Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources NR 20.06

Current through October 28, 2024

Section NR 20.06 - Hook and line fishing

No person may do any of the following:

(1) Fish in inland waters by the method of trolling with more than 1 line per person, with more than 1 hook, bait, or lure per line, and with more than a total of 3 lines used for trolling per boat, except where specifically authorized in ss. NR 20.15(4) or 20.20 and except that a person with a disability who holds a trolling permit under s. 29.193(1m), Stats., and any person who assists the disabled person in the same boat, is not subject to the line restrictions of this subsection while trolling with an electric motor.

(2) Fish with more than 3 hooks, baits or lures.

(3) Fish with any hook and line fishing tackle, bait, hooks or lures on waters where its use is not authorized in s. NR 20.20. Gear restrictions for trout and salmon on waters or portions of waters specified in s. NR 20.20 apply to all species while fishing on those waters.

(3m) Possess or control any live bait or any other baits, hooks or lures other than artificial lures while on the waters, banks or shores of waters where only the use of artificial lures is authorized in subch. III.

(5) Use a gaff in any manner other than for landing a fish that is legally hooked.

(6) Fish by snagging, foul hooking or attempting to hook fish other than in the mouth.

(7) Possess, retain or fail to immediately release fish hooked other than in the mouth.

(8) Use, possess, control, set or place any snag line or snag pole, snaghook or cluster of hooks that could be placed into or drawn through the water for the purpose of catching fish or drawing the hooks into the body of fish.

(9) Fish with an unattended line except where specifically authorized under s. NR 20.20. Failure to immediately respond to a line upon indication of a bite shall be prima facie evidence that the line is unattended.

Note: For further restrictions on the use of setlines and set or bank poles, see s. NR 20.12.

(10) Fish with an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) or, in open water, with a free-floating, remote controlled or anchored buoyant device, with attached hook and line that is not held or otherwise controlled by the angler with the use of a line connected to the device.

Note: This method is commonly known as jug fishing.

(11) Fish with a minnow 8 inches or longer unless using a quick-strike rig that the person attempts to hook immediately into the mouth of a fish upon indication of a bite or unless using a non-offset circle hook.

Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources NR 20.06

Cr. Register, May, 1999, No. 521, eff. 6-1-99; cr. (3m), Register, December, 1999, No. 528, eff. 4-1-00; CR 01-012: am. (5), Register November 2001 No. 551, eff. 4-1-02; CR 07-014: r. (4) Register January 2008 No. 625, eff. 4-1-08; CR 09-018: am. (10) Register February 2010 No. 650, eff. 3-1-10; CR 11-006: cr. (11) Register October 2011 No. 670, eff. 4-11-12; CR 13-001: am. (1) Register August 2013 No. 692, eff. 9-1-13.

Amended by, CR 14-029: am. (1) Register June 2015 No. 714, eff. 7-1-15; CR 14-029: am. (1) Register June 2015 No. 714, eff. 5-4-18; correction in (1) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register June 2015 No. 714, eff.7/1/2015.

Amended by, CR 17-012: am. (1), Register March 2018 No. 747, eff. 4/1/2018

Amended by, CR 21-058: am. (1), (10) Register March 2022 No. 795, eff. 4/1/2022