Chapter NR 20

NR 20.12 Note Note: All game fish taken on any set or bank pole or setline shall be immediately returned to the water except catfish taken in compliance with this section.

NR 20.12(3)(b) (b) The size, bag and possession limits for catfish and rough fish established in s. NR 20.20 shall apply to all persons who fish with set or bank poles or setlines.

NR 20.12(4) (4) Sale of fish. No person may sell any fish taken on a set or bank pole or setline except the following:

NR 20.12(4)(a) (a) Rough fish.

NR 20.12(4)(b) (b) Channel catfish taken from lakes Winnebago, Butte des Morts, Winneconne, Poygan, and the Wolf river from 500 feet below the Shawano dam downstream to its mouth.

NR 20.12 Note Note: Refer to s. NR 19.275 for inland turtle regulations.

NR 20.12 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1999, No. 521, eff. 6-1-99; am. (1) (intro.), (c) and (d), cr. (1m), Register, February, 2000, No. 530, eff. 3-1-00; correction in (2) (b) was made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats; CR 01-012: am. (2) (h) and (4) (b); CR 01-013: am. (4) (c), Register November 2001 No. 551, eff. 4-1-02; CR 04-024: am. (4) (intro.), r. (4) (b), renum. (4) (c) to be (4) (b) Register December 2004 No. 588, eff. 1-1-05; CR 05-015: cr. (2) (k) Register October 2005 No. 598, eff. 4-1-06; CR 10-053: am. (2) (b) Register December 2010 No. 660, eff. 1-1-11.

NR 20.13 NR 20.13 General netting restrictions. No person may do any of the following:

NR 20.13(1) (1) Possess, control or operate in any manner any net, seine or similar device that might be used for the purposes of fishing at any time while on any water or on the banks or shores of any water except as specifically authorized in this section, s. NR 20.14 or 20.20.

NR 20.13(2) (2) Set, use or operate a dip net or seine from sunset to sunrise unless specifically authorized in s. NR 20.20.

NR 20.13(3) (3) Set, use or operate more than one dip net.

NR 20.13(4) (4) Set, use or operate a dip net in any manner other than by raising and lowering it vertically while fishing.

NR 20.13(5) (5) Fish in any other manner while operating a dip net or seine.

NR 20.13(6) (6) Fish with hook and line from any boat while in possession of a dip net.

NR 20.13(7) (7) Leave a dip net or seine unattended within 25 feet of the edge of the water.

NR 20.13(8) (8) Sell, barter or trade in any manner any sucker taken with a dip net or seine.

NR 20.13(9) (9) Set, use or operate a landing net other than for landing a fish that is legally hooked or to net fish as authorized with the use of dip nets under this chapter or chs. NR 21 to 23.

NR 20.13 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1999, No. 521, eff. 6-1-99; CR 01-012: am. (6) and (7), Register November 2001 No. 551, eff. 4-1-02; CR 08-010: cr. (9) Register November 2008 No. 635, eff. 4-1-09.

NR 20.14 NR 20.14 Minnow collecting restrictions. No bait dealer may take minnows for use as bait from any inland or outlying water without a wild harvest permit from the department under s. NR 19.057. In addition, no person may do any of the following:

NR 20.14(1) (1) Set, use or operate any net, trap or similar device for the taking of minnows other than minnow seines, minnow dip nets and minnow traps as authorized in s. NR 20.20 unless issued a non-standard gear permit by the department under s. NR 20.39 pursuant to s. 29.516 (1), Stats.

NR 20.14(2) (2) Set, use or operate any minnow seine, minnow dip net, minnow trap or similar device for the taking of minnows in any water unless specifically authorized in s. NR 20.20 or 20.39. Minnow seines or minnow dip nets of any type or description may not be set, used or operated in any trout stream unless a non-standard gear permit is issued by the department under s. NR 20.39.

NR 20.14(3) (3) Set, use or operate minnow traps in any water that is posted as having been chemically treated to reestablish a trout fishery.

NR 20.14(4) (4) Set, use or operate minnow traps unless a label or tag bearing the legible name and address or department of natural resources customer identification number of the operator in the English language is securely attached.

NR 20.14(5) (5) Set, use or operate minnow traps unless they are raised and the minnows are removed from them at least once every 48 hours from all waters except trout streams.

NR 20.14(6) (6) Set, use or operate minnow traps in trout streams during the closed season for trout unless issued a non-standard gear permit by the department under s. NR 20.39. The permit authorizing placement of minnow traps in trout streams during the closed season for trout shall specify conditions on raising the traps and removing minnows.

