3 WDNR trout classes,
2,727 named waters
and 3,298 classified stream segments
— WDNR's own data, compiled here so you can search it.
Last updated 2026-09-24 · rebuilt nightly from WDNR data
1,357 of these waters have a full BirdTrout page with live
water temperature, access and public land.
Fishing this week?
The Wisconsin fishing report carries live water
temperatures from every reporting gauge in the state, updated hourly, broken down by region.
Season dates
WDNR's own season text, by WDNR trout class. A stream's season is the one
attached to its class, not a single statewide date.
Season
Open to fishing
Regular season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Regular season
First Saturday in May at 5:00 a.m. to Nov. 15.
Regular season
First Saturday in May at 5:00 a.m. to Sept. 30.
Regular season
First Saturday in May at 5:00 a.m. to first Sunday in March.
Regular season
First Saturday in May to Oct. 15; Extended catch and release Oct. 16 to Nov. 15.
Regular season
First Saturday in May to October 30th.
Regular season
Last Saturday in April to Sept. 30.
Regular season
Last Saturday in March to Nov. 15.
Regular season
Open all year
Early season
First Saturday in January to First Saturday in April all trout shall be immediately released. Only artificial lures may be used.
Limits by species
WDNR sets Wisconsin's trout limits by water rather than by species: the bag and length limits below apply to trout in total, and only the Great Lakes tributary rules name individual species.
WDNR trout classes
Every class WDNR uses, the waters in it, and what the class means. Counts
are of named waters in our copy of the state's data.
Class I
732 named waters · 6,205 mi
High-quality trout water with sustained natural reproduction. No stocking is needed to maintain the fishery.
Wisconsin publishes classification and regulation as two separate layers, and they are two
separate statements: the classes above say whether trout reproduce in a stream, and the
categories here say what you may keep out of it.
3 Trout in Total Over 8 inches
108 waters · 130 segments
Daily limit
3 trout in total over 8".
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Applies to
59 waters, 69 segments
Daily limit
3 trout in total over 8".
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Early season
First Saturday in January to First Saturday in April all trout shall be immediately released. Only artificial lures may be used.
Applies to
49 waters, 57 segments
Daily limit
3 trout in total over 8".
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Early season
First Saturday in January to First Saturday in April all trout shall be immediately released. Only artificial lures may be used.
Gear
Only artificial lures may be used.
Applies to
2 waters, 2 segments
Daily limit
3 trout in total over 8".
Season
Open all year
Early season
First Saturday in January to First Saturday in April all trout shall be immediately released. Only artificial lures may be used.
Gear
Only artificial lures may be used.
Applies to
1 water, 1 segments
Daily limit
3 trout in total over 8".
Season
First Saturday in May at 5:00 a.m. to Sept. 30.
Early season
First Saturday in January to First Saturday in April all trout shall be immediately released. Only artificial lures may be used.
5 trout and salmon in total, only 2 of which may be brown trout over 15" and only 1 of which may be a rainbow trout; minimum length limit: brook trout 8", brown trout 10" salmon 12" and rainbow trout 26".
Season
First Saturday in May at 5:00 a.m. to Sept. 30.
Applies to
94 waters, 103 segments
Daily limit
5 trout and salmon in total; minimum length limit 10"
Season
Open all year
Gear
From September 15 to the first Saturday of the following May, you may not use hooks that have a gap size larger than one-half inch from point to shank. Click 'View Additional Details' to learn more about special night fishing regulations
Special
Special Regulation: From Sep 15 to Dec 31, fishing by any method is prohibited from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise. From Jan 1 to first Saturday in May, hook and line fishing is prohibited from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise.
Applies to
46 waters, 47 segments
Daily limit
5 trout and salmon in total, only 2 of which may be brown trout over 15" and only 1 of which may be a rainbow trout; minimum length limit: brook trout 8", brown trout 10" salmon 12" and rainbow trout 26".
Season
Last Saturday in March to Nov. 15.
