Chapter NR 20

NR 20.05(12) (12) Use, possess, control, set or place in any water any live box, or similar device that might be used for the keeping of fish unless a tag of permanent material bearing the name and address or department customer identification number of the owner or user is securely attached and is readable and legible.

NR 20.05 Note Note: This restriction does not apply to receptacles carried by the angler to contain fish while fishing.

NR 20.05(13) (13) Sponsor a fishing tournament unless a permit has been obtained from the department pursuant to s. NR 20.40.

NR 20.05(14) (14) Capture, tag, mark or attach any object and release wild fish unless issued a permit by the department pursuant to s. NR 19.11, or by specific written authorization from the department to capture, tag and immediately release fish from the wild using lawful methods for the purposes of a fishing contest, including contests authorized under a fishing tournament permit in s. NR 20.40 (10) (h) 2. c.

NR 20.05(15) (15) Possess or control any fish in excess of the total daily bag limit each day.

NR 20.05(16) (16) Possess or use a sinker release device while fishing in waters of the state.

NR 20.05 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1999, No. 521, eff. 6-1-99; CR 01-012: am. (1) and (4), Register November 2001 No. 551, eff. 4-1-02; CR 02-073: am. (5) and (6), Register January 2003 No. 565, eff. 2-1-03; CR 03-014: cr. (14) Register November 2003 No. 575, eff. 4-1-04; CR 04-024: am. (8), cr. (15) Register December 2004 No. 588, eff. 1-1-05; CR 06-011: cr. (16) Register September 2006 No. 609, eff. 4-1-07; CR 07-014: am. (1) Register January 2008 No. 625, eff. 4-1-08; emerg. am. (6) and (7), eff. 11-2-07; EmR0808: emerg. am. (6) and (7), eff. 4-4-08; CR 07-074: am. (6) and (7) Register May 2008 No. 629, eff. 6-1-08; CR 09-051: am. (14) Register June 2010 No. 654, eff. 7-1-10; CR 13-019: am. (3) Register December 2013 No. 696, eff. 4-1-14; CR 19-009: cr. (5m) Register February 2020 No. 770, eff. 3-1-20; CR 19-091: am. (14) Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4-1-20; correction in (6) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register February 2021 No. 782; CR 21-058: am. (12), (14) Register March 2022 No. 795, eff. 4-1-22.

NR 20.06 NR 20.06 Hook and line fishing. No person may do any of the following:

NR 20.06(1) (1) Fish in inland waters by the method of trolling with more than 1 line per person, with more than 1 hook, bait, or lure per line, and with more than a total of 3 lines used for trolling per boat, except where specifically authorized in ss. NR 20.15 (4) or 20.20 and except that a person with a disability who holds a trolling permit under s. 29.193 (1m), Stats., and any person who assists the disabled person in the same boat, is not subject to the line restrictions of this subsection while trolling with an electric motor.

NR 20.06(2) (2) Fish with more than 3 hooks, baits or lures.

NR 20.06(3) (3) Fish with any hook and line fishing tackle, bait, hooks or lures on waters where its use is not authorized in s. NR 20.20. Gear restrictions for trout and salmon on waters or portions of waters specified in s. NR 20.20 apply to all species while fishing on those waters.

NR 20.06(3m) (3m) Possess or control any live bait or any other baits, hooks or lures other than artificial lures while on the waters, banks or shores of waters where only the use of artificial lures is authorized in subch. III.

NR 20.06(5) (5) Use a gaff in any manner other than for landing a fish that is legally hooked.

NR 20.06(6) (6) Fish by snagging, foul hooking or attempting to hook fish other than in the mouth.

NR 20.06(7) (7) Possess, retain or fail to immediately release fish hooked other than in the mouth.

NR 20.06(8) (8) Use, possess, control, set or place any snag line or snag pole, snaghook or cluster of hooks that could be placed into or drawn through the water for the purpose of catching fish or drawing the hooks into the body of fish.

NR 20.06(9) (9) Fish with an unattended line except where specifically authorized under s. NR 20.20. Failure to immediately respond to a line upon indication of a bite shall be prima facie evidence that the line is unattended.

NR 20.06 Note Note: For further restrictions on the use of setlines and set or bank poles, see s. NR 20.12.

