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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.

DNROfficial source

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Rules (30)

Wisconsin statewide
Daily bag
5 fish/day
Daily bag
25 fish/day
Possession
50 fish in total
Statewide: General
Verified · View official source ↗
All Wisconsin-Michigan Boundary WatersOpen
Status
Open
Daily bag
10
Open all year
Verified · View official source ↗
Brown County
Daily bag
25 fish
Verified · View official source ↗
Calumet County
Daily bag
25 fish
except on Lake Winnebago system waters
Verified · View official source ↗
Columbia Lake
Daily bag
10 fish/day
Verified · View official source ↗
Consumptive Opportunity
Daily bag
25 fish a day
Verified · View official source ↗
Iowa Boundary Waters (Mississippi River)
Daily bag
100 lbs/seine haul
(Oct 1–Apr 30)
Verified · View official source ↗
Minnesota Boundary Waters (Mississippi / St. Croix)
Daily bag
100 lbs/seine haul
(Oct 1–Apr 30)
Verified · View official source ↗
Mississippi River (Pools 3-9)
Daily bag
10 fish/day
Possession
1 fish
in total only one over 30” may be kept
Verified · View official source ↗
Most Waters
Daily bag
10 fish
Verified · View official source ↗
Prairie Du Sac Dam Downstream To The Highway 12 BridgeIn season
Season opens
May 2
Season closes
Nov 30
Verified · View official source ↗
Quality Opportunity
Daily bag
10 fish a day
Verified · View official source ↗
St. Croix River Downstream Of The St. Croix Falls Dam To Prescott
Possession
1 fish
only one channel catfish over 24” may be kept
Verified · View official source ↗
St. Louis River And St. Croix River Upstream Of The St. Croix Falls Dam
Daily bag
10 fish/day
in total
Verified · View official source ↗
Waupaca Countywide
Daily bag
25 fish
except on Winnebago system waters
Verified · View official source ↗
Waushara Countywide
Daily bag
25 fish
except on Winnebago system waters
Verified · View official source ↗
Winnebago Countywide
Daily bag
25 fish
except on Winnebago system waters
Verified · View official source ↗
Winnebago System Waters
Daily bag
25 in total
but only 24 if one fathead catfsh is possessed
Verified · View official source ↗
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
Verified · View official source ↗
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
Verified · View official source ↗
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
Verified · View official source ↗

Other Wisconsin fish regulations

Other regulated species in Wisconsin with current rule pages — same DNR source, same verification cadence.

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

Reference only. Regulations change frequently, often mid-season. Always verify with DNR before keeping a catch.

← All Wisconsin fishing regulations