Wisconsin regulations
Walleye Regulations in Wisconsin 2026
Wisconsin walleye 2026 open seasons vary by 259 management regions. Statewide rules apply for 5/day and 18″ min. Pick your region in the rule table below. Sourced from DNR.
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Rules (517)
Wisconsin statewide
- Daily bag
- 5 fish in total
- Possession
- 10 fish in total
- Min size
- 18"
Durphee Lake (In Combination With Schoolhouse Lake)
All Wisconsin-Minnesota Boundary Waters Below The Red Wing Dam On The Mississippi River
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Altoona Lake Upstream To The Lake Eau Claire Dam
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Max size
- 20"
may be over 24”
Amber Lake (Formerly Squaw Lake)Open
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
of any length may be kept, but only one fish can be over 14” one fish may be over 24” Walleye from 15” but less than 20” may be kept
Arbor Vitae, LittleOpen
- Status
- Permitted
of any length may be kept, but only one fish can be over 14”
Bass (Patterson) Lake (S17, T40n, R10w)Open
- Status
- Permitted
of any length may be kept, but only one fish can be over 14”
Bass Lake (T40n, R2w, S15—West Of Park Falls)Open
- Status
- Permitted
of any length may be kept
Bear River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 12"
- Max size
- 15"
over 15” may be kept only one over 15” may be kept
Bearskin LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Max size
- 14"
of any length may be kept, but only one fish can be over 14” only one fish can be over 14”
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
Big Butternut Lake
- Max size
- 24"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
except one fish may be over 24”
Big Eau Pleine Reservoir (Upstream From Dam Road)
- Min size
- 24"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
one fish may be over 24 inches
Big Falls Flowage Dam (Flambeau River) Upstream To Crowley Flowage Dam (North Fork Flambeau River) In Price County
- Min size
- 24"
- Max size
- 20"
except one fish may be over 24”
Big Falls Flowage Dam In Rusk County (Flambeau River) Upstream To Crowley Flowage Dam (North Fork Flambeau River)
- Min size
- 24"
- Max size
- 20"
except one fish may be over 24”
Big Lake (S4, T42n, R6e)Open
- Status
- Permitted
of any length may be kept, but only one fish can be over 14”
Big Muskellunge LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
of any length may be kept, but only one fish can be over 14”
Big Rib River (Upstream Of I-39 Northbound Lane)
- Min size
- 28"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
one fish may be over 28 inches
Birch LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
of any length may be kept, but only one fish can be over 14”
Bony LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 18"
of any length may be kept, except fish from 14” to 18” may not be kept and only one fish over 18” may be kept only one fish over 18” may be kept fish from 14” to 18” may not be kept
Boom-Rhinelander Chain (Includes Rhinelander Flowage From Bridge Road Downstream To St Regis Dam, Boom Lake, Bass Lake, Thunder Lake And Lake Creek Upstream To Forest Lane, Combined)
- Max size
- 24"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
except one fish may be over 24”
Boulder LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
of any length may be kept, but only one fish can be over 14”
Buena Vista Creek (Upstream To The Nepco Dam)
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Max size
- 20"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
one fish may be over 28 inches but less than 20 inches may be kept, except one fish may be over 28 inches from 15” but less than 20” may be kept, except one fish may be over 28”
Butternut LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Min size
- 14"
- Max size
- 14"
of any length may be kept, but only one fish can be over 14” only one fish can be over 14”
Ceded Territory: Quality Opportunity
- Daily bag
- 3 fish a day
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 20"
- Slot max
- 24"
one fish over 24 inches
Chippewa Falls Flowage Dam Upstream To Lake Wissota Dam
- Min size
- 13"
- Slot min
- 16"
- Slot max
- 24"
must be released must be released and only one may be over 24”
Chippewa Flowage And The Chippewa River Downstream To The Arpin Dam Combined
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Chippewa River Downstream Of Arpin Dam To The Lake Holcombe Dam And Tributaries To The First Dam Or Lake (Including The Flambeau River Upstream To Thornapple Flowage Dam)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Min size
- 24"
- Slot min
- 16"
- Slot max
- 24"
walleye from 16” to 24” must be released only one may be over 24”
Chippewa River Upstream From The Dells Pond Dam, Including Dells Pond Upstream To The Chippewa Falls Flowage Dam (Includes Tributaries From Their Mouths Upstream To The First Dam Or Lake)
