Wisconsin reference
For weighing a catchPiscifun Lip gripper with digital scale27% OFFSale $39.99 $54.99
Wisconsin Boundary Waters Rules
Wisconsin boundary water rules with Michigan, Minnesota and Iowa: which license works, which waters count, paper license copies and each season table.
For weighing a catchPiscifun Lip gripper with digital scale27% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Middle Genesee Lake: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Licenses
Which license works on Wisconsin boundary water
- Please note: Anglers must carry a paper copy of their license while fishing the Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters.licensing
- Wisconsin residents need a Wisconsin fishing license and a Michigan resident needs a Michigan fishing license to fish these waters. Residents of other states need a nonresident license from Wisconsin or Michigan. Regulations on these waters differ between the two states. You must obey the regulation of the state in which you are fishing. licensing
- Please note: Anglers must carry a paper copy of their license while fishing the Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters.licensing
- Wisconsin residents need a Wisconsin fishing license and Minnesota residents need a Minnesota license to fish in these boundary waters. Residents of other states need a nonresident license from Wisconsin or Minnesota. Regulations on these waters may differ between states. You must obey the regulations of the state in which you are fishinglicensing
- Please note: Anglers must carry a paper copy of their license while fishing the Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters.licensing
- Wisconsin residents need a Wisconsin fishing license and Iowa residents need an Iowa fishing license to fish in these boundary wa- ters. Residents of other states need a nonresident license from Wisconsin or Iowa. Regulations on these waters may differ between states. You must obey the regulations of the state in which you are fishing.licensing
- Wisconsin-Illinois: the 2026-2027 hook and line guide has no Wisconsin-Illinois boundary water table; no Illinois border rule was found in WDNR sources.not covered
2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations (WDNR), pages 77 to 87. Checked October 2026.
Wisconsin-Michigan
Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters
Includes the Brule, Menominee and Montreal rivers and their sloughs and flowages; that portion of Green Bay at the mouth of the Menominee River between the “government pier” or break wall on the south and the “lighthouse pier” or breakwall on the north and a line connecting the eastern-most points of those breakwaters on the east; and Basin, Big, Big Bad Water, Big Bateau, Crampton, Crystal, Cyrus, Lac Vieux Desert, Little Presque Isle, Mamie, Mill, Norwood, Plum, Roach, Smoky, State Line, Tenderfoot and West Bay lakes.
- Please note: Anglers must carry a paper copy of their license while fishing the Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters.rule
- Each angler may fish with not more than a total of three baits, lures or hooks.rule
- You may not take more than the daily bag limit of fish in a single day. The possession limit or maximum number of fish you may have in your possession at any time is the same as the daily bag limit.rule
- Goldfish, alewife and live crayfish may not be possessed or used for bait on Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters.rule
- Ice fishing: Angler name and address must be prominently displayed on ice fishing shelters (portable or otherwise) when not oc- coupied or otherwise in use.rule
- It is illegal to fish using any method other than hook and line within 200 feet of any fishway, lock or dam.rule
| Species | Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass (harvest) | All Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters | 5 in total; minimum length 14 inches | June 20, 2026 – Dec. 31, 2026 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass (catch and release) | All Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters | 0 (catch and release only) | All other times of the year |
| Muskellunge (includes hybrids) | Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters (some waters may have larger minimum length limits; look for sign | 1; minimum length 50 inches | June 1, 2026 – Dec. 31, 2026 (open water only) |
| Muskellunge (includes hybrids) | Menominee River from the Hattie Street Dam in Marinette downstream to the eastern end of the breakwa | 1; minimum length 54 inches | June 1, 2026 – Dec. 31, 2026 (open water only) |
| Northern pike | Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters | 5; no minimum length | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Yellow perch, white bass, yellow (striped) bass, crappie, bluegill and pumpkinseed | Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters | 25 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Trout and salmon | Smoky Lake, Montreal River and Menominee River from its mouth upstream to the first dam | 5 in total; minimum length 10 inches | Open all year |
