Wisconsin regulations
Channel Catfish Regulations in Wisconsin 2026
Wisconsin channel catfish 2026 open seasons vary by 20 management regions. Statewide rules apply for 5/day. Pick your region in the rule table below. Sourced from DNR.
Rules (30)
Wisconsin statewide
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Daily bag
- 25 fish/day
- Possession
- 50 fish in total
Statewide: General
All Wisconsin-Michigan Boundary WatersOpen
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 10
Open all year
Calumet County
- Daily bag
- 25 fish
except on Lake Winnebago system waters
Iowa Boundary Waters (Mississippi River)
- Daily bag
- 100 lbs/seine haul
(Oct 1–Apr 30)
Minnesota Boundary Waters (Mississippi / St. Croix)
- Daily bag
- 100 lbs/seine haul
(Oct 1–Apr 30)
Mississippi River (Pools 3-9)
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
- Possession
- 1 fish
in total only one over 30” may be kept
Prairie Du Sac Dam Downstream To The Highway 12 BridgeIn season
- Season opens
- May 2
- Season closes
- Nov 30
St. Croix River Downstream Of The St. Croix Falls Dam To Prescott
- Possession
- 1 fish
only one channel catfish over 24” may be kept
St. Louis River And St. Croix River Upstream Of The St. Croix Falls Dam
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
in total
Waupaca Countywide
- Daily bag
- 25 fish
except on Winnebago system waters
Waushara Countywide
- Daily bag
- 25 fish
except on Winnebago system waters
Winnebago Countywide
- Daily bag
- 25 fish
except on Winnebago system waters
Winnebago System Waters
- Daily bag
- 25 in total
but only 24 if one fathead catfsh is possessed
Wisconsin River (Including All Sloughs, Bayous, Flowages, And Tributaries Upstream To The First Dam Or Highway Bridge)In season
- Season opens
- May 3
- Season closes
- Nov 30
- Daily bag
- 10 fish
from the Prairie du Sac Dam downstream to the Highway 12 bridge
Wisconsin River (Including Lake Wi And All Sloughs (Gallus Slough), Bayous, Flowages, And Tributaries Upstream To The First Dam Or Highway Bridge)
- Season opens
- Jan 1
The season for catfish is open all year
Wisconsin River (Including Lake Wi And Sloughs, Bayous (Okee Bay, Whalen’s Grade), Flowages And Tributaries Upstream To The First Dam Or Highway Bridge)In season
- Season opens
- May 2
- Season closes
- Nov 30
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
from the Prairie du Sac Dam downstream to the Highway 12 bridge
Other Wisconsin fish regulations
Other regulated species in Wisconsin with current rule pages — same DNR source, same verification cadence.
- Trout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow)740 rules
- Walleye517 rules
- Smallmouth Bass455 rules
- Largemouth Bass401 rules
- Northern Pike370 rules
- Lake Trout277 rules
- Muskie (Muskellunge)114 rules
- Lake Sturgeon76 rules
- Bluegill (Sunfish)71 rules
- Crappie (Black & White)26 rules
- Yellow Perch21 rules
Also known as
Channel Catfish is also called Catfish. Anglers in different regions use different names for the same fish, and the rules on this page apply to all of them in Wisconsin.
Frequently asked questions
When is Channel Catfish season in Wisconsin?
Channel Catfish season in Wisconsin runs from May 2 to Nov 30 per DNR.
What is the size limit for Channel Catfish in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin does not publish a state-wide minimum size for Channel Catfish. Check zone-specific rules above.
What is the daily bag limit for Channel Catfish in Wisconsin?
Daily bag limit for Channel Catfish in Wisconsin is 10 in All Wisconsin-Michigan Boundary Waters, per DNR.
Official sources cited
- https://widnr.widen.net/s/glhqr9znsp/fishingregselectronic2627
- https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/fishing/regulations/RegulationsToolbox
- https://widnr.widen.net/s/zxmwhb7j7n/guide_wisconsincommercialfishingregulations26
Reference only. Regulations change frequently, often mid-season. Always verify with DNR before keeping a catch.