MN/WI Border Waters regulations clarified

I just picked up my 2016 Minnesota Fishing Regulation Booklet and while reading through the changes I noticed that they have provided a clarification on what regulations to follow when the border water regulations differ between the Border States. This should short circuit our usual spring time arguments on the web about which state’s license is needed or where we can legally fish or can we use sunfish for bait to take advantage of more permissive fishing regulations. This is an excerpt from the Border Waters regulations listed on page 44:

If fishing regulations differ between the Border States, what regulations do I follow?
You must obey the regulations of the state in which you are fishing. More permissive regulations are limited to that state’s waters. Using number of lines as an example: In Wisconsin waters anglers may use 3 lines, but in Minnesota waters anglers only may use 2 lines.

Can I get a great big “Hallelujah” from my catfishing brothers and sisters.

It is clear as a bell now and it is Game On. Every night 3 rods in the water and each one with a gamefish on for bait. Just make sure your ass is in Cheesehead land and your gamefish bait meet any length restriction for the water body you are fishing and are included in your daily bag limit for that species.

April 1st is Flathead time. Who is going to end up with this year’s new State Record Flathead.

steve-demars wrote:

April 1st is Flathead time. Who is going to end up with this year’s new State Record Flathead.

State record catch and release flathead?

Dumb question, when fishing border waters, does it matter which state you are fishing in to claim it?

No, it doesn’t matter which state you are in to claim it. You may fish throughout the defined waters bordering the two states.

Can I still buy beer in wi on Sunday if I have a mn drivers license?

You know, I had a heads up on this a few weeks ago. When I read the change all I saw was clarification regarding the Hastings dam to the St Croix was in land waters…

Missed that whole piece!!

Well received by this border water bum!

Brian Klawitter wrote:

Well received by this border water bum!

But I really enjoyed reading your drivers license analogy every spring. It’s like a bedtime story. Now I’ll have to read the dry version that the state has written.

Nobody will absorb this information unless the state releases a mandatory sticker to inform us of the change (clarification).

I get asked that question all the time… Do I need a Wisconsin license? Lol… Time for a sticker

steve-demars wrote:

No, it doesn’t matter which state you are in to claim it. You may fish throughout the defined waters bordering the two states.

So your saying; it possible to fish border water, under Wisconsin regulations, using methods and bait not legal in Minnesota, yet claim a Minnesota record?

It would stand to reason that any Minnesota record fish would have to be caught under Minnesota regulations and restrictions.

From what i was told by a MN DNR officer is that even if you are a Minnesota resident with a out of state wisconsin fishing license you still need to follow MN rules on the border waters. No i dont understand it but i am a big catfisher myself and was wondering if that was a way to get passed the 2 line limit to get to 3 lines (buying a wisconsin license and minnesota).

I highly doubt that if you are a wisconsin resident with a wisconsin license and caught a record fish beating MN you can claim it in MN (on MN WI border waters). You would need a MN fishing license while following MN laws.

Huntindave wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>steve-demars wrote:</div>
No, it doesn’t matter which state you are in to claim it. You may fish throughout the defined waters bordering the two states.

So your saying; it possible to fish border water, under Wisconsin regulations, using methods and bait not legal in Minnesota, yet claim a Minnesota record?

It would stand to reason that any Minnesota record fish would have to be caught under Minnesota regulations and restrictions.

You are exactly correct if you can come to accept the fact that MN fishing regulations allow you to follow Wisconsin fishing regulations when you are in Wisconsin territorial waters on the border waters. Follow me now – Minnesota fishing regulations allow you to use 3 lines and to use game fish for bait when you are fishing in Wisconsin territorial waters on the border waters.

So you have answered your own question – a Minnesota record fish would be allowed in this situation because it has been caught under Minnesota regulations and restrictions.

So steve, your telling me that being a MN resident W/ a MN license and W/O a WI license i can fish 3 lines on the border waters? Lets make it easy and say ??? in front of Everts?

Jordan wrote:

From what i was told by a MN DNR officer is that even if you are a Minnesota resident with a out of state wisconsin fishing license you still need to follow MN rules on the border waters. No i dont understand it but i am a big catfisher myself and was wondering if that was a way to get passed the 2 line limit to get to 3 lines (buying a wisconsin license and minnesota).

I highly doubt that if you are a wisconsin resident with a wisconsin license and caught a record fish beating MN you can claim it in MN (on MN WI border waters). You would need a MN fishing license while following MN laws.

Johnny – Let me answer the first part of your post by providing a direct quote from an e-mail I received from Major Greg Salo, MN DNR Enforcement Manager. He wrote and I quote “If you possess a license from your state of residency (WI or MN), it is a valid license in the territorial border waters of the other state. I’ll give you an example – I’m a resident of MN and possess a valid MN angling license while fishing the Mississippi River. I’m good to fish the MN portion of the river as well as the WI portion of the river. I do not need a WI license as well since my MN angling license is valid in WI on that particular border water. I do have to follow the laws of the state I’m in and I must possess a valid license for the state I reside in. An example of following the rules would be – Wisconsin has larger limits on some fish, allows some game fish to be used as bait, and allows different tackle configurations – a MN resident can fish according to WI laws as long as they are fishing on the Wisconsin side of the river – all of this can be done by only having the MN angling license. The second they cross the state line on the river (GPS units have this state line marked fairly well), they would have to abide by the MN laws. I hope this clears it up and we’ll be addressing the law/rule to make it clear as well in the fishing regulation handbook.”

