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fishregs

2026 regulation year

Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway Fishing License 2026

Last updated

MinnesotaWisconsin

Saint Croix NSR runs on the host state's fishing license; the National Park Service does not sell a separate permit here.

Quick answer

State fishing license applies

Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway is the SEVENTH bi-state NPS unit in the catalog — protecting ~252 mi of the Saint Croix + Namekagon rivers across Minnesota (east) and Wisconsin (west). A valid Minnesota OR Wisconsin licence is required for anglers 16+. RESIDENCY-BASED RULE — UNIQUE TO ST. CROIX: Minnesota residents MUST possess a Minnesota licence to fish border waters; Wisconsin residents MUST possess a Wisconsin licence; out-of-state residents may use a Minnesota OR Wisconsin licence. Licences are valid SHORELINE-TO-SHORELINE on border waters. Anglers must follow the regulations of the STATE IN WHICH THEY ARE FISHING (not the state of licence). The Namekagon River is entirely in Wisconsin and the state boundary on the Saint Croix begins ~2.5 mi downstream of Riverside Landing (upstream of that point the Saint Croix flows in Wisconsin). Park-specific rule: USE OF LIVE CRAYFISH AS BAIT IS PROHIBITED on the Riverway.

What to know before you fish Saint Croix NSR

  • Park context: Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (designated 1968 as one of the original units of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System) protects ~252 river-miles — 200 mi of the Saint Croix River (including the upper headwater reach in northwestern Wisconsin and the boundary-water reach between MN and WI down to Stillwater MN), plus 100 mi of the Namekagon River (entirely in northwestern Wisconsin, joining the Saint Croix at Riverside Landing). The state boundary on the Saint Croix BEGINS approximately 2.5 MILES DOWNSTREAM OF RIVERSIDE LANDING — UPSTREAM of that point, the Saint Croix flows entirely within Wisconsin. The entire Namekagon River is in Wisconsin. The downriver lower Saint Croix is administered as a separate Wild and Scenic reach jointly by NPS, MN DNR, and WI DNR. Park HQ: 401 Hamilton Street North, St. Croix Falls, WI 54024 — (715) 483-2274.
  • Bi-state RESIDENCY-BASED licence framework — UNIQUE in catalog: anglers 16+ require a valid MN or WI fishing licence per the following rule: MN residents MUST POSSESS A MN LICENCE to fish border waters; WI residents MUST POSSESS A WI LICENCE to fish border waters; OUT-OF-STATE residents may use a MN or WI licence. Both states' licences are valid SHORELINE-TO-SHORELINE on the boundary-water reach. Anglers MUST follow the regulations of the STATE IN WHICH THEY ARE FISHING (not the state of licence) — i.e., a MN-licence holder fishing from the WI bank must follow WI bag / season / slot rules. Anglers must have a COPY OF THE LICENCE in possession showing fishing endorsement + dates valid; a DRIVER'S LICENCE alone is NOT ACCEPTED. BOAT INSPECTION WARNING: when LANDING a boat, anglers will be INSPECTED FOR CATCH by the state where they are landing — choice of landing ramp matters for which state's bag limits apply to the inspection. Children under 16 do not require a licence.
  • Park-specific federal rule under 36 CFR §2.3: state fishing regulations of MN + WI govern unless overridden by the Superintendent's Compendium. (a) USE OF LIVE CRAYFISH AS BAIT IS PROHIBITED on the Riverway (preventing the spread of invasive rusty crayfish + other non-native crayfish); (b) NEVER DUMP OR RELEASE LIVE BAIT into the river (standard biosecurity); (c) standard NPS §2.3 prohibitions apply (drugs / poisons / explosives / electricity; commercial fishing except where statutorily authorised; chumming; bait-bucket dumping; mandatory immediate-return for undersize / out-of-season / unwanted fish; fishing from motor-road bridges or within 200 ft of designated rafts / floats / swim beaches / boat docks except in designated areas). Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) CLEAN-DRAIN-DRY mandate applies to all trailer-launched vessels.
  • Anchor species — NAMEKAGON RIVER (WI, upstream of Hayward WI): the cold-water Namekagon has received NATIONAL RECOGNITION for its NATURALLY-REPRODUCING WILD BROWN TROUT + BROOK TROUT fisheries (a destination wild-trout river system rivaling the Driftless region rivers). SAINT CROIX RIVER (boundary-water reach, Danbury WI downstream to Indian Head Flowage north of Saint Croix Falls WI): recognized as ONE OF THE FINEST SMALLMOUTH BASS FISHERIES IN THE COUNTRY — premier destination smallmouth water. DOWNSTREAM of TAYLORS FALLS MN (the lower Saint Croix as it widens): warm-water species — largemouth + smallmouth bass, WALLEYE + SAUGER, northern pike, muskellunge, channel + flathead catfish, suckers, LAKE STURGEON (catch-and-release strict rules under both MN DNR + WI DNR — one of the most studied recovering sturgeon populations in the upper Mississippi system), common carp + buffalo carp, panfish (bluegill, crappie, pumpkinseed, rock bass).
  • Outside-park context: WI DNR Fish Consumption page issues species-and-reach-specific consumption guidance for the Saint Croix (mercury + PCBs in larger predator species). MN Pollution Control Agency promotes lead-free tackle alternatives (lead jigs / sinkers are harmful to loons + bald eagles). Licensed commercial fishing guides operate the boundary-water reach + the Namekagon — verify guide permit status with park HQ. Standard public launches at Riverside (MN/WI), Wild River SP (MN), Interstate SP at Taylors Falls / Saint Croix Falls (MN/WI), William O'Brien SP (MN), Marine on Saint Croix (MN), Stillwater (MN), Hudson WI, Afton SP MN; Namekagon launches at Hayward WI + downstream community points.