NR 20.06(10) (10) Fish with an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) or, in open water, with a free-floating, remote controlled or anchored buoyant device, with attached hook and line that is not held or otherwise controlled by the angler with the use of a line connected to the device.

NR 20.06 Note Note: This method is commonly known as jug fishing.

NR 20.06(11) (11) Fish with a minnow 8 inches or longer unless using a quick-strike rig that the person attempts to hook immediately into the mouth of a fish upon indication of a bite or unless using a non-offset circle hook.

NR 20.06 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1999, No. 521, eff. 6-1-99; cr. (3m), Register, December, 1999, No. 528, eff. 4-1-00; CR 01-012: am. (5), Register November 2001 No. 551, eff. 4-1-02; CR 07-014: r. (4) Register January 2008 No. 625, eff. 4-1-08; CR 09-018: am. (10) Register February 2010 No. 650, eff. 3-1-10; CR 11-006: cr. (11) Register October 2011 No. 670, eff. 4-11-12; CR 13-001: am. (1) Register August 2013 No. 692, eff. 9-1-13; CR 14-029: am. (1) Register June 2015 No. 714, eff. 7-1-15; CR 14-029: am. (1) Register June 2015 No. 714, eff. 5-4-18; correction in (1) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register June 2015 No. 714; CR 17-012: am. (1), Register March 2018 No. 747 eff. 4-1-18; CR 21-058: am. (1), (10) Register March 2022 No. 795, eff. 4-1-22.

NR 20.07 NR 20.07 Lake sturgeon carcass tags and registration, hook and line fishing and spearing.

NR 20.07(1) (1) Carcass tags. No person may:

NR 20.07(1)(a) (a) Fish for lake sturgeon unless in possession of a valid, unique carcass tag that has not already been used to harvest a sturgeon. A tag is not valid when fishing on waters not authorized by the tag, or if the tag is expired. A tag is not valid when fishing with gear that is not authorized for use with the tag. Fishing for lake sturgeon where hook and line fishing is allowed and when the hook and line season is open, while not in possession of a valid carcass tag, is not a violation of this par. if in compliance with par. (e).

NR 20.07(1)(b) (b) Upon harvesting a lake sturgeon, fail to immediately validate the carcass tag that authorized the harvest.

NR 20.07(1)(c) (c) Possess or transport the carcass of a lake sturgeon unless also in possession of the validated carcass tag that authorized the harvest.

NR 20.07(1)(d) (d) Fail to keep a validated carcass tag in good, legible condition so as to permit meaningful inspection by the department. Carcass tags shall remain intact except that part of a tag may be separated as designated by the department on the tag as a means of validation.

NR 20.07(1)(e) (e) Fail to immediately release a lake sturgeon caught by hook and line methods unless the person is in compliance with the requirements of this section.

NR 20.07(1)(f) (f) Prior to registration, possess or transport the carcass of a lake sturgeon which is tagged with or possessed under the authority of a validated carcass tag of another person unless accompanied by the person issued the carcass tag.

NR 20.07(1)(g) (g) While on any water, bank or shore, or while fishing, possess a validated carcass tag, or any copy of a unique carcass tag already used to harvest a sturgeon, unless the person is also in possession of the legally killed lake sturgeon corresponding to that carcass tag.

NR 20.07(1)(h) (h) Validate or attach a carcass tag to a lake sturgeon harvested by another, or taken by unlawful or unknown means.

NR 20.07(1)(i) (i) Possess more than one copy of a unique carcass tag while on any water, bank or shore, or while fishing.

NR 20.07(1)(j) (j) Purchase more than one hook and line lake sturgeon carcass tag for inland or outlying waters per season except that one additional hook and line lake sturgeon carcass tag may be purchased for Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters per season.

NR 20.07 Note Note: Each hook and line sturgeon carcass tag displays a unique identifier that corresponds to the license issued.

NR 20.07(2) (2) Tagging and possession. No person may:

NR 20.07(2)(a) (a) Possess a lake sturgeon unless they immediately validate the carcass tag by separating a designated portion of the tag or by marking it as designated by the department on the tag. Failure to completely validate the carcass tag renders possession of the animal illegal and the carcass tag invalid.