Applies to
25 waters, 26 segments
Daily limit
5 trout and salmon in total, only 2 of which may be brown trout over 15" and only 1 of which may be a rainbow trout; minimum length limit: brook trout 8", brown trout 10" salmon 12" and rainbow trout 26".
Season
First Saturday in May at 5:00 a.m. to Nov. 15.
Applies to
11 waters, 11 segments
Daily limit
5 trout and salmon in total, only 2 of which may be brown trout over 15" and only 1 of which may be a rainbow trout, all brook trout caught shall be immediately released; minimum length limit: brown trout 10" salmon 12" and rainbow trout 26".
Season
First Saturday in May at 5:00 a.m. to Nov. 15.
Applies to
3 waters, 3 segments
Daily limit
3 trout and salmon in total, only 2 of which may be brown trout, only 1 of which may be rainbow trout; length limit: brook trout 10" brown trout 15", salmon 12", and rainbow trout 26".
Season
First Saturday in May at 5:00 a.m. to Sept. 30.
Applies to
1 water, 1 segments
Daily limit
5 trout and salmon in total, only 2 of which may be brown trout over 15" and only 1 of which may be a rainbow trout; minimum length limit: brook trout 8", brown trout 10" salmon 12" and rainbow trout 26".
Season
Last Saturday in March to Nov. 15.
Gear
Hook and line fishing is allowed from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise on May 7 to September 30 at 11:59 p.m.
Applies to
1 water, 1 segments
Daily limit
5 trout and salmon in total; minimum length limit 10"
Season
Open all year
Applies to
1 water, 1 segments
Daily limit
5 trout and salmon in total; minimum length limit 10"
Season
First Saturday in May at 5:00 a.m. to first Sunday in March.
Gear
From September 15 to the first Saturday of the following May, you may not use hooks that have a gap size larger than one-half inch from point to shank. Click 'View Additional Details' to learn more about special night fishing regulations
Special
Special Regulation: From Sep 15 to Dec 31, fishing by any method is prohibited from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise. From Jan 1 to first Saturday in May, hook and line fishing is prohibited from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise.
Applies to
1 water, 1 segments
Daily limit
5 trout and salmon in total, only 2 of which may be brown trout over 15" and only 1 of which may be a rainbow trout, all brook trout caught shall be immediately released; minimum length limit: brown trout 10" salmon 12" and rainbow trout 26".
Season
Last Saturday in March to Nov. 15.
Applies to
1 water, 1 segments
Daily limit
3 trout in total over 8".
Season
Open all year
Gear
From September 15 to the first Saturday of the following May, you may not use hooks that have a gap size larger than one-half inch from point to shank. Click 'View Additional Details' to learn more about special night fishing regulations
Special
Special Regulation: From Sep 15 to Dec 31, fishing by any method is prohibited from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise. From Jan 1 to first Saturday in May, hook and line fishing is prohibited from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise.
Applies to
1 water, 1 segments
Daily limit
5 trout and salmon in total; minimum length limit 10"
Season
Open all year
Gear
From September 15 to the first Saturday of the following May, you may not use hooks that have a gap size larger than one-half inch from point to shank.
Applies to
1 water, 1 segments
Daily limit
5 trout and salmon in total, only 2 of which may be brown trout over 15" and only 1 of which may be a rainbow trout; minimum length limit: brook trout 8", brown trout 10" salmon 12" and rainbow trout 26".
Length, Bag and Possession Limits Vary by Water
182 waters · 224 segments
Daily limit
5 trout in total; only one may be greater than 12"
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Early season
First Saturday in January to First Saturday in April all trout shall be immediately released. Only artificial lures may be used.
Applies to
59 waters, 64 segments
Daily limit
2 trout over 12".
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Early season
First Saturday in January to First Saturday in April all trout shall be immediately released. Only artificial lures may be used.
