Mississippi River · Missouri · Tennessee · Illinois · Wisconsin · Walleye
Mississippi River Walleye Fishing Regulations 2026
Mississippi River Walleye regulations as of 2026-05-08: Season end Apr 14; Season start Feb 20; Possession 8 fish. Sourced across 4 state agencies.
Rules (162)
Missouri (21)
All Streams, Except The Missouri And Mississippi RiversOut of season
- Season opens
- Feb 20
- Season closes
- Apr 14
can be taken and possessed only between 1/2 hour before sunrise and 1/2 after sunset
All Waters Except Special Regulation Areas
- Possession
- 8 fish
Bull Shoals In The Swan Creek Arm Above U.s. Highway 160Out of season
- Season opens
- Feb 20
- Season closes
- Apr 14
may be taken and possessed only between 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset
Bull Shoals On The Lake And Its Tributaries
- Min size
- 18"
Current River Mainstem And Its Tributaries
- Min size
- 18"
Eleven Point River Mainstem And Its Tributaries
- Min size
- 18"
Long Branch Lake
- Min size
- 18"
Mississippi River
- Daily bag
- 8 fish/day
Mississippi River, Including Pools 20–26Open
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 8 fish
- Possession
- 8 fish
No seasonal restrictions on the hours for take and possession. combined total of both species.
Missouri RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No seasonal restrictions on the hours for take and possession
Norfork Lake On The Lake And Its Tributaries
- Min size
- 18"
St. Francis River Above Wappapello Dam, From The Lake And Its Tributaries Including The St. Francis River And Its Tributaries
- Min size
- 18"
Table Rock Lake Lakewide
- Min size
- 18"
Unimpounded Portions Of All Streams, Except The Missouri And Mississippi RiversOut of season
- Season opens
- Feb 20
- Season closes
- Apr 14
can be taken and possessed only between 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset
Wappapello Lake On The Lake And Its Tributaries Including The St. Francis River And Its Tributaries Above Wappapello Dam
- Min size
- 18"
Missouri statewide
- Min size
- 15"
Tennessee (54)
CalderwoodOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 8 fish/day
no length limit. no length limit
Calderwood Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 8 fish/day
Caney Fork RiverOut of season
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Apr 30
- Possession
- 3 rods and reels or poles
- Gear
- Barbless
Anglers restricted to use of one (1) hook having a single barb or lure containing a single hook with one barb from Jan. 1–April 30 No more than three (3) rods and reels or poles may be used
Caney Fork River (Headwaters Of Center Hill Reservoir)Out of season
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Apr 30
- Possession
- 3 rods and reels or poles
- Gear
- Single Pointed Hooks
Anglers restricted to use of one (1) hook having a single barb or lure containing a single hook with one barb from Jan. 1–April 30. No more than three (3) rods and reels or poles may be used.
Doe Creek (Old Cabin Private Road Downstream To Roan Creek)Out of season
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Apr 30
- Gear
- Single Pointed Hooks
Walleye run regulation: restricted to the use of one (1) hook having a single point or one (1) lure having no more than one (1) hook with a single point (artificial or bait)
Douglas
- Min size
- 15"
Douglas Reservoir
- Min size
- 15"
East Fork Of The Obey RiverOut of season
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Apr 15
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Gear
- Barbless
Anglers restricted to use of one hook having a single barb or lure containing a single hook with one barb from Jan. 1–April 15 Only one Walleye over 20 inches may be harvested
East Fork Of The Obey River (Headwaters Of Dale Hollow Reservoir)Out of season
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Apr 15
- Possession
- 3 rods and reels or poles
- Max size
- 20"
- Gear
- Single Pointed Hooks
Anglers restricted to use of one hook having a single barb or lure containing a single hook with one barb from Jan. 1–April 15. No more than three (3) rods and reels or poles may be used. Only one Walleye over 20 inches may be harvested.
Elk River (Highway 321 Bridge Downstream ToOut of season
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Apr 30
- Gear
- Single Pointed Hooks
Walleye run regulation: restricted to the use of one (1) hook having a single point or one (1) lure having no more than one (1) hook with a single point (artificial or bait) Jan. 1–April 30: Walleye run regulation: restricted to the use of one (1) hook having a single point or one (1) lure having no more than one (1) hook with a single point (artificial or bait)
Elk River (Highway 321 Bridge Downstream To Row Branch)Out of season
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Apr 30
- Gear
- Single Pointed Hooks
Walleye run regulation: restricted to the use of one (1) hook having a single point or one (1) lure having no more than one (1) hook with a single point (artificial or bait)
French Broad River
- Min size
- 15"
French Broad River (From Hwy 321 Bridge At Newport Upstream To Nc State Line)
- Min size
- 15"
Ft. Patrick Henry
- Min size
- 18"
Norris
- Min size
- 18"
Norris Reservoir
- Min size
- 18"
Obey River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Max size
- 20"
Only one (1) Walleye over 20 inches may be harvested.
Pigeon River
- Min size
- 15"
Pigeon River (From Hwy 321 Bridge At Newport Upstream To Nc State Line)
- Min size
- 15"
Roan Creek (Mountain Lake Estates Bridge Downstream To Doe Creek)Out of season
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Apr 30
- Gear
- Single Pointed Hooks
Walleye run regulation: restricted to the use of one (1) hook having a single point or one (1) lure having no more than one (1) hook with a single point (artificial or bait)
South Holston
- Min size
- 18"
Includes tributaries.