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 13"
- Slot min
- 16"
- Slot max
- 24"
may be over 24”
Clear Lake (S16, T39n, R7e)
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 22"
- Slot max
- 28"
may not be kept
Cornell Flowage Upstream To Lake Holcombe Dam
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 13"
- Slot min
- 16"
- Slot max
- 24"
may be over 24”
Crab LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
of any length may be kept, but only one fish can be over 14”
Cranberry Lake (Eagle Chain - See Vilas Co)
- Max size
- 14"
except one fish over 18” may be kept
Crescent Lake
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 22"
- Slot max
- 28"
walleye from 22”-28” may not be kept
Crescent Lake (Near Rhinelander)
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 22"
- Slot max
- 28"
may not be kept
Crowley Flowage Dam Upstream To Pixley Flowage Dam
- Min size
- 24"
- Max size
- 20"
except one fish may be over 24”
Dairyland Reservoir Dam Upstream To Big Falls Flowage Dam
- Min size
- 24"
- Max size
- 20"
except one fish may be over 24”
Deer Lake (Including Bridge Lake, Lake Nokomis And Rice River Flowage Combined)
- Min size
- 24"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
one fish may be over 24 inches
Dells Pond In Eau Claire County Upstream To Chippewa Falls Flowage Dam
- Min size
- 13"
- Slot min
- 16"
- Slot max
- 24"
must be released must be released and only one may be over 24”
Diamond LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Max size
- 14"
of any length may be kept, but only one fish can be over 14” only one fish can be over 14”
Eagle Chain (And Connecting Waters Including Catfish, Cranberry, Duck, Eagle, Lynx, Otter, Scattering Rice, Voyageur, Watersmeet And Yellow Birch Lakes Combined)
- Max size
- 14"
except, one fish may be over 18”
East Fork Lemonweir River (Upstream To The Highway 173 Bridge)
- Min size
- 28"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
one fish may be over 28 inches
Eau Claire Lake, MiddleOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 18"
of any length may be kept, except fish from 14” to 18” may not be kept and only one fish over 18” may be kept only one fish over 18” may be kept fish from 14” to 18” may not be kept
Eau Claire River (Downstream From The Schofield Dam)
- Min size
- 28"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
one fish may be over 28 inches
Elk River Upstream From Jobes Dam To Musser Flowage Dam (Including Phillips Chain Of Lakes: Duroy, Elk, Long, Wilson Lakes, And Connecting Waters)
- Min size
- 24"
- Max size
- 20"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
except one fish may be over 24”
Elk River Upstream From Musser Flowage Dam (Including Musser Flowage)
- Min size
- 24"
- Max size
- 20"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
except one fish may be over 24”
Elk River Upstream From The Lac Sault Dore Dam (Including Lac Sault Dore (Soo Lake) And Grassy Lake) To Jobes Dam
- Min size
- 24"
- Max size
- 20"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
except one fish may be over 24”
Escanaba LakeIn season
- Season opens
- Jun 13
- Season closes
- Mar 7
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
second Saturday in June (June 13, 2026) first Sunday in March (March 7, 2027) may be kept and only one fish may be over 24” until department notification that the annual quota has been reached, and thereafter only catch-and-release fishing for walleye is allowed
Flambeau River (Above Turtle Flambeau Flowage)
- Min size
- 12"
- Max size
- 15"
only one over 15” may be kept
Flambeau River And Its Impoundments, Sloughs And Tributaries (From Big Falls Flowage Dam In Rusk County Upstream To Crowley Flowage Dam On The North Fork Flambeau River In Price County)
- Min size
- 24"
- Max size
- 20"
except one fish may be over 24”
Flambeau River, North Fork (From Upper Park Falls Flowage Dam In Price County Upstream To The Fish Refuge Below The Turtle-Flambeau Dam In Iron County)
- Min size
- 24"
- Max size
- 20"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
one fish may be over 24” except one fish may be over 24”
Flambeau River, South Fork And Its Impoundments, Sloughs And Tributaries Upstream To The First Dam Or Lake (Including Elk River Upstream From Its Confluence With The South Fork Flambeau River To Lac Sault Dore Dam)
- Min size
- 24"
- Max size
- 20"
except one fish may be over 24”
Flambeau River, South Fork And Its Tributaries Upstream To The First Dam Or Lake (Including Elk River Upstream To Lac Sault Dore Dam)
- Min size
- 24"
- Max size
- 20"
except one fish may be over 24”
Forest LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Max size
- 14"
except, one fish may be over 18”
Fox RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
From the De Pere Dam upstream, of any length may be kept and there is a continuous open season
Fox River (From Appleton Lock 1 Downstream To De Pere Dam)Open