| Trout and salmon | Brule River upstream from Hwy 2 | 5 in total; minimum length Brook trout 8 inches; brown trout 12 inches | April 25, 2026 – Sept. 30, 2026 |
| Trout and salmon | Brule River downstream from Hwy 2 and other Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters | 5 in total; minimum length 7 inches | April 25, 2026 – Sept. 30, 2026 |
| Lake sturgeon (catch and release) | Upstream from the Grand Rapids Dam on the Menominee River | 0 (catch and release only) | June 6, 2026 – March 1, 2027 |
| Lake sturgeon (harvest) | Upstream from the Grand Rapids Dam on the Menominee River | 1 per season; minimum length 60 inches | Sept. 5, 2026 – Sept. 30, 2026 (must be tagged and registered) |
| Lake sturgeon (catch and release) | Downstream from the Grand Rapids Dam on the Menominee River | 0 (catch and release only) | Sept. 5, 2026 – Sept. 30, 2026 |
| Walleye and sauger (includes hybrids) | Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters – in lakes | 5 in total; minimum length 15 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 1, 2027 |
| Walleye and sauger (includes hybrids) | Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters – in rivers and their flowages | 1; minimum length 15 inches | March 1, 2026 – May 1, 2026 |
| Walleye and sauger (includes hybrids) | Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters – in rivers and their flowages | 5 in total; minimum length 15 inches | May 2, 2026 – March 1, 2027 |
| Cisco and whitefish | Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters | 10 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Ruffe | Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters | 0 | Closed all year – one may be killed and possessed for transport to a DNR Service Center or |
| Catfish | Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters | 10; no minimum length | Open all year |
| All other species | Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters | None; no minimum length | Open all year |
Wisconsin-Minnesota
Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters
Applies to the stretch of the Mississippi River shared by Wisconsin and Minnesota lying between the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe railroad tracks on the Wisconsin side of the river and the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, and Pacific railroad tracks on the Minnesota side of the river, including Lake Pepin and Lake St. Croix; the St. Croix River from the Burlington Northern railroad bridge at Prescott north to the point where the river is no longer a boundary between Wisconsin and Minnesota; and the St. Louis River, including St. Louis Bay, Superior Bay, Allouez Bay, Kimballs Bay, Little Pokegama Bay, and Pokegama Bay.
- Please note: Anglers must carry a paper copy of their license while fishing the Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters.rule
- Goldfish and alewife may not be possessed or used for bait. Live rusty crayfish and native species of crayfish may be used for bait on the Mississippi River ONLY—not on other Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters. Other non-native crayfish may not be possessed live. Live crayfish may not be used as barule
- It is illegal to fish using any method other than hook and line within 200 feet of any fishway, lock or dam on the Mississippi River and within 200 feet of these structures on any other water.rule
- Motor trolling is permitted on Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters with three hooks, baits or lures per person and no maximum number of lines per boat.rule
- Wisconsin residents need a Wisconsin fishing license and Minnesota residents need a Minnesota license to fish in these boundary waters. Residents of other states need a nonresident license from Wisconsin or Minnesota. Regulations on these waters may differ between states. You must obey the regulatiorule
- Fishing is prohibited within 300 feet below the Red Wing Dam and Alma Dam from March 1 through April 29 and within 300 feet below the Onalaska Dam from March 15 through April 25.rule
| Species | Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | St. Louis River and the St. Croix River downstream of the St. Croix Falls Dam | 5 in total; minimum length 14 inches | May 23, 2026 – March 1, 2027 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass (harvest) | St. Croix River upstream of the St. Croix Falls Dam | 5 in total; minimum length 14 inches | May 23, 2026 – Sept. 13, 2026 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass (catch and release) | St. Croix River upstream of the St. Croix Falls Dam | 0 (catch and release only) | Sept. 14, 2026 – March 1, 2027 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | Mississippi River | 5 in total; minimum length 14 inches | Open all year |
| Catfish (channel and flathead) | St. Louis River and St. Croix River upstream of the St. Croix Falls Dam | 10 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Catfish (channel and flathead) | St. Croix River downstream of the St. Croix Falls Dam to Prescott | 5 channel catfish, 2 flathead catfish; minimum length None, but only one channel and one flathead catfish over 24 inches | Open all year |
