Trout
~~ Trout Waters ~~
| Wisconsin has divided its inland trout waters into five categories. It is important to know the category you are fishing. A river or stream may have different categories, depending on the section you are fishing. |
|
Click for the updated WDNR Stream Trespass law |
| Trout Regulations Key | |||
| Number | Color | Size Limit | Bag Limit |
| 1 | Black | None |
10 (Only 5 browns and rainbows) |
| 2 | Yellow | 7 inches | 5 |
| 3 | Green | 9 inches | 3 |
| 4 | Blue |
Brown 12″ |
3 |
| 5 | Red | Varies | Varies |
|
Click on the lake for its regulations |
||
| Allequash Creek | Little Trout | Sparkling Lake |
| Allequash Springs | Long Lake | Spectacle Lake |
| Black Oak Lake | Military Creek | Spring Creek Ponds |
| Blackjack Creek | Mishonagon Creek | Spring Meadow Creek |
| Blackjack Springs | North Creek | Spring Meadow Springs |
| Crystal (T41N) | North Trout Springs | Stevenson Creek |
| Deerskin River (Blackjack Creek to Long Lake) |
Pallette Lake | Stevenson Springs |
| Deerskin River (Blackjack Creek down to flowage) |
Papoose Creek | Stormy Lake |
| Elvoy Creek | Pioneer Creek | Tamarack Creek (Down from Rummels Rd ) |
| Elvoy Spring Ponds | Plum Creek | Tamarack Creek (Up from Rummels Rd) |
| Fallison Lake | Rainbow Springs | Trout Lake |
| Fence Lake | Salsich Creek | Wildwood Lake |
| Goodyear Springs | Salsich Springs | |
| Lac du Lune | Shannon Lake | |
|
~~ Top ~~ |
| Class 2:Yellow Size limit is 7″ Daily bag limit is 5 |
| Class 3:Green Size limit is 9″ Daily bag limit is 3 |
| Class 4:Blue Brown and rainbow 12″, brook 8″; Daily bag limit is 3 |
| Classification isRed; Classification Number is 5 Lake Trout Open Season is 5/4 – 9/30 Size Limit is 26″ Daily Bag Limit is 1Other Trout Open Season is 5/4 – 3/1 Daily Bag Limit is 5 with only 1 lake trout Brown trout size limit is 12″ |
| Classification isRed; Classification Number is 5 Lake Trout Open Season: 5/4 – 9/30 Size Limit: 26″ Bag Limit: 1 |
| Classification is Red; Classification Number is 5 Open Season: 5/4 to 11/15 Size Limit: 8″ Bag Limit: 5 |
| Classification isRed; Classification Number is 5 Open Season: 5/4 – 3/1 Size Limit: Brown 20″ Brook 7″ Bag Limit: 5 trout in total, only 3 can be brown trout |
| Classification is Red; Classification Number is 5 Open Season: 5/4 – 3/1 Size Limit: 12″ Bag Limit: 5 |
| Classification is Red; Classification Number is 5 Open Season: 5/4 – 3/1 Size Limit: 12″ Bag Limit: 5 |
| Classification isRed; Classification Number is 5 Lake Trout: Season closed all year |
| Classification isRed; Classification Number is 5 Lake Trout Season: May 4 – Sep 30 Size Limit is 30″ Daily Bag Limit is 1 |
| Classification isRed; Classification Number is 5 Size Limit: 12″ Bag Limit: 5 Artificial Lures Only |
|
Wisconsin Stream Trespass Law To avoid trespassing on private land, anglers need to remember to keep their feet wet when fishing Wisconsin streams. A law effective September 1, 2001, allows people to walk on any exposed shore area of a stream up to the ordinary high water mark without the permission of the landowner only to go around an obstruction. Such obstructions can include a tree or rocks, shallow water for boaters or deep water for wading trout anglers. That law reverses a 1999 law that generally allowed people to walk on exposed shore area along streams below the ordinary high water mark without the landowner’s permission. The ordinary high water mark is the point on the bank or shore where the presence and action of surface water is so continuous as to leave a distinct physical mark either by erosion, destruction of terrestrial vegetation or other easily recognized characteristic. That mark is considered the boundary between public water held in trust by the state and the upland. ”For streams, it’s essentially back to, ”keep your feet wet,” with one exception,” says Mike Lutz, a Department of Natural Resources attorney who works on law enforcement issues. ”You can leave the water to go around an obstruction using the shortest possible route and remaining within the ordinary high water mark.” In addition, a member of the public may not enter the exposed shore area along a stream except from the water, from a point of public access on the stream, or with the permission of the landowner. For lakes, Lutz says, ”it’s the same for the public as it’s always been, ”keep your feet wet, period.” Wisconsin’s Public Trust Doctrine, a body of law found in the State Constitution, state statutes, and court decisions, charges the State of Wisconsin with the responsibility of protecting public waters for all citizens’ use and enjoyment. The doctrine holds that Wisconsin’s public waters belong to everyone, and it protects the public’s right to fish, swim, boat, hunt and enjoy the natural scenic beauty of Wisconsin’s waterways. ”We’re very fortunate that our public trust Doctrine recognizes a right of public use that’s is among the best in the country,” Lutz says, and adds that Wisconsin’s stream access laws are also among the most expansive in the country. The 1999 law sought to broaden that access along streams, but concern from farmers and other property owners adjacent to streams led to the partial reversal of that law in 2001. |