- Status
- Permitted
of any length may be kept
Fox River (From Appleton Lock 1 Upstream To Neenah-Menasha Dams (Winnebago County), Including Little Lake Butte Des Morts, Its Tributaries, Backwaters And Sloughs, Mud Creek And Neenah Slough)Open
- Status
- Permitted
of any length may be kept
Fox River (From The Neenah-Menasha Dams Downstream To Appleton Lock 1 - Outagamie County)Open
- Status
- Permitted
of any length may be kept
Fox River From Its Mouth Upstream To The Dam At DepereOut of season
- Season opens
- Mar 2
- Season closes
- May 1
- Daily bag
- 1 in total
- Min size
- 28"
Hasbrook LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Max size
- 14"
of any length may be kept, but only one fish can be over 14” only one fish can be over 14”
Hat Rapids Dam Downstream To Kings Dam In Lincoln County (Including Lake Alice)
- Max size
- 24"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
except one fish may be over 24”
Hat Rapids Flowage (From Upstream Bank Of Pelican River Mouth) Downstream To Hat Rapids Dam
- Max size
- 24"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
except one fish may be over 24”
Ike Walton LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
of any length may be kept, but only one fish can be over 14”
Inland Lakes And Rivers Within The Ceded Territory
- Daily bag
- 3 fish
- Min size
- 24"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
one fish may be over 24” walleye and sauger from 15” but less than 20” may be kept, except one fish may be over 24”
Johnson Creek (Upstream Of I-39 Southbound Lane)
- Min size
- 28"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
one fish may be over 28 inches
Julia Lake (S12, T38n, R11e)Open
- Status
- Permitted
- Max size
- 14"
of any length may be kept only one fish may be over 14”
Julia Lake (Three Lakes Area; S6, T38n, R12e)Open
- Status
- Permitted
- Max size
- 14"
of any length may be kept, but only one fish can be over 14” only one fish can be over 14”
Jump River (And Its Tributaries Upstream To The First Dam Or Lake)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Min size
- 24"
- Slot min
- 16"
- Slot max
- 24"
walleye from 16” to 24” must be released only one may be over 24”
Jump River (And Tributaries To The First Dam Or Lake)
- Min size
- 13"
- Slot min
- 16"
- Slot max
- 24"
except walleye from 16” to 24” must be released, and only one may be over 24” must be released
Jump River (Includes Tributaries From Their Mouths Upstream To The First Dam Or Lake
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
may be over 24”
Jump River (Includes Tributaries From Their Mouths Upstream To The First Dam Or Lake)
- Min size
- 13"
- Slot min
- 16"
- Slot max
- 24"
Ladysmith Flowage Dam Upstream To Dairyland Reservoir Dam
- Min size
- 24"
- Max size
- 20"
except one fish may be over 24”
Lake Alexander From Alexander Dam Upstream To Grandfather Dam
- Min size
- 28"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
one fish may be over 28 inches
Lake Alice From Kings Dam Upstream To Hat Rapids DamIn season
- Season opens
- May 2
- Season closes
- Mar 7
2026 through March 7, 2027
Lake Eau Claire Dam Upstream
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Max size
- 20"
may be over 24”
Lake Holcombe Upstream To The Arpin Dam In Sawyer County, Including The Flambeau River Upstream To The Thornapple Flowage Dam In Rusk County
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 13"
- Slot min
- 16"
- Slot max
- 24"
may be over 24”
Lake Koshkonong (And Connected Tributaries Upstream To The First Dam Unless Otherwise Listed)Open
- Status
- Permitted
may be kept
Lake Menomin (Including The Red Cedar River Upstream From The Lake Menomin Dam To The Cedar Falls Dam
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Max size
- 20"
may be over 24”
Lake Michigan Waters North Of Waldo Boulevard, ManitowocOut of season
- Season opens
- Mar 8
- Season closes
- Apr 30
- Daily bag
- 1 in total
- Min size
- 28"
Lake Michigan Waters South Of Waldo Boulevard, ManitowocOut of season
- Season opens
- Mar 8
- Season closes
- Apr 30
- Daily bag
- 1 in total
Lake Nokomis/Rice Reservoir Chain (Including Bridge Lake, Deer Lake, Lake Nokomis And Rice River Flowage Combined)
- Min size
- 24"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
one fish may be over 24 inches
Lake Wissota Upstream To Old Abe Flowage Dam In Jim Falls, Including The Yellow River Upstream To Svetlik Dam At Cadott
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 13"
- Slot min
- 16"
- Slot max
- 24"
may be over 24”
Lemonweir River (Including All Sloughs, Bayous, And Flowages Upstream To The First Dam Or Highway Bridge)
- Min size
- 28"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
one fish may be over 28”
Lemonweir River (Including All Sloughs, Bayous, And Flowages Upstream To The First Water Control Structure, Dam, Or Highway Bridge)
- Min size
- 28"
- Max size
- 28"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