NR 20.07(2)(b) (b) Possess a lake sturgeon which is being transported in any manner from the time the sturgeon is taken into possession to the time it is lawfully registered pursuant to sub. (6) unless the sturgeon is carried openly exposed.

NR 20.07(2)(c) (c) Possess a lake sturgeon speared from Lake Butte des Morts, Lake Poygan or Lake Winneconne under s. NR 20.20 (73) (e) 2. b. outside the following area unless the sturgeon has been registered pursuant to sub. (6): from the intersection of highways 45 and 21 in Oshkosh west on highway 21 to highway 116; north on highway 116 to county highway B; west on county highway B to county highway D; west on county highway D to highway 49; north on highway 49 to county highway H; east on county highway H to highway 110; east on highway 110 to county highway II; south on county highway II to county highway M; south on county highway M to highway 116; east on highway 116 to highway 45; south on highway 45 to highway 21.

NR 20.07(2)(d) (d) Possess a lake sturgeon speared from Lake Winnebago under s. NR 20.20 (73) (e) 2. b. outside the following area unless the sturgeon has been registered pursuant to sub. (6): from the intersection of highways 10 and 114 in Menasha, east on highway 114 to highway 55; south on highway 55 to U.S. highway 151; south on U.S. highway 151 to Winnebago drive in Fond du Lac; west on Winnebago drive to Scott street; west on Scott street to highway 45; north on highway 45 to Main street in Oshkosh; north on Main street to Waugoo avenue; east on Waugoo avenue to Bowen street; north on Bowen street to county highway A; north on county highway A to highway 114 in Neenah; east on highway 114 to the intersection of highways 10 and 114 in Menasha.

NR 20.07(3) (3) Display. No person may refuse or fail to display a validated carcass tag or registration verification number to the department or its wardens upon request.

NR 20.07(4) (4) Attachment. No person who kills a lake sturgeon may leave the carcass unless the tag has been attached to the carcass.

NR 20.07 Note Note: Tags may be attached using string, plastic ties, wire or in any manner which results in the tag being secured to the carcass in a visible manner. Carcass tags may be protected from environmental elements in sealed clear plastic bags.

NR 20.07(5) (5) Removal and retention. A carcass tag attached as required in this section may be removed by the department at the time of registration, except that no person may remove a registration tag attached under sub. (6) prior to butchering or preparation by a taxidermist. The registration tag shall be retained by the person who harvested the sturgeon until the meat is consumed.

NR 20.07(6) (6) Registration. No person who harvests a lake sturgeon may fail to register the fish as follows:

NR 20.07(6)(a) (a) In an intact condition.

NR 20.07(6)(b) (b) At a lake sturgeon registration station established by the department.

NR 20.07(6)(c) (c) By 5:00 p.m. on the day after it was harvested, if taken by hook and line.

NR 20.07(6)(d) (d) By 2:00 p.m. on the same day it was harvested, if taken by spearing.

NR 20.07(7) (7) Research. The department may require that any part of a sturgeon shall be collected, sampled, or submitted to the department for research purposes. No person may fail to comply with any collection, sampling, or submission procedure required by the department.

NR 20.07 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1999, No. 521, eff. 6-1-99; CR 04-024: am. (1) Register December 2004 No. 588, eff. 1-1-05; CR 09-051: am. (5) Register June 2010 No. 654, eff. 7-1-10; EmR1613: emerg. am. (1), cr. (1m), (1r), (1v), am. (2) to (5), cr. (6), (7), eff. 3-12-16; EmR1712: emerg. am. (1v), eff. 6-17-17; CR 17-061: r. and recr. Register February 2018 No. 746, eff. 3-1-18; correction in numbering (4) (a) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register March 2018 No. 747.

NR 20.08 NR 20.08 Restrictions on the use of bait. No person may do any of the following:

NR 20.08(1) (1) Use goldfish as bait or possess goldfish in any form or manner on any water of the state.

NR 20.08(2) (2) Use alewife as bait or possess alewife in any form or manner on any water of the state except Lake Michigan, Lake Michigan tributaries, Green Bay, major Green Bay tributaries, and all other tributary streams, rivers and ditches to Green Bay upstream to the first dam or lake.

NR 20.08(3) (3) Release any unused bait into any waters of the state unless issued a permit pursuant to s. 29.736, Stats.

