Cisco in Wisconsin
Keeping, finding and recording cisco.
- 10 in total; no minilimit
- 4 lbs. 12.8 oz.record
Angler pickPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of the species, not of a Wisconsin water: Rob Foster, CC BY 4.0
Wisconsin cisco: rules, records and range
Classed as game fish, Cisco (Coregonus artedii) is one of the Trouts (Salmonidae) on the WDNR fish list. For general inland waters, the WDNR row reads 10 in total; no minimum length, season Open all year.
Chain O’ Lakes produced the hook and line record of 4 lbs. 12.8 oz. in 2023.
Wisconsin regulation rows naming cisco
| Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| General inland waters | 10 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters | 10 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Major Green Bay and Lake Michigan tributaries | 10 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| All other tributaries and ditches to Green Bay upstream to first dam or lake | 10 in total; no minimum length | May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027 |
| Lake Michigan | 10 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
| Lake Superior | 10 in total; no minimum length | Open all year |
2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations (WDNR). Checked October 2026.
Record cisco on the WDNR list
| Category | Weight or length | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line | 4 lbs. 12.8 oz. | Chain O’ Lakes | Waupaca | 2023 |
WDNR record fish list, revised September 2026; angler names left out.
Relatives of cisco in Wisconsin
- Lake whitefishTrouts (Salmonidae)
- Brook troutTrouts (Salmonidae)
- Brown troutTrouts (Salmonidae)
- Rainbow troutTrouts (Salmonidae)
- Lake troutTrouts (Salmonidae)
- SplakeTrouts (Salmonidae)
- Coho salmonTrouts (Salmonidae)
- Chinook salmonTrouts (Salmonidae)
- Pink salmonTrouts (Salmonidae)
- Atlantic salmonTrouts (Salmonidae)
Photographs from waters near Cisco
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Scott Catron, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: BobbbyLight, CC BY 2.0
Questions anglers bring up about cisco
Which Wisconsin rule covers keeping cisco?
10 in total; no minimum length on general inland waters; season Open all year. Other waters have their own rows.
When was the Wisconsin cisco record set?
4 lbs. 12.8 oz. from Chain O’ Lakes in 2023 (hook and line).
Where do cisco live in Wisconsin?
None of the water pages list it.
Does the WDNR stock cisco?
Not in the 2023 to 2025 summary.
What Latin name does the WDNR give cisco?
Coregonus artedii, Trouts (Salmonidae); game fish, WDNR status special concern.
Is Wisconsin cisco season open right now?
Open all year on general inland waters.
Which license covers cisco?
Anglers 16 and older need a Wisconsin fishing license: $20 a year for residents and $55 for nonresidents, with a $5 first-time buyer rate for residents.
Who guides for cisco?
No listed guide names it; the guides page has every operator.
Set out for cisco
Each lake listed above opens its own page with landings and the WDNR rule table.