wisconsin-minn bountry waters

We were fishing Indian Slough which is a MN/WI boundary water north of New Albin IA and were checked by a MN Co a few weeks ago. My friend was fishing in a Clam single style tip over shelter. The CO never said a thing about him not having his name on the shelter. This week I was talking with a guy while fishing Shore Slough at Lansing. He said an IA CO was there last week telling guys he could give them a $140 fine for no name on the shelter, but was just giving warnings this year. What is the purpose of this law?

Whiskey, I don’t think it matters, but what state is your friend from?

Here’s the regulation reguarding ‘Ice Fishing Shelters’ from the 2010 Iowa Fishing Regulations Booklet;
“Ice fishing shelters left unattended on land or water under the jurisdiction of the state, must have the owner’s name, street address and city in 4-inch or larger block letters (in a color contrasting to their background) on all sides, but do not need to be registered. Reflectors must be attached to all sides on any shelter left on the ice after sundown. Structures must not be locked while in use. Shelters must be removed from all state owned lands and waters by Feb. 20 or ice melt, whichever comes first, unless the deadline is extended.”

This reg. mostly pertains to permanent shelters left on inland lakes but can be extended to all shacks or shanties statewide.
But the key word here is “unattended”. If your friend was in or near his shack he should have told that CO to urine up a rope and reread the regulation. This is why I always have the book on me when fishing.
This incident sounds more like a new CO that is going to come in and straighten the world out according to HIS law.

But the Wisconsin law states: “Fishing shelters on boundary waters with Iowa, Minnesota and Michigan must display the name and adress of all shelters at all times,even portable shelters that are occupied or in use. Page 15 of the WI DNR fish regs.

Ok, what’s the deal here? Is your friend from Ia? Was your friend fishing on the Ia side, I assume so when you said he was in shore slough? And was he met by an Ia co? I think that is what you posted? If all this is correct, Wisc. shelter laws mean nothing for Ia. residents on the Ia. side of the river.

We’re both from Wisconsin. The 1st incident was in MN/WI boundary waters where we were actually checked by a MN CO. The second incident in IA/WI boundary waters I did not witness 1st hand, it is what another fisherman told me. Both were on the MN or IA side of the river.

Thank you, that explains a lot right there. I assumed you were from Ia. I really don’t have info on the current Minn./Wisc. regulations pertaining to shelters on the Miss. River. But in years past Ia. residents could fish both sides on the Miss.River of Minn./Wisc. without having anything on their portables.
So what are the regs for Wisc. residents on their side on the river?

The way I read it is if you are in boundary waters at all with any kind of shelter you need your name on it. Inland waters do not need a name on portables, only permanent shacks. If I go to the WI spring conservations hearings I’ll ask and find out why the different rules.