one fish may be over 28 inches except one fish may be over 28”
Little Eau Claire River
- Max size
- 28"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
except one fish may be over 28”
Little Eau Claire River (Upstream Of I-39 Southbound Lane)
- Min size
- 28"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
one fish may be over 28 inches
Little Eau Pleine Flowage And River (Upstream Of State Highway 34)
- Max size
- 28"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
except one fish may be over 28”
Little Eau Pleine River (Upstream From State Highway 34)
- Min size
- 28"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
one fish may be over 28 inches
Little Lake Butte Des Morts (Including Mud Creek, Neenah Slough And Tributaries, Backwaters And Sloughs, And The Fox River From Neenah-Menasha Dams Downstream To Appleton Lock 1 - Outagamie County)Open
- Status
- Permitted
of any length may be kept
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
Lower Park Falls Flowage Dam Upstream To The Fish Refuge Below The Upper Park Falls Flowage Dam
- Min size
- 24"
- Max size
- 20"
except one fish may be over 24”
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
Manger Lagoon - City Of Green Bay
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
only persons 15 years of age and younger and certain disabled anglers may fish these waters
Manitowish Chain Of Lakes (Alder, Clear (T42n R5e S12), Fawn (T42n R5e S11), Island, Manitowish, Little Star, Rest, Spider, Stone And Wild Rice Lakes And Connecting Waters Combined)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
chainwide from 15” but less than 20” may be kept and only one fish may be over 24”
Manitowish River (Including Benson, Sturgeon And Vance Lakes) Downstream From The Rest Lake Dam
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 12"
can be over 15”
Manitowish River Upstream Of The Flambeau River To The Rest Lake Dam (Including Benson, Sturgeon And Vance Lakes)
- Min size
- 12"
- Max size
- 15"
only one over 15” may be kept
Mercer LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Max size
- 14"
of any length may be kept, but only one fish can be over 14” only one fish can be over 14”
Merrill Flowage From Merrill Dam Upstream To Alexander Dam
- Min size
- 28"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
one fish may be over 28 inches
Mineral LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
of any length may be kept, but only one fish can be over 14”
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
Minocqua Chain (And Connecting Waters, Including Jerome, Kawaguesaga, Little Tomahawk, Mid, Minocqua, Mud And Tomahawk Lakes)
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 22"
- Slot max
- 28"
may not be kept
Minong Flowage (Including Cranberry Lake; Upstream To The Confluence Of Totagatic River And Bergen Creek)Open
- Status
- Permitted
of any length may be kept, but only one fish can be over 14”
Minong Flowage (Upstream To And Including Cranberry Lake)Open
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
of any length may be kept can be over 14”
Mirror Lake
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
only persons 15 years of age and younger and certain disabled anglers may fish these waters
Mississippi River (Pool 9)
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 20"
- Slot max
- 27"
in total only one over 27” may be kept walleye 20-27” must be released
Mississippi River (Pools 3–8)
- Daily bag
- 4 fish/day
- Possession
- 1 fish
in total only one walleye or sauger over 20” may be kept
Montreal River (West Branch)
- Max size
- 14"
only one fish can be over 14”
Moose LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Min size
- 14"
of any length may be kept, but only one fish can be over 14” only one fish can be over 14”
Nemadji RiverIn season
- Season opens
- May 9
- Season closes
- Mar 1
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
North Crab LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
of any length may be kept, but only one fish can be over 14”
Old Abe Flowage Upstream To Cornell Flowage Dam
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 13"
- Slot min
- 16"
- Slot max
- 24"
may be over 24”
Oneida LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Max size
- 14"
of any length may be kept, but only one fish can be over 14” only one fish can be over 14”
Oxbow LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
of any length may be kept, but only one fish can be over 14”
Peplin Creek (Upstream Of I-39 Southbound Lane)
- Min size
- 28"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
one fish may be over 28 inches
Pike Lake Chain (Amik, Pike, Round And Turner Lakes Combined)
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
may be kept, except one fish may be over 24”
Pike Lake Chain (Includes Buskey Bay, Millicent, Hart, Twin Bear, Eagle, Flynn And McCarry Lakes Combined)