South Holston (Tn + Va Rules)
- Min size
- 18"
Includes tributaries.
South Holston Reservoir
- Min size
- 18"
Includes tributaries.
Tellico
- Min size
- 18"
Watauga
- Min size
- 18"
Includes tributaries.
Watauga Reservoir
- Min size
- 18"
Watauga River (Nc Line Downstream To The End Of Cowanstown Road)Out of season
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Apr 30
- Gear
- Single Pointed Hooks
Walleye run regulation: restricted to the use of one (1) hook having a single point or one (1) lure having no more than one (1) hook with a single point (artificial or bait)
Tennessee statewide
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 16"
Illinois (27)
Clinton Lake
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Clinton Lake Spillway
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge-Crab Orchard Lake
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Lake Bloomington
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Mississippi River
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
- Slot min
- 20"
- Slot max
- 27"
with no more than 1 Fish greater than or equal to 27 inches Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish greater than or equal to 20 inches and less than 27 inches
Mississippi River (Between Il & Ia)
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
- Slot min
- 20"
- Slot max
- 27"
with no more than 1 Fish greater than or equal to 27 inches Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish greater than or equal to 20 inches and less than 27 inches
Mississippi River (Between Il & Mo)
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
- Min size
- 14"
Rock River
- Min size
- 15"
- Slot min
- 20"
- Slot max
- 27"
Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of Fish greater than or equal to 20 inches and less than 27 inches
Salt Creek Downstream To The Route 10 Bridge
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Spring Lake
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Illinois statewide
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
- Min size
- 14"
either singly or in the aggregate with Sauger or their Hybrid (Saugeye), Except In Those Waters Listed Under Site Specific Regulations. All Walleye, Sauger, Or Their Hybrid (Saugeye) Taken Must Be 14˝ In Total Length Or Longer, Except In The Mississippi River, Wabash River, Or As Specified Under Site Specific Regulations.
Wisconsin (60)
Amber Lake (Formerly Squaw Lake)
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
one fish may be over 24” Walleye from 15” but less than 20” may be kept
Beauregard Lake
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 20"
- Slot max
- 24"
only one over 24” may be kept walleye from 20-24” may not be kept
Bony LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 18"
Walleye of any length may be kept only one fish over 18” may be kept fish from 14” to 18” may not be kept
Ceded Territory: Quality Opportunity
- Daily bag
- 3 fish a day
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 20"
- Slot max
- 24"
one fish over 24 inches
Crescent Lake
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
- Slot min
- 22"
- Slot max
- 28"
walleye from 22”-28” may not be kept
Crooked Lake (Bass And Gilkey Lakes Combined)
- Min size
- 18"
Eau Claire Lake, MiddleOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 18"
Walleye of any length may be kept only one fish over 18” may be kept fish from 14” to 18” may not be kept
George Lake
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
- Slot min
- 22"
- Slot max
- 28"
walleye from 22”-28” may not be kept
Lake Redstone
- Min size
- 18"
Loon Lake
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 20"
- Slot max
- 24"
only one over 24” may be kept walleye from 20-24” may not be kept
Lyman Lake
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 20"
- Slot max
- 24"
only one over 24” may be kept walleye from 20-24” may not be kept
Minnesuing Lake
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 20"
- Slot max
- 24"
only one over 24” may be kept walleye from 20-24” may not be kept
Pike Lake Chain (Includes Buskey Bay, Millicent, Hart, Twin Bear, Eagle, Flynn And Mccarry Lakes Combined)
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
- Slot min
- 22"
- Slot max
- 28"
fish from 22” to 28” may not be kept
Quality Opportunity
- Daily bag
- 3 fish a day
- Min size
- 18"
RehabilitationCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 1 fish a day
- Min size
- 18"
- Slot min
- 22"
- Slot max
- 28"
Sand Lake (Includes Sissabagama Creek 1/2 Mile Upstream To Sand Lake Road)
- Min size
- 18"
Slow Growth
- Daily bag
- 3 fish a day
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 13"
- Slot min
- 16"
- Slot max
- 24"
one fish over 24 inches
Special Opportunity Or BiomanipulationCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
West Plum Lake
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
one fish may be over 24” Walleye from 15” but less than 20” may be kept
Wisconsin statewide
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
Also known as
Rules above match the following common names in our regulations database: Walleye, Walleye/Sauger, Walleye And Sauger, Walleye Or Sauger.
Frequently asked questions
When is Walleye season on Mississippi River?
Walleye season on Mississippi River runs from Feb 20 to Apr 14 (varies by state) per Conservation / TWRA / DNR / DNR.
What is the size limit for Walleye on Mississippi River?
Minimum size for Walleye on Mississippi River is 18 inches in Bull Shoals On The Lake And Its Tributaries. Slot or maximum sizes may apply elsewhere on the water; see the table above.
What is the daily bag limit for Walleye on Mississippi River?
Daily bag limit for Walleye on Mississippi River is 8 fish/day in Mississippi River.
Reference only. Regulations change mid-season. Always verify with the official source before keeping a catch. Last verified .