2026 regulation year
Wisconsin Largemouth bass 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
Micropterus nigricans
Last updated
Largemouth bass are open year-round in the Southern zone and follow the standard Northern bass season elsewhere. The 5-fish bag pools largemouth with smallmouth.
Season
Northern zone: harvest 3rd Sat in June – 1st Sun in March. Southern zone: open year-round.
– Northern zone harvest
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 5 / day (largemouth + smallmouth combined)
- Possession
- 5 in possession
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- 14 in minimum statewide
Gear restrictions
- Hook-and-line on most waters
- Catch-and-release window in Northern zone: no harvest 1st Sat in May – 3rd Fri in June
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific Wisconsin waters:
Lake Geneva
Southern zone year-round bass; deep clear-water fishery
Lake Mendota
Southern zone year-round; Madison-area metro fishery
Petenwell Flowage
Wisconsin River impoundment; statewide rule
Castle Rock Lake
Wisconsin River impoundment; statewide rule
Official source
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources publishes the authoritative 2026 Wisconsinfishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.