Applies to
16 waters, 19 segments
Daily limit
5 trout in total: all brook trout caught shall be immediately released; brown trout and rainbow trout - no minimum length.
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Early season
First Saturday in January to First Saturday in April all trout shall be immediately released. Only artificial lures may be used.
Applies to
16 waters, 17 segments
Daily limit
3 in total: brown and rainbow trout over 12", brook trout over 8".
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Applies to
17 waters, 17 segments
Daily limit
5 trout in total: all brook trout caught shall be immediately released; brown trout and rainbow trout - no minimum length.
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Early season
First Saturday in January to First Saturday in April all trout shall be immediately released. Only artificial lures may be used.
Gear
Only artificial lures may be used.
Applies to
12 waters, 14 segments
Daily limit
3 in total: brown and rainbow trout over 12", brook trout over 8".
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Early season
First Saturday in January to First Saturday in April all trout shall be immediately released. Only artificial lures may be used.
Applies to
11 waters, 13 segments
Daily limit
All trout caught shall be immediately released.
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Early season
First Saturday in January to First Saturday in April all trout shall be immediately released. Only artificial lures may be used.
Gear
Only artificial lures may be used.
Applies to
8 waters, 9 segments
Daily limit
2 trout over 12".
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Early season
First Saturday in January to First Saturday in April all trout shall be immediately released. Only artificial lures may be used.
Gear
Only artificial lures may be used.
Applies to
9 waters, 9 segments
Daily limit
5 trout in total; only one may be greater than 12"
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Applies to
7 waters, 7 segments
Daily limit
1 trout over 14".
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Early season
First Saturday in January to First Saturday in April all trout shall be immediately released. Only artificial lures may be used.
Gear
Only artificial lures may be used.
Applies to
3 waters, 5 segments
Daily limit
10 trout in total; no minimum length.
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Early season
First Saturday in January to First Saturday in April all trout shall be immediately released. Only artificial lures may be used.
Applies to
4 waters, 4 segments
Daily limit
1 trout over 14".
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Early season
First Saturday in January to First Saturday in April all trout shall be immediately released. Only artificial lures may be used.
Applies to
3 waters, 4 segments
Daily limit
1 trout over 18".
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Early season
First Saturday in January to First Saturday in April all trout shall be immediately released. Only artificial lures may be used.
Gear
Only artificial lures may be used.
Applies to
2 waters, 4 segments
Daily limit
1 trout over 18".
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Early season
First Saturday in January to First Saturday in April all trout shall be immediately released. Only artificial lures may be used.
Applies to
4 waters, 4 segments
Daily limit
5 in total: brown and rainbow trout no length limit; brook trout under 9"
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Early season
First Saturday in January to First Saturday in April all trout shall be immediately released. Only artificial lures may be used.
Applies to
3 waters, 3 segments
Daily limit
2 trout over 12".
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Gear
Only artificial lures may be used.
Applies to
3 waters, 3 segments
Daily limit
3 in total: rainbow trout over 12"; brown and brook trout over 8".
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Early season
First Saturday in January to First Saturday in April all trout shall be immediately released. Only artificial lures may be used.
Applies to
2 waters, 3 segments
Daily limit
5 trout in total: all brook trout caught shall be immediately released; brown trout and rainbow trout - no minimum length.
Season
First Saturday in May at 5:00 a.m. to first Sunday in March.
Early season
First Saturday in January to First Saturday in April all trout shall be immediately released. Only artificial lures may be used.
Applies to
2 waters, 2 segments
Daily limit
5 trout under 12".
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Early season
First Saturday in January to First Saturday in April all trout shall be immediately released. Only artificial lures may be used.
Applies to
2 waters, 2 segments
Daily limit
All trout caught shall be immediately released.
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Gear
Only artificial lures may be used.
Applies to
2 waters, 2 segments
Daily limit
All trout shall be immediately released.
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Early season
First Saturday in January to First Saturday in April all trout shall be immediately released. Only artificial lures may be used.
