NR 20.03(31m)
(31m) "Quick-strike rig" means a bait rig with one or more treble hooks attached to the body of a minnow, behind the head. This rig may include a jig or other hook in the snout of a minnow along with one or more treble hooks attached to the body of a minnow.
NR 20.03 Note
Note: Sub. (31m) is shown as created eff. 4-1-12 by
CR 11-006.
NR 20.03(33)
(33) "Safe harvest" means a level of harvest that incorporates an appropriate margin of safety, estimates of the population and acceptable exploitation rates which will reasonably prevent harvest of more than 35% of the population of adult walleyes or 27% of the population of adult muskellunge. The margin of safety assures that the true safe harvest is not exceeded in more than 1 of 40 cases. For waters where a population estimate has not been made, a regression model based upon population estimates from other waters will be used.
NR 20.03(34)
(34) "Secretary" means secretary of the department of natural resources.
NR 20.03(36)
(36) "Setline" means a line with one or more hooks fastened to it and designed to be set or left unattended in the water for the purpose of taking fish.
NR 20.03(37)
(37) "Set or bank pole" means a pole equipped with a line with one or more hooks fastened to it, designed to be used for fishing from the banks of lakes or rivers and set or left unattended.
NR 20.03(37m)
(37m) "Sheboygan marsh" means waters within the area commonly known as Sheboygan Marsh county park including Sheboygan lake and its tributaries upstream to the first road crossing.
NR 20.03(37t)
(37t) "Sinker release device" means any device that is designed to release a weight or sinker from a fishing line upon a strike from a fish while trolling.
NR 20.03(37w)
(37w) "Spear" means a pole or shaft with an attached sharp barbed point or points designed for the purpose of impaling a fish, but does not include a snag line or snag pole, snaghook or cluster of hooks that might be used for snagging as prohibited by
s. NR 20.06 (8).
NR 20.03(38)
(38) "Spearing" means fishing with a device consisting of a shaft with an attached sharp point or points and includes devices such as spears, bow and arrow, spear guns or similar devices.
NR 20.03(39)
(39) "Telemetry device" means any device attached to or implanted in a fish that transmits a sonic or electronic signal.
NR 20.03(39m)
(39m) "Total daily bag limit" specified in
s. NR 20.18 means the maximum number of fish that may be reduced to a person's possession in one day from all waters or portions of waters fished that day.
NR 20.03(39t)
(39t) "Treble hook" means three evenly spaced hooks joined by a common shaft to form one hook with three points.
NR 20.03 Note
Note: Sub. (39t) is shown as created eff. 4-1-12 by
CR 11-006.
NR 20.03(40)
(40) "Troll" or "trolling" means fishing by trailing any lure, bait or similar device that may be used to attract or catch fish from a boat propelled by a means other than drifting or rowing. Casting and immediate retrieval of a bait, lure or similar device while the motor is running or position fishing is not trolling.
NR 20.03(41)
(41) "Trout stream" means those waters or portions of waters designated by the department pursuant to
s. NR 1.02 (7).
NR 20.03 Note
Note: Copy available for review at the Bureau of Fisheries Management and Habitat Protection, Department of Natural Resources, 101 S. Webster Street, P.O. Box 7921, Madison WI 53707.
NR 20.03(42)
(42) "Unattended line" means a fishing line to which the person using the line is not actively directing his or her attention and, during open water, any line that is more than 100 yards from the person using the line.
NR 20.03(42m)
(42m) "Upriver lakes" means Lakes Butte des Morts, Winneconne and Poygan.
NR 20.03(43)
(43) "Yellowstone lake" means Yellowstone lake and the Yellowstone river from Yellowstone lake upstream to county highway F.
NR 20.03 History
History: Cr.
Register, May, 1999, No. 521, eff. 6-1-99; cr. (28m),
Register, December, 1999, No. 528, eff. 4-1-00; am. (18),
Register, September, 2000, No. 537, eff. 4-1-01;
CR 01-012: am. (17), (19), (22) and (42), cr. (37m) and (43);
CR 01-013: am. (31),
Register November 2001 No. 551, eff. 4-1-02;
CR 02-014: am. (42),
Register September 2002 No. 561, eff. 4-1-03;
CR 04-024: am. (8) and (41), r. and recr. (31), cr. (39m)
Register December 2004 No. 588, eff. 1-1-05;
CR 05-073: cr. (42m)
Register January 2006 No. 601, eff. 3-1-06; correction in (28m) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register March 2006 No. 603;
CR 06-011: cr. (37t)
Register September 2006 No. 609, eff. 4-1-07;
CR 07-014: cr. (37w)
Register January 2008 No. 625, eff. 4-1-08; emerg. cr. (19g) and (19r), eff. 11-2-07;
CR 07-074: cr. (19g) and (19r)
Register May 2008 No. 629, eff. 6-1-08;
CR 08-010: cr. (19m), r. (31) (c)
Register November 2008 No. 635, eff. 4-1-09;
CR 09-051: am. (31) (a)
Register June 2010 No. 654, eff. 7-1-10;
CR 11-006: cr. (6m), (31m), (39t)
Register October 2011 No. 670, eff. 4-1-12.
