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 NoteNote: “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.
NR 20.35(4)(4)Termination of alternate limits.Any time the department has reason to believe that the condition which led to the application of an alternate limit under this section no longer affects a species of fish in a particular water, it may remove the alternate limit by following the procedures under sub. (2) (a) to (c). Following its determination to remove an alternate limit the department shall remove or modify the posted notices of alternate limits and the original bag limit or size limit shall then apply.
NR 20.36NR 20.36Modifications in daily bag limit and minimum size limit in response to tribal harvest.
NR 20.36(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 20.36(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:
NR 20.36(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:
NR 20.36(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 through the first Sunday in March of the next year as indicated in sub. (1). If actual harvest subsequently exceeds the expected harvest level, the daily bag limit or the minimum size limit may be adjusted the following year to reflect actual harvest for that year and harvest goals of the Chippewa Bands for the next year. If a new population estimate is made, the safe harvest level shall be changed accordingly and the secretary may adjust the daily bag limit or minimum size limit according to the percentage of the new safe harvest level that is expected to be harvested as indicated in sub. (1), where deemed necessary to remain consistent with the safety factors established under Lac Courte Oreilles v. State of Wis., 707 F. Supp. 1034 (W. D. Wis. 1989). 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 20.36(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 and no person may possess or have under control more than the possession limit of 10 walleyes.
NR 20.36(3)(b)(b) While fishing any waters with adjusted size or bag limits calculated pursuant to the provisions of this section, no person may possess fish in excess of the bag limit or of any size other than authorized for that water.
NR 20.36(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 20.38NR 20.38Control of detrimental fish.The department finds, pursuant to s. 29.424 (1), Stats., that the following fish species are detrimental in the waters specified. The department may remove them from the waters specified or cause them to be removed, pursuant to ss. 29.421 and 29.417, Stats.:
NR 20.38(1)(1)Bullheads.The department finds that bullheads are detrimental in the following waters:
NR 20.38(1)(a)(a) All waters in Barron, Burnett, Chippewa, Marathon, Oneida, Polk, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, St. Croix, Taylor, Vilas, and Washburn counties.
NR 20.38(1)(b)(b)Adams and Juneau counties.Castle Rock flowage and the Wisconsin river beginning at the Petenwell dam and extending downstream to the Castle Rock dam except for that part of the Yellow river in Castle Rock flowage locally called the Buckhorn area, upstream from the electric power transmission line across the flowage in sections 26 and 35, T17N, R4E, Juneau county.
NR 20.38(1)(c)(c)Dodge county.Beaver Dam lake and the Rock river from hwy. 49 downstream to the dam in Hustisford.
NR 20.38(1)(d)(d)Florence county.Bass, Fay, Frog, Halsey, Long (Forest county), Patten, Scout and West Bass lakes; Line and Pine river flowages.
NR 20.38(1)(e)(e)Forest county.Arbutus lake, Crane lake, Jungle lake, Lake Metonga, Lily lake, Little Rice lake, Pickerel lake, and Roberts lake.
NR 20.38(1)(k)(k)Wood county.Petenwell flowage and the Wisconsin river beginning at the Nekoosa dam in Wood county extending downstream to the Petenwell dam in Adams and Juneau counties.
NR 20.38(3)(3)Catfish.The department finds that catfish are detrimental in the following waters:
NR 20.38(4)(4)Panfish.The department finds that panfish are detrimental in the following waters:
NR 20.38(4)(a)(a)Washburn county.All waters in the township of Chicog.
NR 20.38(4)(b)(b)Oneida county.Crescent lake (sections 8, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, T36N, R8E) and Stella lake.
NR 20.38(6)(6)Nonindigenous fishes.The department finds that all fish species, strains or hybrids that are not indigenous to the waters of the state are detrimental fish in all waters of the state except where their presence is specifically permitted under s. 29.736, Stats.
NR 20.39NR 20.39Permits for use of nonstandard minnow gear on inland waters.
NR 20.39(1)(1)The department may issue a permit under this section to a licensed bait dealer for the taking of minnows with minnow seines, minnow dip nets or minnow traps which are otherwise prohibited by s. NR 20.14. Applications shall be submitted on forms available from the department to the regional office having jurisdiction over the affected waters, and all of the following provisions shall apply to nonstandard gear permits:
NR 20.39 NoteNote: The permit application form is available at https://dnr.wi.gov, search “bait harvest.
NR 20.39(1)(a)(a) The department may issue the permit if it determines that all of the conditions of this paragraph are met, and may specify conditions in the permit to minimize user conflict in the waterbodies of harvest, manage cumulative harvest of minnows from specific waterbodies, minimize bycatch, and protect fish habitat:
NR 20.39(1)(a)1.1. For waters with adequate public access according to s. NR 1.90 (2) (a), the department shall determine if:
NR 20.39(1)(a)1.a.a. The department does not need the minnows for its fish management activities.
NR 20.39(1)(a)1.b.b. Removal of the minnows will not cause or substantially contribute to a long-term depletion of the forage base.
NR 20.39(1)(a)1.c.c. Threatened or endangered species listed in ch. NR 27 are not known to be present in or near the affected water.