Applies to
2 waters, 2 segments
Daily limit
5 trout in total of any length.
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Early season
First Saturday in January to First Saturday in April all trout shall be immediately released. Only artificial lures may be used.
Applies to
2 waters, 2 segments
Daily limit
3 trout over 10".
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Applies to
2 waters, 2 segments
Daily limit
5 in total: No fish may be kept between 10”-16” and 1 fish over 16” may be kept
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Applies to
1 water, 1 segments
Daily limit
All trout shall be immediately released.
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Early season
First Saturday in January to First Saturday in April all trout shall be immediately released. Only artificial lures may be used.
Gear
Only artificial lures may be used.
Applies to
1 water, 1 segments
Daily limit
5 in total: brown and rainbow trout no length limit; brook trout under 9"
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Applies to
1 water, 1 segments
Daily limit
2 trout over 12".
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Applies to
1 water, 1 segments
Daily limit
3 trout; no minimum length.
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Applies to
1 water, 1 segments
Daily limit
3 in total: Brown and Rainbow trout under 12", except 1 fish may be over 18”; Brook trout over 8"
Season
First Saturday in May to Oct. 15; Extended catch and release Oct. 16 to Nov. 15.
Early season
First Saturday in January to First Saturday in April all trout shall be immediately released. Only artificial lures may be used.
Gear
Only artificial lures may be used.
Applies to
1 water, 1 segments
Daily limit
3 in total: brown and rainbow trout over 12", brook trout over 8".
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Early season
First Saturday in January to First Saturday in April all trout shall be immediately released. Only artificial lures may be used.
Gear
Only artificial lures may be used.
Applies to
1 water, 1 segments
Daily limit
All trout caught shall be immediately released.
Season
First Saturday in April at 5:00 a.m. to Oct. 15.
Early season
First Saturday in January to First Saturday in April all trout shall be immediately released. Only artificial lures may be used.
Applies to
1 water, 1 segments
Daily limit
5 trout over 7".
Season
Last Saturday in April to Sept. 30.
Early season
First Saturday in January to First Saturday in April all trout shall be immediately released. Only artificial lures may be used.
Gear
From September 15 to the first Saturday of the following May, you may not use hooks that have a gap size larger than one-half inch from point to shank. Click 'View Additional Details' to learn more about special night fishing regulations
Special
Special Regulation: From Sep 15 to Dec 31, fishing by any method is prohibited from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise. From Jan 1 to first Saturday in May, hook and line fishing is prohibited from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise.
Applies to
1 water, 1 segments
Daily limit
3 trout; no minimum length.
Season
First Saturday in May at 5:00 a.m. to first Sunday in March.
Applies to
1 water, 1 segments
Daily limit
5 in total: brown trout over 12", brook trout over 8"
Season
Last Saturday in April to Sept. 30.
Applies to
1 water, 1 segments
Daily limit
5 trout over 7".
Season
Last Saturday in April to Sept. 30.
Applies to
1 water, 1 segments
Daily limit
5 trout in total: all brook trout caught shall be immediately released; brown trout and rainbow trout - no minimum length.
Water carrying a rule of its own — a closure, a gear restriction, or a named regulation —
with the water it applies to.
Special regulation · Great Lake Tributary
Special Regulation: From Sep 15 to Dec 31, fishing by any method is prohibited from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise. From Jan 1 to first Saturday in May, hook and line fishing is prohibited from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise.
Ahnapee River, Barnes Creek, Barnes Creek Tributary, Black River, Branch River, Duck Creek, East River, East Twin River, Ephraim Creek, Fairy Chasm Creek, Fischer Creek, Heins Creek and 28 more
Special regulation · Great Lake Tributary
Special Regulation: From Sep 15 to Dec 31, fishing by any method is prohibited from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise. From Jan 1 to first Saturday in May, hook and line fishing is prohibited from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise.
