Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources NR 20.16

Current through October 28, 2024

Section NR 20.16 - Special early catch and release season for trout

(1) GENERAL PROVISIONS.

(a)Open season and waters. Except as specified in sub. (2), there is an open season for trout from 5:00 a.m. on the first Saturday i n January through the Friday preceding the first Saturday in May on the following waters:

1. All streams in Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, St. Croix, Sauk, Sawyer, Sheboygan, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha and Wood counties.

3. `Florence county.' Pine river, Popple river in its entirety.

4. `Forest county.' Peshtigo river downstream from U.S. highway 8, Pine river downstream from STH 55, Popple river in its entirety, and Rat river downstream from Scattered Rice lake.

5. `Langlade county.' Wolf river, main stem of the Plover river upstream of STH 153, excluding tributaries and off-channel springs.

6. `Lincoln county.' All streams west of STH 51 and Prairie river downstream from CTH J.

7. `Marathon county.' Black creek (mouth at T27N R7E S4), Black creek (T30N, R3E), Grass creek, McGinnes creek, Fourmile creek, Noisy creek, and, main stem of the Plover river upstream of STH 153, excluding tributaries and off-channel springs.

8. `Marinette county.' North branch Peme Bon Won river downstream from STH 141, Peshtigo river upstream from CTH C, Pike river between CTH V and CTH K, and Rat river.

9. `Marquette county.' Chaffee creek downstream from CTH B, Klawitter creek, Lawrence creek, Lunch creek, Mecan river upstream from STH 22, Neenah creek, O' Keefe creek, Wedde creek and Westfield creek.

10. `Oconto county.' North branch Oconto river downstream from STH 64 and south branch Oconto river downstream from CTH AA.

11. `Oneida county.' All streams west of STH 51 and Bearskin creek.

12. `Portage county.' Ditches 1 through 6 downstream from Townline road, Tomorrow river from Amherst downstream to Durant road, and Waupaca (Tomorrow) river from Durant road downstream.

13. `Shawano county.' Middle branch Embarrass river from Homme dam to STH 29, north branch Embarrass river from Tilleda dam downstream to Leopolis dam and Red river downstream from lower Red Lake dam.

14. `Vilas county.' Mishonagon creek.

15. `Waupaca county.' North branch Little Wolf river from CTH P to CTH J, south branch Little Wolf river, Waupaca river from Frost Valley road to STH 54, and Waupaca (Tomorrow) river from Frost Valley road upstream.

16. `Waushara county.' Carter creek, Leola ditch, Mecan river downstream from 11 th road, Pine river downstream from CTH K to Poy Sippi pond, Roche-a-Cri creek, Willow creek from Blackhawk road to 29 th lane, and White river from STH 21 to lower White River millpond.

(b)Daily bag limit, possession limit and gear restrictions. The following restrictions apply to waters specified in par. (a) during the open season specified in par. (a):

1. The daily bag limit and possession limit for trout is 0.

2. No person may use any hooks, baits or lures other than artificial lures while fishing for any species of fish on trout streams specified in par. (a).

(2) EXCEPTIONS. Subsection (1) does not apply to the following streams:

(a) Lake Michigan tributaries, major Green Bay tributaries, all other tributary streams, rivers and ditches to Green Bay upstream to the first dam or lake.

(b) All tributaries to Lake Superior except the White river and its tributaries from the White River dam upstream to Pikes River Road bridge and the Iron river and its tributaries upstream from Orienta dam.

Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources NR 20.16

Cr. Register, May, 1999, No. 521, eff. 6-1-99; am. Register, December, 1999, No. 528, eff. 1-1-00; r. and recr. Register, September, 2000, No. 537, eff. 3-1-01; CR 01-012: renum. from NR 20.15, Register November 2001 No. 551, eff. 4-1-02; CR 02-016: am. (1) (a) 16., Register January 2003 No. 566, eff. 3-1-03; CR 09-018: am. (1) (b) 2. Register February 2010 No. 650, eff. 3-1-10.

Amended by, CR 15-023: am. (1) (a), 1., r. 2. Register December 2015 No. 720, eff.1/1/2016

Amended by, CR 21-021: am. (1) (a) 3., 4., 5., 7., 12., 15. Register November 2021 No. 791, eff. 4/1/2022