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Fisheries Management Information System

Fishing Wisconsin

Person knelling on frozen lake at sunset ice fishing.

The Fisheries Management Information System (formerly FMDB) is a DNR system that holds statewide data on fisheries assessments, angler surveys, fish stocking, fishing tournaments, permits, investigations of fish die-off and more. Department biologists and fisheries production staff use the system to store data and generate reports on the state's gamefish. The Fisheries Management Information System is also used by members of the public to apply for and track their fishing tournament permits and private stocking permits.

How can I access the system?

  • General, non-DNR users can log in with their WAMS ID and Password.
  • General users should already have a DNR GoWild account before logging in.
  • DNR (staff) users log in with their Department assigned ID and Password.

What information is in the system?

The Fisheries Management Information System holds a wide variety of fisheries data from rivers and lakes across the state.

Fisheries and Habitat Assessments

Fisheries and habitat data collected from Tier 1 and Tier 2 fisheries management assessment surveys and habitat improvement surveys are stored in the Fisheries Management Information System. Information stored in the System is used to generate statewide summaries to evaluate fisheries status and trends, and to assess the effectiveness of regulation strategies or stocking practices. The following links contain information on Walleye and Muskellunge assessments in Wisconsin's Ceded Territory:

Angler Surveys

Data from interviews and surveys of anglers fishing Wisconsin's waters are stored in the Fisheries Management Information System. These types of surveys are called "creel" surveys, referring to the wicker baskets (called creels) that were once used for carrying fish. The information stored in the System is used to generate statewide summaries of fish harvest, which helps inform future stocking requests. The following links contain information on angler surveys in Wisconsin's Ceded Territory:

Fish Stocking

Data on fish stocking planning and activities is stored in the Fisheries Management Information System. The Fish Stocking Summary for DNR Hatcheries, Ponds, and Coop Ponds allows you to see where fish have been stocked by DNR facilities throughout Wisconsin, in case you are interested in targeting stocked waters. You'll find information from 1972 to the present in this report, but it does not include stocking events performed by private fish hatcheries or tribes. Individuals or groups interested in conducting their own stocking of fish into a public waterbody in Wisconsin can submit a Fish Stocking Permit Application through the Fisheries Management Information System. Please refer to the Fish Stocking page for more information.

Fishing Tournaments

The DNR has established limits on the size and number of fishing tournaments on some lakes and rivers. View a calendar with all scheduled Wisconsin tournaments or apply for a tournament permit.

Fishing Regulations

Information on annual fishing regulations for inland lakes is stored in the Fisheries Management Information System. You can look-up a general summary of the regulations for an inland lake using the System's fishing regulations search.