Fox River
Special regulation · Length, Bag and Possession Limits Vary by Water
Special Regulation: From Sep 15 to Dec 31, fishing by any method is prohibited from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise. From Jan 1 to first Saturday in May, hook and line fishing is prohibited from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise.
Montreal River
Special regulation · Great Lake Tributary
Special Regulation: From Sep 15 to Dec 31, fishing by any method is prohibited from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise. From Jan 1 to first Saturday in May, hook and line fishing is prohibited from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise.
West Twin River
Gear restriction · Great Lake Tributary
Hook and line fishing is allowed from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise on May 7 to September 30 at 11:59 p.m.
Bois Brule River
Gear restriction · Great Lake Tributary
From September 15 to the first Saturday of the following May, you may not use hooks that have a gap size larger than one-half inch from point to shank. Click 'View Additional Details' to learn more about special night fishing regulations
Ahnapee River, Barnes Creek, Barnes Creek Tributary, Black River, Branch River, Duck Creek, East River, East Twin River, Ephraim Creek, Fairy Chasm Creek, Fischer Creek, Heins Creek and 28 more
Gear restriction · Length, Bag and Possession Limits Vary by Water
Only artificial lures may be used.
Castle Rock Spring, Stress Springs
Gear restriction · 3 Trout in Total Over 8 inches
Only artificial lures may be used.
Big Rib River, Mecan River
Gear restriction · Length, Bag and Possession Limits Vary by Water
Only artificial lures may be used.
Sand Creek, Waupaca River
Gear restriction · 5 Trout in Total of Any Length
Only artificial lures may be used.
Smith Hollow Creek
Gear restriction · Length, Bag and Possession Limits Vary by Water
Only artificial lures may be used.
Wolf River
Gear restriction · Length, Bag and Possession Limits Vary by Water
Only artificial lures may be used.
Plover River
Gear restriction · Great Lake Tributary
From September 15 to the first Saturday of the following May, you may not use hooks that have a gap size larger than one-half inch from point to shank. Click 'View Additional Details' to learn more about special night fishing regulations
Fox River
Gear restriction · Length, Bag and Possession Limits Vary by Water
From September 15 to the first Saturday of the following May, you may not use hooks that have a gap size larger than one-half inch from point to shank. Click 'View Additional Details' to learn more about special night fishing regulations
Montreal River
Gear restriction · 3 Trout in Total Over 8 inches
Only artificial lures may be used.
Paradise Springs Creek
Gear restriction · Great Lake Tributary
From September 15 to the first Saturday of the following May, you may not use hooks that have a gap size larger than one-half inch from point to shank. Click 'View Additional Details' to learn more about special night fishing regulations
West Twin River
Gear restriction · Great Lake Tributary
From September 15 to the first Saturday of the following May, you may not use hooks that have a gap size larger than one-half inch from point to shank.
Menominee River
Gear restriction · Length, Bag and Possession Limits Vary by Water
Only artificial lures may be used.
Martin Creek
Recent changes
Nothing has moved since the previous build. This page is rebuilt nightly against
WDNR's data and this section fills in the night a season, a limit or a
classification changes.
Coldwater and warmwater rules
Wisconsin's trout regulations apply to classified trout water; everything else runs on the statewide inland season and limits. The classification above says whether trout reproduce there; the bag and season table says what you may keep, and the two are separate WDNR layers that disagree constantly.
Trout fishing near a town in Wisconsin
The same classification, asked the other way round: what WDNR classifies
as trout water within forty miles of one place, ranked by how much of it is in range.
86 towns in Wisconsin have one — a town is on this list when
the water near it is not the water near a bigger town down the road.
Verify before you fish. This page is our best-effort compilation from
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources data, rebuilt nightly and current as of 2026-09-24. It is not
legal advice and it is not the regulation. Emergency orders, in-season changes and the
stretches an agency describes in words rather than in data will not all be here. Check the
current rules at
WDNR before
fishing, and tell us what is wrong here —
hello@birdtrout.com.