Wisconsin fishing limits 2026–27
Copied from the Wisconsin DNR Guide to Hook and Line Fishing Regulations 2026–2027 (General Inland Waters table) and the DNR deer and turkey season pages. Hunting dates are cross-checked against the DNR season dates page. Every table links to the official source. If anything here disagrees with the Wisconsin DNR, the Wisconsin DNR is right.
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General inland waters: seasons, daily bag & minimum length
Statewide rules for inland waters. Special regulations by county, the Great Lakes, Winnebago System, boundary waters and trout waters differ — check the DNR guide before you keep fish. Ceded Territory walleye, sturgeon and catch-and-release-only rows are left out until verified by hand.
| Species | Daily bag | Min length | Max length |
|---|---|---|---|
Largemouth bass (harvest season)
| 5 | 14 inches | — |
Smallmouth bass (harvest) — Northern Zone
| 5 in total with LMB | 14 inches | — |
Smallmouth bass (harvest) — other inland waters
| 5 in total with LMB | 14 inches | — |
Rock, yellow (striped) and white bass
| None | None | — |
Panfish: bluegill, pumpkinseed, sunfish, crappie and yellow perch
| 25 in total | None | — |
Bullheads and rough fish
| None | None | — |
Catfish (channel, flathead)
| 10 in total | None | — |
Cisco and whitefish
| 10 in total | None | — |
Muskellunge (includes hybrids) — inland waters
| 1 | 40 inches | — |
Northern pike — Northern Zone (north of US Hwy 10)
| 5 | None | — |
Northern pike — Southern Zone (south of US Hwy 10)
| 2 | 26 inches | — |
Walleye and sauger — most inland waters outside the Ceded Territory
| 3 in total | 15 inches | — |
Wisconsin DNR Hook and Line Guide 2026–27 (PDF) 2026–27 (Apr 1, 2026 - Mar 31, 2027) · official source ↗ · checked Oct 17, 2026
Hunting? See Wisconsin hunting seasons 2026–27.