Do all the same border regulations from open water apply to ice fishing as well? For example, MN resident with a MN fishing license can park and walk out onto the St. Croix river from the WI side, and can fish 3 lines as long as staying in WI waters?
Thanks!
You’ll need a Wisconsin license to use three lines.
You’ll need a Wisconsin license to use three lines.
Thanks for the reply. That’s ice-specific then? Because that’s not the case on open water on the St. Croix, as long as you stay in WI territorial waters (which is trickier on the croix than the sip but easy enough with Navionics).
This thread is where I’m getting my info. Just wanted to be sure there was no exception for ice fishing.
You’ll need a Wisconsin license to use three lines.
That is not correct. Being a border water, you need only your resident fishing license to fish the entire body of water. In any case where laws differ, you may follow the more liberal laws so long as you are on that side of the border. It’s confusing but I’ve tested this with the COs on the water.
you need to follow the rules for the state you are fishing. You need to have a valid license from your home state. MN residents fishing in Wisconsin waters need to follow Wisconsin laws. And the other way around as well.
That’s how I read it.
you need to follow the rules for the state you are fishing. You need to have a valid license from your home state. MN residents fishing in Wisconsin waters need to follow Wisconsin laws. And the other way around as well.
That’s how I read it.
I know that’s the way it sounds…..but I have a hard time believing that’s what they’re implying.
It doesn’t make a lick of sense if it’s true.
It doesn’t effect me since I carry licenses for both states anyway, but I’d be curious to see what the DNR says about it. (The whole “home state” language)
I agree with the information that Jason Peterson of the Minnesota DNR Division of Enforcement provided below in his e-mail response.
The rules a person must follow when fishing on the Wis/Minn boundary waters is not dependent on which state the person lives in or which state issued their license. What determines which states rules an angler must follow is simply determined by the location (which state) the person is fishing. The reciprocity between the states only applies to accepting each others licenses on the waters defined as a boundary water. The one condition is that a resident of either state must hold a resident license from their home state when fishing on a boundary water. Anyone else may hold a Nonresident license from either state.
it makes complete sense. Both states are recognizing that you have a valid license. You just need to follow the rules of which state you are in, much like a drivers license.
You’ll need a Wisconsin license to use three lines.
Yep, I’m wrong!
I just dug into it a little, seems like a loophole to generate more revenue through citations……
From what I gather:
If you have your “home state” license- You can fish both sides of the river.
If you have just a non-resident license (say you live in MN and have only a WI license) you can ONLY fish WI water. Vice versa for WI residents with just a MN non-resident license (They can ONLY fish the MN waters).
I’m guessing most guys would get a warning or not even hassled if you had either license, but if the warden knew his stuff a citation could be issued for fishing without a license (even though you have one).
The link in my post above has been stickied on the Mississippi River walleye forum for a while now. Since it contains quotes from both states co’s I feel it’s pretty safe to assume it’s correct. I was only asking if ice regulations differ at all, as I just want to be on the safe side.
Two tip ups are better than 1 but I want to be on the right side of the law. Even though I recklessly pass school buses and intentionally hit children with my car, I’m not a bad guy, I typically try to follow the law.
b man, read the last sentence of the paragraph I quoted. It seems a non residence license affords you the same opportunities as a resident license.
why would I live in MN and not have a MN license, but have a WI non resident instead?
why would I live in MN and not have a MN license, but have a WI non resident instead?
Maybe a MN resident who typically only fishes when at his cabin in WI?
The regulations are very clear that to fish the border waters you must have a license from the state in which you reside if that state is one of the border states. Non-residents can buy a non-resident license in either state but would need to follow the regulations of the state in which they’re fishing — troll 3 lines on wisco shore lines in the croix, but only 2 on MN side, etc.
ok, so we are talking about a handful of MN or WI residents who have a cabin in the other state, but don’t fish in their own state.
got it.
revenue up!
also, if you can afford a cabin, you can afford the $17 it costs for a MN license. 