NR 20.14(7) (7) Set, use or operate more than 3 minnow traps in trout streams during the open season for trout except licensed bait dealers.

NR 20.14(7)(a) (a) No more than a total of 20 minnow traps may be set, used or operated by licensed bait dealers during the open season for trout when removing minnows from one or more trout streams unless issued a non-standard gear permit by the department under s. NR 20.39.

NR 20.14(7)(b) (b) Minnow traps set, used or operated on trout streams during the open season for trout shall be raised and the minnows removed from them at least once every 24 hours.

NR 20.14(8) (8) Possess or control more than 600 minnows at any time unless licensed as a bait dealer under s. 29.509, Stats.

NR 20.14 Note Note: With certain exceptions, s. NR 19.05 (3) prohibits the transportation of live fish and live fish eggs, including minnows, taken from any water of the state.

NR 20.14(9) (9) Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter or chs. NR 21 to 23, use or operate any net, trap or similar device for the taking of minnows, or fish for minnows except suckers for any purpose using any gear in Lake Michigan, Green Bay, Lake Superior, the Mississippi River, Lake Winnebago, the Fox River from Lake Winnebago to Green Bay, or any bay, slough or backwater of these waters, or any water connected to these waters, upstream to the first dam or other obstruction impassable to fish, or in any other water where the department has determined that the Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia virus is present based on test results or other empirical evidence. If the department determines that the Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia virus is present in any additional water body, it shall promptly notify the public of its determination by issuing a press release, by publication in the official state newspaper, and by such other means as the department determines are reasonably likely to inform the public.

NR 20.14(10) (10) Transport away from the water or its bank or shore any live sucker taken from Lake Michigan, Green Bay, Lake Superior, the Mississippi River, Lake Winnebago, the Fox River from Lake Winnebago to Green Bay, or any bay, slough or backwater of these waters, or any water connected to these waters, upstream to the first dam or other obstruction impassable to fish, or from any additional water where the department has determined under sub. (9) that the Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia virus is present.

NR 20.14 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1999, No. 521, eff. 6-1-99; CR 01-012: am. (3) and (6), Register November 2001 No. 551, eff. 4-1-02; emerg. am. eff. 11-2-07; EmR0808: emerg. cr. (9) and (10), eff. 4-4-08; CR 07-074: am. Register May 2008 No. 629, eff. 6-1-08; CR 19-091: am. (4), (9), (10) Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4-1-20.

subch. III of ch. NR 20 Subchapter III — Authorized Methods, Open Seasons, Daily Bag Limits and Size Restrictions on Specified Waters

NR 20.15 NR 20.15 Authorized methods. A person may do any of the following:

NR 20.15(1) (1) Take rough fish, bullheads and catfish by hand as specified in s. NR 20.20, except in waters established as fish refuges under ch. NR 26.

NR 20.15(1m) (1m) Except as prohibited under ss. NR 21.065, 22.065, and 23.10, or where posted closed to spearing by department sign, take rough fish by means of spearing with a hand held spear within 200 feet of a fishway, lock or dam from June 1 through August 31 where there is an open season for spearing of rough fish.

NR 20.15(2) (2) Use any fish for bait provided the fish was lawfully obtained and legal to possess pursuant to all the restrictions set forth in this chapter.

NR 20.15(3) (3) Spear white bass, yellow bass, rock bass, panfish and bullheads while skin diving or scuba diving during the open season for rough fish spearing as specified in s. NR 20.20.

NR 20.15(4) (4) Fish by the method of trolling with up to 3 hooks, baits, or lures on all inland waters in the following counties: Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Shawano, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waushara, Waukesha, Winnebago, and Wood.

NR 20.15 History History: CR 01-012: cr. Register November 2001 No. 551, eff. 4-1-02; CR 13-019: am. (1), cr. (1m) Register December 2013 No. 696, eff. 4-1-14; CR 14-029: cr. (4) Register June 2015 No. 714, eff. 7-1-15; CR 14-029: am. (4) Register June 2015 No. 714, eff. 5-4-18; correction in numbering (4) (a) to (zm) under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1; CR 17-012: am. (4), Register March 2018 No. 747 eff. 4-1-18; CR 19-009: am. (1) Register February 2020 No. 770, eff. 3-1-20; CR 19-091: am. (4) Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4-1-20; CR 21-058: am. (1m) Register March 2022 No. 795, eff. 4-1-22.

NR 20.16 NR 20.16 Special early catch and release season for trout.

NR 20.16(1) (1) General provisions.