NR 20.05
NR 20.05
General restrictions. No person may do any of the following:
NR 20.05(1)
(1) Fish by any means other than hook and line except as specifically authorized in this chapter or
chs. NR 21,
22,
23,
24 and
25.
NR 20.05(2)
(2) Possess or control any firearm, gun or similar device at any time while on the waters, banks or shores that might be used for the purpose of fishing.
NR 20.05(3)
(3) Fish within 200 feet of any fishway, lock or dam by any means other than by hook and line in the inland waters.
NR 20.05(4)
(4) Fish for any species of fish at any time other than during the open season for that species of fish.
NR 20.05(5)
(5) Fish for any variety of fish in trout streams other than during the open season for trout except that rough fish may be taken by hand.
NR 20.05(6)
(6) Fish for, possess or control fish in excess of the daily bag limit authorized in
s. NR 20.20 for that water while on the waters, banks or shores of waters or while fishing except as authorized on specific waters by
s. NR 20.35,
20.36 or
20.37 and minnows described in
s. NR 19.05 (3) (e) or
(f).
NR 20.05(7)
(7) Except for minnows purchased from a Wisconsin bait dealer, possess or control fish unless they are included as part of the daily bag limit. Fish that are not released immediately shall be included as part of the daily bag limit.
NR 20.05(8)
(8) Possess or control any fish in excess of the possession limit at any time.
NR 20.05(9)
(9) Possess or control fish of any size other than that authorized by the size restriction.
NR 20.05(10)
(10) Use, attach or implant a telemetry device on or into a fish.
NR 20.05(11)
(11) Raise, remove or otherwise tamper with another person's commercial fishing gear set in any water without permission from the licensed user. This restriction does not apply to agents of the department.
NR 20.05(12)
(12) Use, possess, control, set or place in any water any live box, or similar device that might be used for the keeping of fish unless a tag of permanent material bearing the name and address of the owner or user is securely attached and is readable and legible.
NR 20.05 Note
Note: This restriction does not apply to receptacles carried by the angler to contain fish while fishing.
NR 20.05(13)
(13) Sponsor a fishing tournament unless a permit has been obtained from the department pursuant to
s. NR 20.40.
NR 20.05(14)
(14) Capture, tag, mark or attach any object and release wild fish unless issued a permit by the department pursuant to
s. NR 19.11.
NR 20.05(15)
(15) Possess or control any fish in excess of the total daily bag limit each day.
NR 20.05(16)
(16) Possess or use a sinker release device while fishing in waters of the state.
NR 20.05 History
History: Cr.
Register, May, 1999, No. 521, eff. 6-1-99;
CR 01-012: am. (1) and (4),
Register November 2001 No. 551, eff. 4-1-02;
CR 02-073: am. (5) and (6),
Register January 2003 No. 565, eff. 2-1-03;
CR 03-014: cr. (14)
Register November 2003 No. 575, eff. 4-1-04;
CR 04-024: am. (8), cr. (15)
Register December 2004 No. 588, eff. 1-1-05;
CR 06-011: cr. (16)
Register September 2006 No. 609, eff. 4-1-07;
CR 07-014: am. (1)
Register January 2008 No. 625, eff. 4-1-08; emerg. am. (6) and (7), eff. 11-2-07;
EmR0808: emerg. am. (6) and (7), eff. 4-4-08;
CR 07-074: am. (6) and (7)
Register May 2008 No. 629, eff. 6-1-08;
CR 09-051: am. (14)
Register June 2010 No. 654, eff. 7-1-10.
NR 20.06
NR 20.06 Hook and line fishing. No person may do any of the following:
NR 20.06(1)
(1) Fish in inland waters by the method of trolling except where specifically authorized in
s. NR 20.20.
NR 20.06(2)
(2) Fish with more than 3 hooks, baits or lures.