And especially if you are buying a non resident annual for $52
b man, read the last sentence of the paragraph I quoted. It seems a non residence license affords you the same opportunities as a resident license.
Not according to the WI DNR….
You need a “home license” to fish your “home waters.”
Read the second to last sentence in the screenshot below.
I agree that you need to follow the regulations for what water you’re fishing (when properly licensed)
Screenshot_20190107-180057.png
ok, so we are talking about a handful of MN or WI residents who have a cabin in the other state, but don’t fish in their own state.
got it.revenue up!
also, if you can afford a cabin, you can afford the $17 it costs for a MN license.
And especially if you are buying a non resident annual for $52
Hey I wasn’t defending the rule but I was accurately describing one scenario where it could be applied.
Side note — good to see another Phan around here! (Unless that’s just fun spelling on your part…)
why would I live in MN and not have a MN license, but have a WI non resident instead?
Believe it or not, people move….
What if you lived in Stillwater your whole life and fished the river and a few other lakes in Minnesota….then you moved to Somerset…
Are you automatically going to buy a Wisconsin license and start fishing only Wisconsin??? Probably not….
phan indeed! SAVE GAMEHENDGE
I get what you’re saying b man. I just find it a little funny is all. It’s just that if that extra $20 for a home state license is breaking the bank, im sorry.
phan indeed!
I get what you’re saying b man. I just find it a little funny is all. It’s just that if that extra $20 for a home state license is breaking the bank, im sorry.
Like a lot of things in life, it isn’t about the money, it’s about the principal.
The reciprocity agreement doesn’t make any sense when it comes to the “home state” rule to fish “home state” waters.
You can spend more money (just a non-resident license) to fish less water…..
Or you can spend less money (just a resident license) and fish more water.
I guess sometimes less is more…..
As I said before, I don’t have a dog in the fight. Like a sucker I already spend way too much money on licenses. Every year I have an annual Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ontario license. Some years a temporary South Dakota or North Dakota too 
Be happy your state reciprocates with neighbors for some things.
Last year I had a ND, MN, WI, OH and MI fishing license along with MI hunting license.
This year so far I have a TEMP ND, a full MN and MI license. I feel your pain man!
MN DNR CO told me you follow the rules of the STATE you are fishing in. If you are MN Resident and have MN license you can fish 3 lines on WI side, summer or winter. Same with WI license on MN side, can only use 2 lines. Non-resident same rules apply. If you have both a MN and WI license you still follow which side you are fishing on, not the license. I talked to my CO on the phone and he sent me an email with it.
Time for the Drivers License example…again.
Just think of your fishing license like a d/l.
I have to have a MN license since that’s where I live.
If the speed limit is posted 55 mph in MN and WI it’s 70 mph I can follow the rules of the state that I’m in.
So Must have a license from the state you reside in
Can use 3 lines on the WI side of the river (ice or water)
Can only use 2 lines on the MN side…and it does’t matter which license you have. Much like the WI driver that comes across the bridge and thinks he can do 70 in a 55 speed zone.
Don’t feel bad if you had it wrong. It was changed about 15 years ago and I didn’t know it. Last year a DNR biologist had it wrong at one of our meetings as well. 
phan indeed! SAVE GAMEHENDGE
I get what you’re saying b man. I just find it a little funny is all. It’s just that if that extra $20 for a home state license is breaking the bank, im sorry.
Love to see phans on the forums.
I read the home water rule as only applying to shore fisherman. If you are on the water either license is fine, and from experience fishing the St. Louis DNR has never been concerned as long as you own a WI/MN license and aren’t over the Wi regs (2 lines).
I am also a sucker MN, WI, MI, OH, KY and TN annual licenses. At least I can look at buying a lifetime MN resident now
Anyone from MN ever run slammer setups on the wisco side?
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>phishingruven01 wrote:</div>
phan indeed! SAVE GAMEHENDGELove to see phans on the forums.
I’m 47% sure it’s “phans” littering our lakes with empty propane cylinders. I also heard phans fish barefoot on the ice with hula hoops… 
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And especially if you are buying a non resident annual for $52