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 22"
- Slot max
- 28"
fish from 22” to 28” may not be kept
Pike Lake Chain (Includes Pike, Round, Turner, Amik Lakes And Connecting Waters Combined)
- Min size
- 24"
- Max size
- 20"
except one fish may be over 24”
Pixley Flowage Dam Upstream To Lower Park Falls Flowage Dam
- Min size
- 24"
- Max size
- 20"
except one fish may be over 24”
Plum Lake (S36, T41n R7e)
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
may be kept, except one fish may be over 24”
Pools 9-12
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 20"
- Slot max
- 27"
in total only one over 27” walleye 20–27” must be released
Presque Isle Chain (Including Presque Isle, Averill, Van Vliet Lakes Combined)Open
- Status
- Permitted
of any length may be kept, but only one fish can be over 14”
RehabilitationCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Daily bag
- 1 fish a day
- Slot min
- 22"
- Slot max
- 28"
Remington Lake
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
only persons 15 years of age and younger and certain disabled anglers may fish these waters
Reservoir Pond (Including Horn, Explosion And Little Horn Lakes Combined)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
from these lakes combined
Rock LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
of any length may be kept, but only one fish can be over 14”
Shell LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
of any length may be kept, but only one fish can be over 14”
Sherman LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Max size
- 14"
of any length may be kept but only one fish can be over 14” only one fish can be over 14”
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
Solberg Lake (Including Tributaries Up To The First Dam Or Lake)
- Min size
- 24"
- Max size
- 20"
except one fish may be over 24”
South Fork Lemonweir River (Upstream To The Tomah Dam)
- Min size
- 28"
- Max size
- 28"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
one fish may be over 28 inches except one fish may be over 28”
Special Opportunity Or BiomanipulationCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
Spillerberg LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
of any length may be kept, but only one fish can be over 14”
Squirrel LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Max size
- 14"
of any length may be kept, but only one fish can be over 14” only one fish can be over 14”
St. Croix River Downstream From The St. Croix Falls Dam To PrescottOut of season
- Season opens
- May 2
- Season closes
- Mar 1
- Daily bag
- 4 fish/day
- Possession
- 1 fish
in total only one walleye or sauger over 20” may be kept
St. Croix River Upstream Of The St. Croix Falls DamOut of season
- Season opens
- May 2
- Season closes
- Mar 1
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
in total
St. Louis RiverOut of season
- Season opens
- May 9
- Season closes
- Mar 1
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
in total
Star LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
of any length may be kept, but only one fish can be over 14”
Syene Ponds
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
only persons 15 years of age and younger and certain disabled anglers may fish these waters
Thornapple Flowage Dam Upstream To Ladysmith Flowage Dam
- Min size
- 24"
- Max size
- 20"
except one fish may be over 24”
Three Lakes Chain (Including Big, Big Fork, Big Stone, Mud, (Crystal), Deer, Dog, Fourmile, Island, Laurel, Little Fork, Long, Medicine, Moccasin, Planting Ground, Rangeline, Round, Spirit, Townline, Virgin And Whitefish Lakes And Connecting Waters Combined)Open
- Status
- Permitted
- Max size
- 14"
of any length may be kept, but only one fish can be over 14” only one fish can be over 14”
Token Creek Ponds
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
only persons 15 years of age and younger and certain disabled anglers may fish these waters
Turtle Lakes, North And SouthOpen
- Status
- Permitted
of any length may be kept, but only one fish can be over 14”
Turtle River, Little
- Min size
- 12"
- Max size
- 15"
only one over 15” may be kept
Turtle/Flambeau Flowage
- Min size
- 12"
- Max size
- 15"
only one over 15” may be kept
Twin Lakes, North And South, Combined
- Min size
- 24"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
one fish can be over 24” from 15” but less than 20” may be kept, except one fish can be over 24”
Upper Park Falls Flowage Dam Upstream To The Fish Refuge Below The Turtleflambeau Dam In Iron County
- Min size
- 24"
- Max size
- 20"
except one fish may be over 24”
West Fork Chippewa River (From Moose Lake Dam Upstream To Fr 176)Open
- Status
- Permitted
- Min size
- 14"
of any length may be kept, but only one fish can be over 14” only one fish can be over 14”
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
Windigo LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Min size
- 14"
