(1) Except as
otherwise expressly provided, only the following methods or manners of fishing
shall be lawful. Any person: (29.041)
(a) May
fish for fish with no more than 3 hooks, baits or lures.
(b) May use landing nets and a gaff only for
the purpose of landing a fish that is legally hooked. However, landing nets may
be used to remove winterkilled fish in those areas and at those times
designated by the department by posting, and to net fish as authorized with the
use of dip nets under this chapter or ch. NR 20.
(c) May take, catch, kill or fish for fish by
means of trolling from a motor-driven boat, sailboat or other boats.
(d) Except in Lake Superior, its bays and
tributaries, may take rough fish by means of spear, bow and arrow, or crossbow,
by hand, or by dip nets and landing nets not to exceed 24 inches in diameter or
square only from sunrise to sunset from the Saturday nearest April 21 to March
1, except that the use of dip nets and landing nets not to exceed 24 inches in
diameter or square for the taking of rough fish in the St. Croix river
downstream to the St. Croix Falls dam is permitted from the Saturday nearest
May 15 to June 30 each year, and bow and arrow or crossbow may be possessed and
used for spearing rough fish from sunset to sunrise during the open season for
spearing rough fish.
(e) May only
fish with a line or lines while they are attended.
(f) May take, catch, kill or fish for
flathead or channel catfish or bullheads with a bow and arrow or crossbow
during the open season for spearing rough fish, or by hand, in boundary waters
within Wisconsin.
(2) Any
fish taken and retained in possession that is not released freely into the
water immediately after capture shall be considered part of the angler's daily
bag limit.
(3) Possession of
illegal equipment. No spear, spring gaff or bow and arrow shall be possessed in
a fish house (shanty). No person shall have in possession on the water or
immediate banks of the water any spear, bow and arrow or similar device except
during the open season.
(4) No
person may fish by snagging, foul hooking or attempting to hook fish other than
in the mouth. Possessing, retaining or failing to immediately release fish
hooked other than in the mouth is prohibited.