NR 20.39(1)(a)1.d.d. Unique or sensitive biological values such as nesting loons or heron rookeries are not present in, on or near the affected water.
NR 20.39(1)(a)1.e.e. The use of the minnow seines, minnow dip nets or minnow traps is not likely to hinder or interfere with the exercise of a permit issued earlier in the year to another person for the water.
NR 20.39(1)(a)1.f.f. The use of the minnow seines, minnow dip nets or minnow traps is not likely to hinder or interfere with any other public uses of the water.
NR 20.39(1)(a)1.g.g. The use of the minnow seines, minnow dip nets or minnow traps is not likely to result in the spread of invasive species or diseases.
NR 20.39(1)(a)2.2. For waters lacking adequate public access and for waters surrounded by private lands, the department shall determine if:
NR 20.39(1)(a)2.b.b. The applicant provided the department with the name, mailing address and telephone number of the person granting the applicant legal access to the water.
NR 20.39 NoteNote: Under s. NR 19.057, a bait dealer also must have a wild harvest permit from the department to take wild minnows for use as bait.
NR 20.39(1)(b)(b) Permits issued by the department under this subsection shall:
NR 20.39(1)(b)1.1. Include the permit holder’s name, address and bait dealer’s license number.
NR 20.39(1)(b)3.3. Describe the minnow seines, minnow dip nets or minnow traps authorized.
NR 20.39(1)(b)3m.3m. Specify conditions on raising the traps and removing minnows.
NR 20.39(1)(b)3s.3s. For gear set in trout streams, specify conditions limiting gear type, size or number based on stream size.
NR 20.39(1)(b)4.4. Include an expiration date of December 31 of the calendar year in which the permit is issued, unless an earlier date is set under par. (c).
NR 20.39(1)(b)5.5. Prohibit the removal or destruction of vegetation, logs and other habitat features.
NR 20.39(1)(b)6.6. Require that minnows be transported only in tanks equipped with either an oxygen tank or an adequate aeration system.
NR 20.39(1)(b)7.7. Require that transport tanks and holding facilities not be loaded beyond their capacity to keep the minnows alive and healthy.
NR 20.39(1)(b)8.8. Require that all minnows taken under the permit be sold or used only for angling or rearing of fish in department or private fish hatcheries.
NR 20.39(1)(b)9.9. Require that all minnows which are not kept for use or sale and all game fish caught by the minnow seines, minnow dip nets or minnow traps be promptly returned unharmed to the water.
NR 20.39(1)(c)(c) The department may require reporting of the permit holder’s activities under the permit and may set reasonable permit conditions to insure that the requirements of par. (a) are met.
NR 20.39(1)(d)(d) The department shall act on a complete application for a permit under this section within 20 business days after it is received by the appropriate department regional office.
NR 20.39(1)(e)(e) No permit holder may cause or allow the violation of any term or condition of a permit issued under this section. In addition to any other penalties, if a permit holder is convicted of causing or allowing a violation of any term or condition of a permit, the permit is terminated.
NR 20.39(1)(f)(f) The department may, at any time, revoke or modify a permit issued under this section if it determines that the minnow supply is in danger of being depleted in the water for which the permit was issued. A permit revocation or modification shall become effective when it is received by the permit holder or 3 business days after it is mailed to the permit holder at the address shown on the permit, whichever occurs first.
NR 20.39(1)(g)(g) Any person aggrieved by a decision of the department under this section may, within 30 days of the mailing of the decision, request a contested-case hearing before the department on the decision under s. 227.42, Stats.
NR 20.40(1)(1)Applicability.This section applies to fishing tournaments on lakes, rivers, the Great Lakes, Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters as defined in s. NR 21.02 (39), Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters as defined in s. NR 22.02 (34), and Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters as defined in s. NR 23.02 (10).
NR 20.40(2)(c)(c) “Catch and kill tournament” means a fishing tournament where fish are caught by participants, reduced to their possession, and retained as part of the participant’s daily bag limit.
NR 20.40(2)(d)(d) “Catch-hold-release tournament” means a fishing tournament where fish caught by participants are reduced to possession and transported, usually for purposes of recording, and live fish are then released to the water from which they came. This format was previously referred to as a “live-release” tournament.
NR 20.40(2)(dm)(dm) “Cull” or “culling” means the practice of releasing a live fish that was held in an angler’s possession and replacing it with another fish. Live fish that are released and capable of swimming away under their own power are not considered part of the angler’s daily bag limit provided the total number of fish possessed at any one time does not exceed the angler’s daily bag limit.
NR 20.40 NoteNote: Section 29.403 (1m), Stats., allows culling only during largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing tournaments authorized by the department. An angler must release the fish to be culled without unnecessary delay when keeping a new fish that would otherwise put them over their daily bag limit, and may not resume fishing or other activities until the fish to be culled is first released.
/exec_review/admin_code/nr/001/20trueadministrativecode/exec_review/admin_code/nr/001/20/iv/38Department of Natural Resources (NR)Chs. NR 1-99; Fish, Game and Enforcement, Forestry and Recreationadministrativecode/NR 20.38administrativecode/NR 20.38sectiontrue
Published under s. 35.93, Stats. Updated on the first day of each month. Entire code is always current. The Register date on each page is the date the chapter was last published.