NR 20.06(3)
(3) Fish with any hook and line fishing tackle, bait, hooks or lures on waters where its use is not authorized in
s. NR 20.20. Gear restrictions for trout and salmon on waters or portions of waters specified in
s. NR 20.20 apply to all species while fishing on those waters.
NR 20.06(3m)
(3m) Possess or control any live bait or any other baits, hooks or lures other than artificial lures while on the waters, banks or shores of waters where only the use of artificial lures is authorized in subch.
III.
NR 20.06(5)
(5) Use a gaff in any manner other than for landing a fish that is legally hooked.
NR 20.06(6)
(6) Fish by snagging, foul hooking or attempting to hook fish other than in the mouth.
NR 20.06(7)
(7) Possess, retain or fail to immediately release fish hooked other than in the mouth.
NR 20.06(8)
(8) Use, possess, control, set or place any snag line or snag pole, snaghook or cluster of hooks that could be placed into or drawn through the water for the purpose of catching fish or drawing the hooks into the body of fish.
NR 20.06(9)
(9) Fish with an unattended line except where specifically authorized under
s. NR 20.20. Failure to immediately respond to a line upon indication of a bite shall be prima facie evidence that the line is unattended.
NR 20.06 Note
Note: For further restrictions on the use of setlines and set or bank poles, see s.
NR 20.12.
NR 20.06(10)
(10) Fish in open water with a free-floating, remote controlled or anchored buoyant device with attached hook and line that is not held or otherwise controlled by the angler with the use of a line connected to the device.
NR 20.06 Note
Note: This method is commonly known as jug fishing.
NR 20.06(11)
(11) Fish with a minnow 8 inches or longer unless using a quick-strike rig that the person attempts to hook immediately into the mouth of a fish upon indication of a bite or unless using a non-offset circle hook.
NR 20.06 Note
Note: Sub. (11) is shown as created eff. 4-1-12 by
CR 11-006.
NR 20.06 History
History: Cr.
Register, May, 1999, No. 521, eff. 6-1-99; cr. (3m),
Register, December, 1999, No. 528, eff. 4-1-00;
CR 01-012: am. (5),
Register November 2001 No. 551, eff. 4-1-02;
CR 07-014: r. (4)
Register January 2008 No. 625, eff. 4-1-08;
CR 09-018: am. (10)
Register February 2010 No. 650, eff. 3-1-10;
CR 11-006: cr. (11)
Register October 2011 No. 670, eff. 4-11-12.
NR 20.07
NR 20.07
Special sturgeon hook and line fishing restrictions. No person may do any of the following:
NR 20.07(1)
(1) Possess a lake sturgeon taken by hook and line and not immediately release it, unless a hook and line lake sturgeon tag is immediately validated as required by the department and attached to the lake sturgeon and the tagged lake sturgeon is registered at a department lake sturgeon registration station by 6:00 p.m. on the day after it was taken.
NR 20.07 Note
Note: Hook and line lake sturgeon tags will be available at department service centers and regional offices each year prior to the open season.
NR 20.07(2)
(2) Remove the registration tag attached to the fish by the department until the carcass is prepared for final consumption. The hook and line lake sturgeon registration tag shall be retained by the person taking the lake sturgeon until the fish is consumed.
NR 20.07(3)
(3) Transport any lake sturgeon in or on any motor-driven vehicle from the time the lake sturgeon is taken to the time it is lawfully registered pursuant to
sub. (1) unless the lake sturgeon is carried openly exposed and in a manner so that the lake sturgeon tag attached to the lake sturgeon cannot be handled or manipulated by any occupant of the vehicle.
NR 20.07(4)
(4) Transport any lake sturgeon in or on any boat from the time the lake sturgeon is taken to the time it is lawfully registered pursuant to
sub. (1) unless the lake sturgeon is carried openly exposed.
NR 20.07(5)
(5) Obtain more than one hook and line lake sturgeon tag per season except that one additional hook and line lake sturgeon tag may be obtained for Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters per season.
NR 20.08
NR 20.08
Restrictions on the use of bait. No person may do any of the following:
NR 20.08(1)
(1) Use goldfish as bait or possess goldfish in any form or manner on any water of the state.
NR 20.08(2)
(2) Use alewife as bait or possess alewife in any form or manner on any water of the state except Lake Michigan, Lake Michigan tributaries, Green Bay, major Green Bay tributaries, and all other tributary streams, rivers and ditches to Green Bay upstream to the first dam or lake.
NR 20.08(3)
(3) Release any unused bait into any waters of the state unless issued a permit pursuant to s.
29.736, Stats.
