2026 regulation year
Wisconsin Smallmouth bass 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
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Last updated
Wisconsin's smallmouth fishery is split between the Mississippi River pools, the Wolf and Wisconsin rivers, and northern lakes. A 14-inch minimum and 5-fish combined bass bag apply statewide outside of catch-and-release windows.
Season
Northern zone: harvest 3rd Sat in June – 1st Sun in March. Southern: harvest 1st Sat in May.
– Northern zone harvest
– Southern zone harvest
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 5 / day (smallmouth + largemouth 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:
Mississippi River
MN/WI boundary; 14 in min, 5 / day combined
Wolf River
Statewide rule; spring smallmouth run heavily fished
Wisconsin River (lower)
Statewide rule; smallmouth + sauger water
Green Bay (Lake Michigan)
Great Lakes booklet: 14 in, 5 / day
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.