Fishing
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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…
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Fishing Lake Michigan trout and salmon?
Select a question from the list below, or scroll down the page to browse the individual answers below.
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Estimating fish weight
Fish are sometimes damaged when weighed. Using the appropriate formula for your species below, you can quickly calculate the "approximate" weight of your fish by using a ruler. You may also wish to download our trophy converter [PDF] in which we've…
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Stream access laws
State anglers, canoeists and others who frequent Wisconsin's rivers and streams need to be aware of changes to rules pertaining to access along waterways that were enacted in the 2001 Wisconsin state budget bill (2001 Wisconsin Act 16). Stream…
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Your fishing questions answered
Have questions about fishing in Wisconsin? You're not alone. Below are some of our most frequently asked questions, sorted by topic.
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Fisheries management reports
Wisconsin DNR fisheries management reports are available below in Adobe PDF format. To view a publication in your browser, click on the publication ID in the left column. To download a publication to your computer, right-click on the ID and choose…