NR 20.08(4)
(4) Use as bait, possess or release any minnows or other fish on the waters or shores of waters that have been chemically treated for trout management when posted by department signs.
NR 20.08(5)
(5) Take, gather, collect, possess or attempt to take, gather or collect larvae or nymphs of aquatic insects from any trout stream for use or sale as bait except that a licensed angler may take larvae or nymphs from trout streams by hand during the open trout season for immediate use as bait only in the trout stream from which the larvae or nymphs were taken.
NR 20.08(6)
(6) Possess for use as bait, or use as bait any live fish or live fish eggs if obtained outside of, or brought into, the state of Wisconsin, except for the following:
NR 20.08(6)(a)
(a) Live fish or live fish eggs imported in compliance with the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection's import and health requirements in
ch. ATCP 10.
NR 20.08 Note
Note: Section
ATCP 10.62 (1) prohibits the importation into Wisconsin of live fish or live fish eggs for use as bait without a written import permit from the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection.
NR 20.08(6)(b)
(b) Live fish or live fish eggs obtained in Minnesota or Iowa and used as bait in or on waters of the Mississippi River lying between the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific railroad tracks on the Iowa or Minnesota side of the river, and the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe railroad tracks lying on the Wisconsin side of the river, including all sloughs and backwaters, bays and newly extended water areas connected with the main channel of the Mississippi River by a channel which is navigable when the waters are approximately equal to the normal pool elevation as created by the U.S. army corps of engineers and in the waters of Lake St. Croix, and the St. Croix River and the St. Louis River as defined in
s. NR 21.02 (39).
NR 20.08(7)
(7) Possess for use as bait, or use as bait any dead fish, dead fish egg or any part of any dead fish or dead fish egg unless at least one of the following applies:
NR 20.08(7)(a)
(a) It is being possessed or used on Lake Michigan, Green Bay or any waters connected to these waters upstream to the first dam or other obstruction impassible to fish.
NR 20.08(7)(b)
(b) It is being possessed or used on the same water body from which it was obtained, or on any water connected to that water body that is not separated by a dam or other obstruction impassible to fish.
NR 20.08(7)(c)
(c) It has been preserved in a manner that does not require either refrigeration or freezing.
NR 20.08(7)(d)
(d) It is a minnow that is a "live fish" as defined in
s. NR 20.03 (19g) and was obtained and possessed lawfully from waters of the state or it was imported in compliance with
sub. (6) (a) or
(b).
NR 20.08 History
History: Cr.
Register, May, 1999, No. 521, eff. 6-1-99;
CR 01-012: am. (2),
Register November 2001 No. 551, eff. 4-1-02; emerg. cr. (6) and (7), eff. 11-2-07;
CR 07-074: cr. (6) and (7)
Register May 2008 No. 629, eff. 6-1-08;
CR 10-053: am. (6) (b)
Register December 2010 No. 660, eff. 1-1-11.
NR 20.09
NR 20.09
Spearing restrictions. No person may do any of the following:
NR 20.09(1)
(1) Possess or control any bow, spear or similar device while on any water or on the banks or shores of any water that might be used for the purpose of fishing except as specifically authorized in
s. NR 20.20.
NR 20.09(2)
(2) Use, possess or control any bow, spear or similar device from sunset to sunrise while on the waters or on the banks or shores of any waters except that a bow and arrow may be possessed and used for spearing rough fish from sunset to sunrise during the open season for spearing rough fish.
NR 20.09(3)
(3) Spear any game fish except that white bass, yellow bass, rock bass, panfish and bullheads may be speared while skin diving or scuba diving during the open season for rough fish spearing on waters specified in
s. NR 20.20, provided that the season for white bass, yellow bass, rock bass, panfish and bullheads is also open on the same water. Daily bag limits and size restrictions specified in
s. NR 20.20 for white bass, yellow bass, rock bass, panfish and bullheads also apply.
NR 20.09 History
History: Cr.
Register, May, 1999, No. 521, eff. 6-1-99; am. (2),
Register, February, 2000, No. 530, eff. 4-1-00;
CR 01-012: am. (3),
Register November 2001 No. 551, eff. 4-1-02;
CR 02-073: am. (2),
Register January 2003 No. 565, eff. 2-1-03;
CR 04-024: am. (3)
Register December 2004 No. 588, eff. 1-1-05;
CR 09-051: am. (2)
Register June 2010 No. 654, eff. 7-1-10.
NR 20.10
NR 20.10
Special sturgeon spearing restrictions. No person may do any of the following:
