Fishing_Content Page_Fishing tournament permit application process

Fishing tournament permit application process

Please remember: Tournament applications should be submitted at least 30 days in advance of your event.

You can now apply for your fishing tournaments electronically:

  1. View a calendar with all scheduled Wisconsin tournaments and
  2. Submit your application for a tournament permit

How do I apply for a permit?

Two options are available for applying for a fishing tournament permit:

  1. Submit an online application (this may speed the review of applications)
    • Create your user account at the Wisconsin Web Access Management System.
    • Next, log in to the Fisheries Management Information System. You can store your contact information, DNR customer ID number, and tournament permit history in MyTournaments and create new permit applications. 
    • You can now pay your fee electronically! Be sure to have your checking account and bank routing numbers on hand before you apply.
    • then follow the instructions provided in the online form; or
  2. Print a blank tournament application -  and complete it by hand (see instructions below if having difficulty accessing the form.)
    • Fill out all fields including either your DNR customer ID or your date of birth before mailing (see the license requirements for an explanation of why a DNR customer ID is needed). Hard copies of tournament applications should be mailed along with the application fee (payable to "Wisconsin DNR") to Fishing Tournament Applications - FH/4, Wisconsin DNR, PO Box 7921, Madison WI 53707-7921

WARNING:  Many current browsers do not open PDF forms or allow them to be saved or submitted:

  1. Please try Internet Explorer. If that doesn’t work:
  2. From a desktop computer:
    1. Download the PDF (right-click on the link, then select "Save link as" or "Save target as")
    1. Make a note of the file location and file name so you can access the file from your device.
    1. Do not double-click the file. Open the Adobe Reader software, select "File > Open, " and browse to the PDF file you saved on your device.

See PDF Help for additional information.

How do I pay my application fee?

Pay the Application Fee Online with ePay
You will need the 5-digit tournament ID number for your event. This number is located in the top right corner of your printed application. Enter the letter ‘T’ followed by the tournament ID number (example T12345) in Invoice No. field on the ePay webpage, then follow the instructions.

Missing a past fishing tournament results report?

You cannot submit a new tournament application until you have completed and returned the results report from your previously held tournament(s).

If you are trying to apply online but receive an error message informing you that you are missing a report you need to print the report, complete it, and

  • please mail it to the address listed above, or
  • send a scanned copy to Meghan Stirling or fax a copy with a cover sheet to 608-266-2244.

In the report be sure to include the number of people and boats who participated, the total prize value awarded for fishing, tournament dates with fishing start and stop times, and a catching summary of fish registered, kept, and released by species.

Tournament types and application fee structure

Type of tournament Prize Value Tournament Fee
Immediate release Any $25
Great Lakes salmon or trout Any $25
Rough fish Any $25
Any < $1001 $25
"Catch-hold-release" or "catch and kill" $1001-$10,000 $50
"Catch-hold-release" or "catch and kill" > $10,001 $200
50% of participants < 18 years old or disabled Any Free

When should I submit an application for a fishing tournament?

We must receive your completed application at least 30 days before the start date of your tournament. As of June 2014, the “open period” process has been changed to a simpler first-come-first-served process. Applicants may apply to start on Jan. 1 of the preceding year for traditional tournaments and April 1 of the prior year for non-traditional (everybody else) tournaments.

Traditional tournaments:

A traditional tournament is one that was issued permits 4 out of 5 years from 2004 to 2008 for the same water and time period. A traditional tournament shall continue to be conducted at least 4 out of 5 years for the same water or waters and time period to remain a traditional tournament.

What happens next?

  • once the application is received, A fisheries biologist will review it;
  • if approved, the biologist will mail you a signed permit with conditions for the tournament and a blank results form;
  • the results form must be filled out and returned to the address above within 30 days after the tournament is held.

Contact information

If you have general questions about fishing tournaments, please contact Meghan Stirling.