NR 20.08(4) (4) Use as bait, possess or release any minnows or other fish on the waters or shores of waters that have been chemically treated for trout management when posted by department signs.

NR 20.08(5) (5) Take, gather, collect, possess or attempt to take, gather or collect larvae or nymphs of aquatic insects from any trout stream for use or sale as bait except that a licensed angler may take larvae or nymphs from trout streams by hand during the open trout season for immediate use as bait only in the trout stream from which the larvae or nymphs were taken.

NR 20.08(6) (6) Possess for use as bait, or use as bait any live fish or live fish eggs if obtained outside of, or brought into, the state of Wisconsin, except for the following:

NR 20.08(6)(a) (a) Live fish or live fish eggs imported in compliance with the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection’s import and health requirements in ch. ATCP 10.

NR 20.08 Note Note: Section ATCP 10.62 (1) prohibits the importation into Wisconsin of live fish or live fish eggs for use as bait without a written import permit from the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection.

NR 20.08(6)(b) (b) Live fish or live fish eggs obtained in Minnesota or Iowa and used as bait in or on waters of the Mississippi River lying between the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific railroad tracks on the Iowa or Minnesota side of the river, and the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe railroad tracks lying on the Wisconsin side of the river, including all sloughs and backwaters, bays and newly extended water areas connected with the main channel of the Mississippi River by a channel which is navigable when the waters are approximately equal to the normal pool elevation as created by the U.S. army corps of engineers and in the waters of Lake St. Croix, and the St. Croix River and the St. Louis River as defined in s. NR 21.02 (39).

NR 20.08(7) (7) Possess for use as bait, or use as bait any dead fish, dead fish egg or any part of any dead fish or dead fish egg unless at least one of the following applies:

NR 20.08(7)(a) (a) It is being possessed or used on Lake Michigan, Green Bay or any waters connected to these waters upstream to the first dam or other obstruction impassable to fish.

NR 20.08(7)(b) (b) It is being possessed or used on the same water body from which it was obtained, or on any water connected to that water body that is not separated by a dam or other obstruction impassable to fish.

NR 20.08(7)(c) (c) It has been preserved in a manner that does not require either refrigeration or freezing.

NR 20.08(7)(d) (d) It is a minnow that is a “live fish” as defined in s. NR 20.03 (19g) and was obtained and possessed lawfully from waters of the state or it was imported in compliance with sub. (6) (a) or (b).

NR 20.08 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1999, No. 521, eff. 6-1-99; CR 01-012: am. (2), Register November 2001 No. 551, eff. 4-1-02; emerg. cr. (6) and (7), eff. 11-2-07; CR 07-074: cr. (6) and (7) Register May 2008 No. 629, eff. 6-1-08; CR 10-053: am. (6) (b) Register December 2010 No. 660, eff. 1-1-11; CR 19-091: am. (7) (a), (b) Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4-1-20.

NR 20.09 NR 20.09 Spearing restrictions. No person may do any of the following:

NR 20.09(1) (1) Possess or control any bow, crossbow, spear, or similar device while on any water or on the banks or shores of any water that might be used for the purpose of fishing except as specifically authorized in ss. NR 20.10, 20.15 (1m) or 20.20, or ch. NR 21, 22, or 23.

NR 20.09 Note Note: Bows, crossbows, spears, and similar devices may not be possessed or used on some department-managed lands and associated waters regulated under chs. NR 11 and 45.

NR 20.09(2) (2) Use, possess, or control any bow, crossbow, spear, or similar device from sunset to sunrise while on the waters or on the banks or shores of any waters except as authorized in s. NR 20.20, and that a bow and arrow or crossbow may be possessed and used for spearing rough fish, bullheads and catfish from sunset to sunrise during the open season for spearing rough fish.

NR 20.09(3) (3) Spear any game fish except that:

NR 20.09(3)(a) (a) White bass, yellow bass, rock bass, panfish and bullheads may be speared while skin diving or scuba diving during the open season for rough fish spearing on waters specified in s. NR 20.20, provided that the season for white bass, yellow bass, rock bass, panfish and bullheads is also open on the same water. Daily bag limits and size restrictions specified in s. NR 20.20 for white bass, yellow bass, rock bass, panfish and bullheads also apply.

