Chapter NR 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.

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)3. 3. Water levels are expected to eventually return to normal.

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) (e) Closing and reopening seasons.

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)(a)3.a. a. The total allowable annual harvest allocated to the upriver lakes in subd. 2.

NR 20.33(5)(a)3.b. b. The abundance of lake sturgeon in the Lake Winnebago system.

NR 20.33(5)(a)3.c. c. Trends in upriver lakes sturgeon spearer success rates.

NR 20.33(5)(a)3.d. d. Spearer distribution and density.

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.