enclosures or shelters maintained, occupied, or used for fishing on the ice of any Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters shall have the name and residential address in the English language of the person owning or using the fishing shelter legibly painted or otherwise affixed on the outside of the fishing shelter with block lettering a minimum of one inch square and in contrasting colors. Fishing shelters that are occupied or otherwise in use are exempt from this requirement.

NR 23.09 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1986, No. 363, eff. 4-1-86; renum. from NR 23.10, Register, November, 1993, No. 455, eff. 1-1-94; CR 13-001: am. (3) Register August 2013 No. 692, eff. 9-1-13.

NR 23.10 NR 23.10 Fishing near dams. No person may fish by any means other than with hook and line within 200 feet below any dam.

NR 23.10 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1986, No. 363, eff. 4-1-86; renum. from NR 23.11, Register, November, 1993, No. 455, eff. 1-1-94.

NR 23.11 NR 23.11 Conflicting rules. Where regulations of Michigan and Wisconsin differ, fishers shall comply with the regulations of the state in whose territorial waters they are fishing.

NR 23.11 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1986, No. 363, eff. 4-1-86; renum. from NR 23.12, Register, November, 1993, No. 455, eff. 1-1-94.

NR 23.12 NR 23.12 Special lake sturgeon hook and line fishing requirements. The hook and line fishing requirements for lake sturgeon established in s. NR 20.07 also apply to Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters.

NR 23.12 History History: CR 09-051: cr. Register June 2010 No. 654, eff. 7-1-10; EmR1613: emerg. am. (1), cr. (1m), (1r), (1v), am. (2) to (4), cr. (5), (6), eff. 3-12-16; CR 17-061: r. and recr. Register February 2018 No. 746, eff. 3-1-18.