Now in response to last part of your post. This is taken from the record fish application instructions:
5. Each fish must be:
a. Caught on rod, reel and line; pole and lure;
and hooked (not snagged) with any legal
hook or lure and played by only one (1)
person. Landing assistance only, i.e. netting
is allowed.
b. Taken during the legal open season and
hours in Minnesota waters, including those
boundary waters where a Minnesota Fishing
License is valid, by a person licensed or
otherwise legally entitled to angle in
Minnesota.

So – To answer your last question: a Wisconsin resident using a WI license cannot apply for a MN state record fish.

Jordan wrote:

So steve, your telling me that being a MN resident W/ a MN license and W/O a WI license i can fish 3 lines on the border waters? Lets make it easy and say ??? in front of Everts?

You bet. You can sit on the end of Everts dock and have 3 lines in the water each one with a sunfish as bait. Have at it.

biggill wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Brian Klawitter wrote:</div>
Well received by this border water bum!

But I really enjoyed reading your drivers license analogy every spring. It’s like a bedtime story. Now I’ll have to read the dry version that the state has written.

So you’re saying it puts you to sleep? LOL!

It is really very simple using “the drivers license analogy”.

My MN DL allows me to drive in WI as long as I’m following the WI laws which may be different then MN’s.

Sleep tight BG!

steve-demars wrote:

You can sit on the end of Everts dock and have 3 lines in the water each one with a sunfish as bait. Have at it.

Correction. One line with a sunfish, one with a bass and one with a walleye.
But the sunfish will be the only bait that catches anything because… oh, never mind.

Brian Klawitter wrote:

It is really very simple using “the drivers license analogy”.

My MN DL allows me to drive in WI as long as I’m following the WI laws which may be different then MN’s.

I have to agree with you, Brian. That is the clearest, most succinct explanation anybody has come up with yet. Well Done.

Hey thanks Steve i appreciate it. I talked to one of the DNR guy’s last night and he told me the same thing. It just seemed really weird to me that you can go 20 feet and use 3 lines and better catfish candy.

I just moved around the area of Hampton so I need to get out on the Mississippi and do some cattin, the Minnesota was my honey hole a little far now.

So you are saying I can use a Dubuque rig(2baits) or a Denver rig(2 baits) and still have a second rod out with one bait on it right ??

Brian Klawitter wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>steve-demars wrote:</div>
You can sit on the end of Everts dock and have 3 lines in the water each one with a sunfish as bait. Have at it.

Correction. One line with a sunfish, one with a bass and one with a walleye.
But the sunfish will be the only bait that catches anything because… oh, never mind.

Let me muddy the waters so to speak.

Evert’s dock is an extension of WI territory, so not only can you not use 3 lines with a MN license, you need a Wisconsin license

Trollolololo

Hey Pug – I wondered how long it would take you to troll in and try to muddy up the water. As usual we will all just ignore you. Why don’t you go bake out in the Florida sun.

Hey Pug, I hate to say it, but that isn’t correct, at least as it was explained to me in a email from Tim Hage of the DNR. Here is a copy of our convo:

From: Evan P
Sent: Friday, April 10, 2015 1:56 PM
To: *Info (DNR)
Subject: Question on shore fishing border waters

I know if you fish in a boat on any of the MN border waters you are OK only possessing a MN licences and following said MN regs (or the regs of that body of water).

But what about fishing from shore, if I fish from WI into the mississippi or the Croix am I still ok with just my MN licence. If not, what if I have waders on and fish from inside that border water. Let me know how this is ruled so I can properly follow them.

Thanks!

Hage, Tim J (DNR) <[email protected]>

Your Minnesota fishing license covers shore to shore with Wisconsin, you can stand on the Wisconsin shore and fish.

Technically border waters are from railroad line to railriad line.

Now where does a Minnesota resident with a mn license get these magical sunfish without breaking any laws except from the river itself?

There is an internet rumor that rumbles about fishing around docks for sunfish.

Remember they can’t be transported away from the river and brought back (alive).

trumar wrote:

So you are saying I can use a Dubuque rig(2baits) or a Denver rig(2 baits) and still have a second rod out with one bait on it right ??

On the WI side only. Yes.

Grizper wrote:

Now where does a Minnesota resident with a mn license get these magical sunfish without breaking any laws except from the river itself?

I have my boat in a marina and there is bait under every dock. Only takes a few minutes to catch what you need before heading out. As you head up the river just take a minute at each dock you see and dunk some bait near the dock. It is actually kind of fun. In MN you can fish up to 3 artificial flies on one fishing line when you are fishing for crappie, sunfish and rock bass. Tip them with a waxie or some Gulp nuggets and you’ll be done in a couple of minutes. I keep a bait rod in the boat all rigged up and ready to go. Another good spot on the river is the Daymarks – the current seams near the rock rubble around the daymarks always hold bait.

Do you have to catch your bluegills for bait in Wisconsin? Or can you transport them across state lines?

Dustin – In MN it is illegal to transport live fish. If you are catching bluegills for bait you have to catch them on the river and use them in the river in WI territorial waters. You cannot transport them off the water body.

That is what I was referring to, so you would have to catch them on the Wisconsin side of the river, not any dock on the river, just trying to clarify, thank you.