Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Natural Resources
NR 1-99 - Fish, Game and Enforcement, Forestry and Recreation
Chapter NR 20 - Fishing: Inland Waters; Outlying Waters
Subchapter II - Prohibited Methods
Section NR 20.08 - Restrictions on the use of bait

Universal Citation: WI Admin Code ยง NR 20.08

Current through August 26, 2024

No person may do any of the following:

(1) Use goldfish as bait or possess goldfish in any form or manner on any water of the state.

(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.

(3) Release any unused bait into any waters of the state unless issued a permit pursuant to s. 29.736, Stats.

(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.

(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.

(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:

(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.

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.

(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).

(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:

(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 impassable to fish.

(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 impassable to fish.

(c) It has been preserved in a manner that does not require either refrigeration or freezing.

(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).

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Wisconsin may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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