NR 20.16(1)(a) (a) Open season and waters. Except as specified in sub. (2), there is an open season for trout from 5:00 a.m. on the first Saturday in January through the Friday preceding the first Saturday in May on the following waters:

NR 20.16(1)(a)1. 1. All streams in Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, St. Croix, Sauk, Sawyer, Sheboygan, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha and Wood counties.

NR 20.16(1)(a)3. 3. ‘Florence county.’ Pine river, Popple river in its entirety.

NR 20.16(1)(a)4. 4. ‘Forest county.’ Peshtigo river downstream from U.S. highway 8, Pine river downstream from STH 55, Popple river in its entirety, and Rat river downstream from Scattered Rice lake.

NR 20.16(1)(a)5. 5. ‘Langlade county.’ Wolf river, main stem of the Plover river upstream of STH 153, excluding tributaries and off-channel springs.

NR 20.16(1)(a)6. 6. ‘Lincoln county.’ All streams west of STH 51 and Prairie river downstream from CTH J.

NR 20.16(1)(a)7. 7. ‘Marathon county.’ Black creek (mouth at T27N R7E S4), Black creek (T30N,R3E), Grass creek, McGinnes creek, Fourmile creek, Noisy creek, and, main stem of the Plover river upstream of STH 153, excluding tributaries and off-channel springs.

NR 20.16(1)(a)8. 8. ‘Marinette county.’ North branch Peme Bon Won river downstream from STH 141, Peshtigo river upstream from CTH C, Pike river between CTH V and CTH K, and Rat river.

NR 20.16(1)(a)9. 9. ‘Marquette county.’ Chaffee creek downstream from CTH B, Klawitter creek, Lawrence creek, Lunch creek, Mecan river upstream from STH 22, Neenah creek, O’ Keefe creek, Wedde creek and Westfield creek.

NR 20.16(1)(a)10. 10. ‘Oconto county.’ North branch Oconto river downstream from STH 64 and south branch Oconto river downstream from CTH AA.

NR 20.16(1)(a)11. 11. ‘Oneida county.’ All streams west of STH 51 and Bearskin creek.

NR 20.16(1)(a)12. 12. ‘Portage county.’ Ditches 1 through 6 downstream from Townline road, Tomorrow river from Amherst downstream to Durant road, and Waupaca (Tomorrow) river from Durant road downstream.

NR 20.16(1)(a)13. 13. ‘Shawano county.’ Middle branch Embarrass river from Homme dam to STH 29, north branch Embarrass river from Tilleda dam downstream to Leopolis dam and Red river downstream from lower Red Lake dam.

NR 20.16(1)(a)14. 14. ‘Vilas county.’ Mishonagon creek.

NR 20.16(1)(a)15. 15. ‘Waupaca county.’ North branch Little Wolf river from CTH P to CTH J, south branch Little Wolf river, Waupaca river from Frost Valley road to STH 54, and Waupaca (Tomorrow) river from Frost Valley road upstream.

NR 20.16(1)(a)16. 16. ‘Waushara county.’ Carter creek, Leola ditch, Mecan river downstream from 11th road, Pine river downstream from CTH K to Poy Sippi pond, Roche-a-Cri creek, Willow creek from Blackhawk road to 29th lane, and White river from STH 21 to lower White River millpond.

NR 20.16 Note Note: The early catch and release season does not apply to spring ponds, ponds or lakes.

NR 20.16(1)(b) (b) Daily bag limit, possession limit and gear restrictions. The following restrictions apply to waters specified in par. (a) during the open season specified in par. (a):

NR 20.16(1)(b)1. 1. The daily bag limit and possession limit for trout is 0.

NR 20.16(1)(b)2. 2. No person may use any hooks, baits or lures other than artificial lures while fishing for any species of fish on trout streams specified in par. (a).

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).

NR 20.18 History History: CR 04-024: cr. Register December 2004 No. 588, eff. 1-1-05; CR 09-051: am. (1) Register June 2010 No. 654, eff. 7-1-10; CR 15-023: am. (12) (a) Register December 2015 No. 720, eff. 4-1-16; CR 19-009: am. (1) Register February 2020 No. 770, eff. 3-1-20; CR 19-016: am. (2) (a) Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4-1-20; CR 19-091: am. (10) Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4-1-20.

NR 20.19 NR 20.19 Possession limits.

NR 20.19(1) (1) Possession limit table. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the following possession limits are established.

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)(b) (b) Panfish caught on Twin Valley lake in Iowa 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.

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.

subch. IV of ch. NR 20 Subchapter IV — Department Authority

NR 20.25 NR 20.25 License waiver.

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.