| Catfish (channel and flathead) | Mississippi River (Pools 3-9) | 10 in total; minimum length None, but only one over 30 inches may be kept | Open all year |
| Muskellunge (includes hybrids) | Mississippi, St. Croix and St. Louis rivers | 1; minimum length 50 inches | May 23, 2026 – Nov. 30, 2026 |
| Northern pike | St. Croix River upstream of the St. Croix Falls Dam | 5; no minimum length | May 2, 2026 – March 1, 2027 |
| Northern pike | St. Croix River downstream from the St. Croix Falls Dam to Prescott | 3; minimum length None, but only one over 30 inches may be kept | May 2, 2026 – March 1, 2027 |
| Northern pike | Mississippi River (Pools 3-9) | 3; minimum length None, but only one over 30 inches may be kept | Open all year |
| Northern pike | St. Louis River | 2; no minimum length | May 9, 2026 – March 1, 2027 |
| Rock bass | Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters | 25 of each; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Bluegill and pumpkinseed (sunfish) | Mississippi River (Pools 3-9) | 15 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Bluegill and pumpkinseed (sunfish) | St. Louis and St. Croix river upstream of the St. Croix Falls Dam | 25 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Bluegill and pumpkinseed (sunfish) | St. Croix River downstream of the St. Croix Falls Dam to Prescott | 15 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Crappie and yellow perch | Mississippi River (Pools 3-9) | 15 of each; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Crappie and yellow perch | St. Louis and St. Croix river upstream of the St. Croix Falls Dam | 25 of each; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Crappie and yellow perch | St. Croix River downstream of the St. Croix Falls Dam to Prescott | 15 of each; no minimum length | Open all year |
| White bass and yellow bass | Mississippi River (Pools 3-9) | 10 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| White bass and yellow bass | St. Louis and St. Croix river upstream of the St. Croix Falls Dam | 25 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| White bass and yellow bass | St. Croix River downstream of the St. Croix Falls Dam to Prescott | 10 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Lake sturgeon (catch and release) | Mississippi R. upstream of the Red Wing Dam; St. Croix R. upstream of the St. Croix Falls Dam to the | 0 (catch and release only) | June 16, 2026 – March 1, 2027 |
| Lake sturgeon (catch and release) | St. Louis River and Mississippi River downstream of the Red Wing Dam | 0 (catch and release only) | June 16, 2026 – April 14, 2027 |
| Lake sturgeon (catch and release) | St. Croix River downstream from the St. Croix Falls Dam to Prescott | 0 (catch and release only) | June 16, 2026 – Sept. 4, 2026 |
| Lake sturgeon (harvest) | St. Croix River downstream from the St. Croix Falls Dam to Prescott | 1; minimum length 60 inches | Sept. 5, 2026 – Sept. 30, 2026 |
| Lake sturgeon (catch and release) | St. Croix River downstream from the St. Croix Falls Dam to Prescott | 0 (catch and release only) | Oct. 1, 2026 – March 1, 2027 |
| Shovelnose sturgeon (catch and release) | All Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters above the Red Wing Dam on the Mississippi River, St. Louis R | 0 (catch and release only) | June 16, 2026 – March 1, 2027 |
| Shovelnose sturgeon | All Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters below the Red Wing Dam on the Mississippi River | 3; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Walleye and sauger (includes hybrids) | St. Croix River upstream of the St. Croix Falls Dam | 6 in total; minimum length None for sauger; 15 inches for walleye | May 2, 2026 – March 1, 2027 |
| Walleye and sauger (includes hybrids) | St. Croix River downstream from the St. Croix Falls Dam to Prescott | 4 in total; minimum length None for sauger; 15 inches for walleye; only one walleye or sauger over 20 inches may be kept | May 2, 2026 – March 1, 2027 |
| Walleye and sauger (includes hybrids) | St. Louis River | 2 in total; minimum length None for sauger; 15 inches for walleye | May 9, 2026 – March 1, 2027 |
| Walleye and sauger (includes hybrids) | Mississippi River (Pools 3-8) | 4 in total; minimum length None for sauger; 15 inches for walleye; only one walleye or sauger over 20 inches may be kept | Open all year |
| Walleye and sauger (includes hybrids) | Mississippi River (Pool 9) | 6 in total; minimum length None for sauger; 15 inches for walleye; walleye 20-27 inches must be released, only one over | Open all year |
| Ruffe, white perch, gobies and other nonnative detrimental fish species | Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters | 0 | No open season – one may be killed and possessed for transport to a DNR Service Center or |
Wisconsin-Iowa
Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters
Applies to the stretch of the Mississippi River shared by Wisconsin and Iowa lying between the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, and Pacific railroad tracks on the Iowa side of the river and the Burlington Northern and Sante Fe railroad tracks lying on the Wisconsin side of the river including all sloughs, bays, and backwaters.
