Fishing

Smelt runs on lakes Michigan and Superior

How many rods, baits or lures can I use?

The regulation governing this part of Wisconsin fishing is not written in terms of the number or poles/rods/lines. It reads, "No person may do any of the following ... fish with more than three (3) hooks, baits or lures." Therefore, it is the…

Difference between possession and daily bag limit

The possession limit is the maximum number of a species that you can control, transport, etc., at any time. It is twice the total daily bag limit. The daily bag limit is the maximum number that you can keep in one day (i.e., 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM)…

Fish with missing fin

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) fisheries biologists track fish for research purposes. There are various ways DNR marks fish which are part of these research studies: a tag is attached to the fish, or a radio transmitter is implanted,…

Water classifications

A water body must be classified as either a lake or a river by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to enforce Wisconsin boating restrictions and apply provisions of the shoreland access and zoning laws. Impoundments Impoundments…

Fishing Lake Michigan trout and salmon?

Select a question from the list below, or scroll down the page to browse the individual answers below.

Lake and river maps

The Department of Natural Resources has maps for some 1,350 individual lakes, ponds, flowages and rivers for public distribution. We do not have maps for every Wisconsin lake or river. Many (but not all) of these maps are currently available for…

Fishing licenses for children

Wisconsin residents and nonresidents 16 years old or older need a fishing license to fish in any waters of the state. Children under 16 years of age do not need a fishing license. Children have their own bag limits and are expected to follow the…

Using fish as bait

Fish other than minnows may be used as bait. Typically, bluegills and perch are used in this fashion. However, if there is a minimum length limit for the baitfish on that water, it still applies. For example, if there is an 8-inch minimum length…

Native fish in aquarium

You may purchase game fish from an aquarium shop or fish farm and keep the receipt as proof that the fish were purchased (not collected from the wild). This would allow you to keep sub-legal fish in your aquarium, and the number of fish held could…