How licensing works at Saint Croix NSR

Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway runs on the host state's regular fishing license — there is no separate National Park Service fishing permit to buy. Use the same Minnesota / Wisconsin license you would use anywhere else in the state. Park-specific regulations (gear restrictions, species closures, catch-and-release zones) still layer on top of the state rule, so read the unit's current fishing page before launching.

Compare what the Minnesota / Wisconsin license costs on the non-resident fee table, or open the full Minnesota regulations / Wisconsin regulations.

Official source

Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway publishes its authoritative 2026 fishing rules on the page below. Regulations change annually — verify the current year before you fish.

nps.gov →

Emergency-order & closure feed

On federal land, in-season closures don't go through the host state's DFW — they post to the unit's own news desk. Road closures that cut off river access, wildfire trailhead shutdowns, drought-driven access changes, and bear-activity lake closures all publish to Saint Croix NSR's National Park Service news feed. Subscribe before any long-haul trip.

Saint Croix NSR — National Park Service news releases

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Saint Croix NSR fishing license — FAQ

Do you need a fishing license to fish Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway?
Saint Croix NSR runs on the host state's fishing license; the National Park Service does not sell a separate permit here.
Who issues the fishing license for Saint Croix NSR?
The host state's fish & wildlife agency issues the controlling fishing license for Saint Croix NSR — the Minnesota / Wisconsin license. There is no federal fishing permit to buy here.
Is your Minnesota / Wisconsin fishing license valid in Saint Croix NSR?
Yes — Saint Croix NSR runs on the Minnesota / Wisconsin fishing license. The same license you use elsewhere in those states covers the unit's waters, subject to any unit-specific regulation that layers on top.
Where are Saint Croix NSR fishing closures posted?
In-season closures inside Saint Croix NSR are published to the unit's National Park Service news feed (RSS), not the host state's emergency-order page. Subscribe to the feed on this page to catch road, wildfire, drought, and access closures before a trip.

Related federal & tribal waters

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