(WFRV) – Officials with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources say the State’s inland fishing season will open soon, but with new regulations.
DNR officials tell Local Five that the season opened across the Badger State on April 4 for inland trout and will open for muskellunge on May 2, but with new regulations and season structures now in effect.
We do encourage folks to check to make sure whether the regulation changed on their water from last year. Some waters that did have that 3-bag limit 8-inch minimum size limit still have that but it’s now considered a special regulation.
Justine Hasz, DNR Fisheries Management Bureau Director
Several other new regulations, season structures, and bag limits are also being implemented during this inland fishing season including the following:
- The statewide inland trout season opened April 4 and runs through Oct. 15, 2026.
- The muskellunge season opens May 2 on all inland waters of the state, with no separate season for the Northern Zone.
- A catch-and-release season for lake sturgeon will occur on select waters from June 6, 2026 through March 7, 2027.
- New lake and species-specific bag and length limits are in place on specific waters across the state.
It is also important to note that DNR officials say anglers, no matter where they are, are required to have a valid license for the inland fishing season. Licenses this year cost $20 for an individual or $31 for a household license.
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More information with specific details of all the new regulations and season structures can be found here.