NR 20.09(3)(b) (b) Flathead and channel catfish may be taken with a bow and arrow or crossbow during the open season for taking catfish with a bow and arrow or crossbow on waters specified in s. NR 20.20.

NR 20.09(3)(c) (c) Bullheads may be taken with a bow and arrow or crossbow during the open season for taking bullheads with a bow and arrow or crossbow on waters specified in s. NR 20.20.

NR 20.09(4) (4) Fail to remove any speared fish from the water and dispose of the fish in compliance with s. 287.81 (2), Stats.

NR 20.09 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1999, No. 521, eff. 6-1-99; am. (2), Register, February, 2000, No. 530, eff. 4-1-00; CR 01-012: am. (3), Register November 2001 No. 551, eff. 4-1-02; CR 02-073: am. (2), Register January 2003 No. 565, eff. 2-1-03; CR 04-024: am. (3) Register December 2004 No. 588, eff. 1-1-05; CR 09-051: am. (2) Register June 2010 No. 654, eff. 7-1-10; CR 13-001: am. (1), (2) Register August 2013 No. 692, eff. 9-1-13; CR 13-019: am. (1), (2) Register December 2013 No. 696, eff. 4-1-14; CR 19-009: am. (2), renum. (3) to (3) (intro.) and am., cr. (3) (b), (c) Register February 2020 No. 770, eff. 3-1-20; CR 21-021: am. (1) Register November 2021 No. 791, eff. 4-1-22; correction in (1) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register November 2021 No. 791; CR 21-058: am. (1), (2), cr. (4) Register March 2022 No. 795, eff. 4-1-22; error in transcription corrected in (1) Register March 2022 No. 795.

NR 20.10 NR 20.10 Special lake sturgeon spearing restrictions. No person may do any of the following:

NR 20.10(1) (1) Fish for sturgeon on Lake Winnebago system waters by any means other than spearing with a spear thrown by hand from inside a fishing shelter placed on the ice during the open season specified in s. NR 20.20 (73) (e).

NR 20.10(2) (2) Fish with or possess a fishing pole, hook and line or other similar devices that might be used for the purpose of catching fish within any fishing shelter containing an ice hole larger than 12 inches in diameter or square during the open season for spearing lake sturgeon on waters specified in s. NR 20.20 (73) (e).

NR 20.10(3) (3) Cover holes cut in the ice which are used or maintained for sturgeon spearing pursuant to s. NR 20.11 (2) with a fishing shelter except during the period from 48 hours before and continuing through the open season for lake sturgeon spearing.

NR 20.10(4) (4) Use or possess any artificial light while sturgeon spearing in order to illuminate any waters open to sturgeon spearing during the period beginning 48 hours before and continuing through the open season for lake sturgeon spearing.

NR 20.10(5) (5) Cut, use or maintain holes in the ice larger than 48 square feet for sturgeon spearing pursuant to s. NR 20.11 (2).

NR 20.10(6) (6) Fish for sturgeon during the open season by the method of spearing or possess or control a spear or similar device within a fishing shelter on Lake Winnebago system waters from 12 a.m. until 7 a.m. on opening day, and from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m. on opening day and subsequent days.

NR 20.10(7) (7) Fish for lake sturgeon with a spear having a spearhead width greater than 18 inches as measured from the outside edge of one outermost tine to the outside edge of the other outermost tine, excluding barbs, or with tines arranged in any formation other than a single straight line, or both, or possess such a spear during the open season for lake sturgeon.

NR 20.10 Note Note: Barbs are not considered to be part of the tine and may extend beyond 18 inches.

NR 20.10(8) (8) Possess, maintain or control a spear in a sturgeon fishing shelter unless in possession of a valid sturgeon spearing license and unused carcass tag for the waterbody on which that shelter is located.

NR 20.10(9) (9) Spear any fish other than a lake sturgeon, except that during the open sturgeon spearing season when the season for spearing rough fish is closed, a licensed sturgeon spearer may retain or dispose of in compliance with s. 287.81 (2), Stats., any carp taken incidentally while sturgeon spearing under subs. (1) to (8) in the portion of the state open to sturgeon spearing, subject to all of the following requirements:

NR 20.10(9)(a) (a) The person spearing the carp shall be in possession of an unused sturgeon carcass tag for the water and season during which the carp is incidentally harvested.