Chapter NR 23

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.