of any length may be kept but only one fish can be over 14” only one fish can be over 14”
Winnebago System Waters
- Daily bag
- 3 in total
only 1 may be a sauger or hybrid
Wisconsin River (Downstream Of The Hydro Dam In Merrill Including All Sloughs, Bayous, And Flowages Up To The First Dam Or Highway Bridge)
- Min size
- 28"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
one fish may be over 28 inches
Wisconsin River (Including All Sloughs, Bayous, And Flowages Upstream To The First Dam Or Highway Bridge, Except The Western Boundary Of The Wisconsin River On Lake Petenwell Is County Highway G)
- Min size
- 28"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
one fish may be over 28”
Wisconsin River (Including All Sloughs, Bayous, And Flowages Upstream To The First Dam Or Highway Bridge)
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Max size
- 20"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
one fish may be over 28 inches but less than 20 inches may be kept, except one fish may be over 28 inches from 15” but less than 20” may be kept, except one fish may be over 28”
Wisconsin River (Including All Sloughs, Bayous, Flowages, And Tributaries Upstream To The First Dam Or Highway Bridge)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish
in total for walleye, sauger or hybrids
Wisconsin River (Including Castle Rock And Petenwell Flowages And Sloughs, Bayous, And Flowages Upstream To The First Dam Or Highway Bridge)
- Max size
- 20"
except one fish may be over 28”
Wisconsin River (Including Lake Wi And Sloughs, Bayous (Okee Bay, Whalen’s Grade), Flowages And Tributaries Upstream To The First Dam Or Highway Bridge)
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Max size
- 20"
Upstream from the Prairie du Sac Dam, over 28” Upstream from the Prairie du Sac Dam
Wisconsin River (Otter Rapids Dam (In Vilas County) Downstream To Rainbow Flowage)
- Max size
- 24"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
except one fish may be over 24”
Wisconsin River (Rainbow Dam Downstream To Rhinelander Flowage)
- Max size
- 24"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
except one fish may be over 24”
Wisconsin River (Rainbow Flowage (South Of Wilderness Trail In Vilas County Downstream To Rainbow Dam))
- Max size
- 24"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
except one fish may be over 24”
Wisconsin River (Rhinelander Dam Downstream To Hat Rapids Flowage)
- Max size
- 24"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
except one fish may be over 24”
Wisconsin River (Upstream From The Prairie Du Sac Dam)
- Min size
- 28"
- Max size
- 20"
only one fish over 28” may be kept
Wisconsin River From Wausau Dam In Marathon County Upstream To The Merrill Dam
- Min size
- 28"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
one fish may be over 28 inches
Yellow River (Downstream From The Highway 54 Dam At Dexterville Including All Sloughs, Bayous, And Flowages Upstream To The First Dam Or Highway Bridge)
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Max size
- 20"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
one fish may be over 28 inches but less than 20 inches may be kept, except one fish may be over 28 inches from 15” but less than 20” may be kept, except one fish may be over 28”
Yellow River (Including All Sloughs, Bayous, And Flowages Upstream To The First Dam Or Highway Bridge)
- Min size
- 28"
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 20"
one fish may be over 28”
Yellowstone Lake (Including The Yellowstone River From The Lake Upstream To County Highway F)
- Slot min
- 15"
- Slot max
- 18"
Walleye on famous Wisconsin waters
Dedicated rule pages for Walleye on the most-targeted destinations in Wisconsin.
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
- Smallmouth Bass455 rules
- Largemouth Bass401 rules
- Northern Pike370 rules
- Lake Trout277 rules
- Muskie (Muskellunge)114 rules
- Lake Sturgeon76 rules
- Bluegill (Sunfish)71 rules
- Channel Catfish30 rules
- Crappie (Black & White)26 rules
- Yellow Perch21 rules
Frequently asked questions
When is Walleye season in Wisconsin?
Walleye season in Wisconsin runs from May 2 to Nov 30 per DNR.
What is the size limit for Walleye in Wisconsin?
Minimum size for Walleye in Wisconsin is 12 inches in Bear River, per DNR. Slot limits or maximum sizes may apply in some zones.
What is the daily bag limit for Walleye in Wisconsin?
Daily bag limit for Walleye in Wisconsin is 3 fish/day in All Wisconsin-Minnesota Boundary Waters Below The Red Wing Dam On The Mississippi River, per DNR.
Official sources cited
- https://widnr.widen.net/s/glhqr9znsp/fishingregselectronic2627
- https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Fishing/Regulations/NewRegulations
- https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/fishing/regulations/RegulationsToolbox
Reference only. Regulations change frequently, often mid-season. Always verify with DNR before keeping a catch.