- Please note: Anglers must carry a paper copy of their license while fishing the Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters.rule
- Goldfish and alewife may not be possessed or used for bait in the Mississippi River. Live rusty crayfish and native crayfish species are legal to use. All other non-native crayfish may not be possessed live.rule
- It is illegal to fish using any method other than hook and line within 200 feet of any fishway, lock or dam on the Mississippi River.rule
- Motor trolling is permitted on Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters with three hooks, baits or lures per person and no maximum number of lines per boat.rule
- Ice fishing: Angler name and address must be prominently displayed on ice fishing shelters (portable or otherwise) when not occupied or otherwise in use.rule
- Wisconsin residents need a Wisconsin fishing license and Iowa residents need an Iowa fishing license to fish in these boundary wa- ters. Residents of other states need a nonresident license from Wisconsin or Iowa. Regulations on these waters may differ between states. You must obey the regulations orule
| Species | Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters (Mississippi River) | 5 in total; minimum length 14 inches | Open all year |
| Catfish (channel and flathead) | Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters (Mississippi River) | None; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Northern pike | Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters (Mississippi River) | 5; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Yellow perch, rock bass, crappie | Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters (Mississippi River) | 25 of each; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Bluegill and pumpkinseed (sunfish) | Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters (Mississippi River) | 25 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| White bass and yellow bass | Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters (Mississippi River) | 25 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Lake sturgeon | Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters (Mississippi River) | 0 | Closed all year – there is no fishing for lake sturgeon |
| Shovelnose sturgeon | Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters (Mississippi River) | None; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Walleye and sauger (includes hybrids) | Pools 9-12 | 6 in total; minimum length None for sauger, 15 inches for walleye; walleye 20-27 inches must be released, only one over | Open all year |
Photographs
Wisconsin waters, photographed
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Answers
Questions on Wisconsin’s Boundary Waters rules
Does a Wisconsin license work on the Mississippi River?
Yes, on the Wisconsin-Minnesota and Wisconsin-Iowa boundary stretches, under the boundary rules.
Must I carry a paper license on boundary water?
Yes, the guide asks anglers to carry a paper copy on each boundary water.
Which Michigan rivers are boundary water?
The Brule, Menominee and Montreal rivers with their sloughs and flowages, plus listed lakes.
Is Lake Pepin boundary water?
Yes, Lake Pepin and Lake St. Croix are part of the Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary water.
Is there an Illinois boundary table?
No; the guide has no Wisconsin-Illinois boundary table.
Do Michigan residents need a Wisconsin license on the Menominee?
A Michigan resident fishes there on a Michigan license.
How many boundary season rows are listed?
63 rows across the three boundaries.
When must shelters leave Iowa boundary ice?
By Feb. 20, per the guide.
Other topics
More Wisconsin regulation pages
- Wisconsin Inland Waters Limitsstatewide rows, bass and pike zones, total daily bags
- Wisconsin Walleye and Ceded Territory Rulesthe three-walleye rule up north
- Wisconsin Trout Rulesstamps, color categories and early season
- Wisconsin Great Lakes RulesLake Michigan, Green Bay and Lake Superior
- Wisconsin Sturgeon Ruleshook and line tags and Winnebago spearing
- Wisconsin Ice Fishing and General Ruleshooks, lines, bait, shelters
- Wisconsin Special Regulations Waterscounty by county exceptions
- License prices and stampswho needs a license and what it costs