Wisconsin regulations
Lake Sturgeon Regulations in Wisconsin 2026
Wisconsin lake sturgeon 2026 open seasons vary by 37 management regions. Statewide rules apply for 1/day. Pick your region in the rule table below. Sourced from DNR.
Rules (76)
Wisconsin statewideCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 1 fish per season
- Possession
- 2 fish in total
A fishing license is required to fish for sturgeon (unless you are exempt), but a harvest tag is not required for catch and release sturgeon fishing.
Black River (Including Tributaries Up To The First Road Crossing Or Dam)Closed
- Status
- Closed
Hook and line fishing is closed all year
Black River From The Black River Falls Dam (Jackson Co.) To The Mississippi River (La Crosse Co.)In season
- Season opens
- Jun 6
- Season closes
- Mar 7
Buffalo LakeClosed
- Status
- Closed
Hook and line fishing is closed all year
Butternut Lake (Price County)Out of season
- Season opens
- Sep 5
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/season
- Min size
- 60"
Chippewa River From The Chippewa Flowage Dam (Sawyer Co.) To The Mississippi River (Buffalo/Pepin Co.)In season
- Season opens
- Jun 6
- Season closes
- Mar 7
Chippewa River: West Fork Downstream From Moose Lake Dam (Sawyer County) And East Fork (Ashland County) Downstream To Mississippi River (Pepin County) Including Sloughs, Bayous, And Fowages Upstream To Frst Highway Or Railroad Bridge.Out of season
- Season opens
- Sep 5
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/season
- Min size
- 60"
Designated WatersCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
There are now designated waters for catching and releasing sturgeon. See pages 72-73.
Downstream From The Grands Rapids Dam On The Menominee RiverOut of season
- Season opens
- Sep 5
- Season closes
- Sep 30
East Fork Lemonweir River (Upstream To The Highway 173 Bridge)Closed
- Status
- Closed
Hook and line fishing is closed all year
Eau Claire River (Downstream From The Schofield Dam)Closed
- Status
- Closed
Hook and line fishing is closed all year
Eau Claire River From Lake Altoona Dam (Eau Claire Co.) To The Chippewa River (Eau Claire Co.)In season
- Season opens
- Jun 6
- Season closes
- Mar 7
Flambeau River: North Fork From Turtle-Flambeau Dam (Iron County) And South Fork (Price County) Downstream To The Chippewa River (Rusk County) Including Sloughs, Bayous, And Fowages Upstream To The Frst Dam Or Highway Bridge.Out of season
- Season opens
- Sep 5
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/season
- Min size
- 60"
Fox RiverClosed
- Status
- Closed
Hook and line fishing is closed all year
Grand River (From The Grand River Wildlife Area Dam Downstream To The Fox River)Closed
- Status
- Closed
Hook and line fishing is closed all year
Grandfather Flowage From Grandfather Dam Upstream To Grandmother DamClosed
- Status
- Closed
Hook and line fishing is closed all year
Grandmother Flowage From Grandmother Dam Upstream To Pride DamClosed
- Status
- Closed
Hook and line fishing is closed all year
Jump River From Its North/South Forks (Price Co.) To The Chippewa River (Chippewa Co.)In season
- Season opens
- Jun 6
- Season closes
- Mar 7
Jump River From The North And South Forks To The Chippewa River (Rusk County)Out of season
- Season opens
- Sep 5
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/season
- Min size
- 60"
Lake Michigan Tributaries South Of Us Hwy. 10 (Including The Manitowoc River)Closed
- Status
- Closed
Closed all year – one may be killed and possessed for transport to a DNR Service Center or Regional Offce.
Lake Mohawksin From Pride Dam Upstream To Kings DamClosed
- Status
- Closed
Hook and line fishing is closed all year
Mississippi R. Upstream Of The Red Wing Dam; St. Croix R. Upstream Of The St. Croix Falls Dam To The Dam At Gordan FlowageOut of season
- Season opens
- Jun 16
- Season closes
- Mar 1
Pools 9-12Closed
- Status
- Closed
Closed all year — there is no fishing for lake sturgeon
Red Cedar River From The Lake Menomin Dam (Dunn Co.) To The Chippewa River (Dunn Co.)In season
- Season opens
- Jun 6
- Season closes
- Mar 7
South Fork Lemonweir River (Upstream To The Tomah Dam)Closed
- Status
- Closed
Hook and line fishing is closed all year
St. Croix River Downstream From The St. Croix Falls Dam To PrescottOut of season
- Season opens
- Oct 1
- Season closes
- Mar 1
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 60"
St. Louis River And Mississippi River Downstream Of The Red Wing DamOut of season
- Season opens
- Jun 16
- Season closes
- Apr 14
Upstream From The Grand Rapids Dam On The Menominee RiverOut of season
- Season opens
- Sep 5
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Daily bag
- 1 per season
- Min size
- 60"
West Fork Chippewa River From Moose Lake Dam (Sawyer Co.) Including Chippewa Flowage (Sawyer Co.)In season
- Season opens
- Jun 6
- Season closes
- Mar 7
Winnebago System WatersClosed
- Status
- Closed
Hook and line fshing closed all year
Wisconsin River (Downstream Of The Hydro Dam In Merrill Including All Sloughs, Bayous, And Flowages Up To The First Dam Or Highway Bridge)Closed
- Status
- Closed
Hook and line fishing is closed all year
Wisconsin River Below The Wisconsin Dells Dam (Columbia County) To The Mississippi River (Grant/Crawford Co.)Out of season
- Season opens
- Sep 5
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/season
- Min size
- 60"
Wisconsin River From The Merrill Flowage Dam (Lincoln Co.) To The Mississippi River (Grant/Crawford Co.)In season
- Season opens
- Jun 6
- Season closes
- Mar 7
Yellow, Little Yellow, And Danbury Flowage Chain Of Lakes (Burnett County)Out of season
- Season opens
- Sep 5
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/season
- Min size
- 60"
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
- Bluegill (Sunfish)71 rules
- Channel Catfish30 rules
- Crappie (Black & White)26 rules
- Yellow Perch21 rules
Also known as
Lake Sturgeon is also called Sturgeon. 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 Lake Sturgeon season in Wisconsin?
Lake Sturgeon season in Wisconsin runs from Jun 6 to Mar 7 per DNR.
What is the size limit for Lake Sturgeon in Wisconsin?
Minimum size for Lake Sturgeon in Wisconsin is 60 inches in Butternut Lake (Price County), per DNR. Slot limits or maximum sizes may apply in some zones.
What is the daily bag limit for Lake Sturgeon in Wisconsin?
Daily bag limit for Lake Sturgeon in Wisconsin is 1 fish/season in Butternut Lake (Price County), per DNR.
Official sources cited
Reference only. Regulations change frequently, often mid-season. Always verify with DNR before keeping a catch.