If I read the regulations correctly, pool 3 below prescott allows two lines. However, I have only seen one person jig with two lines up in the Croix and have yet to see anyone trolling or jigging with two lines in the Miss below Prescott. Did I read the regs wrong or is everyone else like me and can not multi-task 
It’s the guy thing.
Two lines are allowed on the Croix and ‘sippi below Prescott.
Three lines are allowed if you have a WI license and are from any state but MN. 
Where did you get the info on 3 lines? The way I read it 3 lines is legit if you have a WI license and are on the WI side of the river only.
Last winter ice fishing on Pepin a Minnesota warden stopped by our shack and proceeded to write my cousin and I a warning for fishing with 3 lines. We are both from Wi, have Wi fishing licenses and we entered the lake from Wi. He said that we were on the “Minnesota” side of the lake and we were only allowed 2 lines apiece. When I got home I called Wisconsin’s Warden Peterson and he said that the Minnesota warden was wrong, since we are from Wi and held a Wi license, we go by the track to track rule. Sooo im still not really clear on the rule either!
If Minnesota would just go by the three line rule like Wisconsin it would just make life so much easier… 
Page 60 of the current WI regs. “Regulations on these waters may differ between states. You must obey the regulations of the state in which you are fishing.”
But to clarify, that is for people with WI license ONLY. If you’re from MN you have to follow MN guidelines on both sides of the river.
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Where did you get the info on 3 lines? The way I read it 3 lines is legit if you have a WI license and are on the WI side of the river only.
This is the correct interpretation. It is never legal to fish in MN waters with 3 lines regardless of the license held.
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Last winter ice fishing on Pepin a Minnesota warden stopped by our shack and proceeded to write my cousin and I a warning for fishing with 3 lines. We are both from Wi, have Wi fishing licenses and we entered the lake from Wi. He said that we were on the “Minnesota” side of the lake and we were only allowed 2 lines apiece.
According to the head of WI fisheries, in the scenario above, demand to have a WI court hear your case. No law broken…it will be dismissed.
It’s messy and depending which DNR I questioned and sometimes what CO, I received different answers. The MN DNR generally agreed with you James, on the other hand when talking to the WI Head of Fisheries, it’s train track to train track for 3 lines IF you have a WI license.
I think it’s about time I get an email from both DNR’s…with signatures.
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If Minnesota would just go by the three line rule like Wisconsin it would just make life so much easier…
The MN DNR said it would make life so much easier if WI just switched to 2 lines.
I kid you not!
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According to the head of WI fisheries, in the scenario above, demand to have a WI court hear your case. No law broken…it will be dismissed.
A citation handed out by a MN warden over a violation that took place in MN would have no chance of ever going before a WI court. A WI court wouldn’t even have the authority to hear the case. If I get a speeding ticket just inside the IA border would that mean as a MN resident I could demand to have the case heard in MN? Of course not. Well, I could make that demand. It just wouldn’t go anywhere.
To carry the driving example further this situation is a bit like saying it would be possible for a South Dakota driver to drive faster on MN roads because the speed limit back in SD is higher and their SD drivers license allows them to do so. Doesn’t matter. There’s ample precedent regarding situations like this. You follow the laws of the state you’re driving in, fishing in, etc. In this case a MN warden found an angler in MN waters breaking a MN law. What WI has to say about it is… irrelevant.
Luckily for the angler the warden was willing to issue a warning.
Oh poop…I missed the “in MN part”. Your examples are exactly what the WI Fisheries dude said.
A lot of people believe the track to track thing, I did a good bit of online research a couple years ago into it and nothing I found really validates that. People think the river is some big blurry border, when in all reality there is still a border even on the river, all that reciprocity does is allow us to fish on both sides of that line. In most places this is right down the middle of the channel but not always. eg. where the east channel runs behind Pettibone in La Crosse. The easiest way to see this border is just go to google maps and have a look at the river, it’s the dashed white line. I also found a PDF map of the river from either the USCG or Corps showing the border, it’s on my other machine if anyone wants a copy I can try and find it.
The MN DNR said it would make life so much easier if WI just switched to 2 lines.
Even that wouldn’t be the end all be all. In WI we can run Dubuqe rigs or other dropper or multiple hook setups, the way I read the MN regs that’s a NO NO. Also MN has experimental panfish regs on some pools etc. A unified set of rules for boundary waters would be ideal but I’m certainly not going to hold my breath. It truly is a PITA having to know the regs for both sides, at this point I’d be happy if I could just get a MN regs book to go with my WI one when I get my license each year.
OK, we’re going trolling on Pepin. We got me, WI resident with a WI (and MN license) I can use 3 lines on the WI side of the lake AND on the MN side of the lake, but only according to the WI warden. On the MN side, I get ticketed.
NOW, I’ve got a MN resident who is fishing with me, who has both states licenses. On the WI side, he can’t be ticketed. On the MN side, he can only use 2 lines. But, only MN will ticket him and only on the MN side…
Correct?
Incorrect. I just got off the phone with WDNR just to make sure I’m not giving bad info and they confirmed everything I have said so far. There is a line on the map, and it is up to you to know where that line is and follow the appropriate rules.
Where things get a little twisted are with regards to your friend from MN. According to the MN regs if you are a MN resident you must follow their rules regardless of where on the water you are. How that would be enforced is beyond me, but I’m all about erring on the side of caution.
OK, if Minnesota is going to enforce by the “Line Down The Middle” rule, it would seem to me that they would have no jurisdiction over anyone on the Wisconsin side of that line…
No???
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I just got off the phone with WDNR just to make sure I’m not giving bad info and they confirmed everything I have said so far.
You’re only half done. Call the MN DNR and ask them the same question.
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OK, if Minnesota is going to enforce by the “Line Down The Middle” rule, it would seem to me that they would have no jurisdiction over anyone on the Wisconsin side of that line…
No???
that is a Great question!
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I just got off the phone with WDNR just to make sure I’m not giving bad info and they confirmed everything I have said so far.
You’re only half done. Call the MN DNR and ask them the same question.
Sorry but
Talked with Warden Peterson, one of the enforcing wardens on the WI side last nite.
He felt that if Minnesota wardens were trying to enforce in WI water, i.e. east of the line, that they would only be issuing warning tickets to Minnesota residents, especially if they had WI licenses.
I kinda hope someone is ticketed so we can take it thru the Minnesota courts. I’d throw $100 into the defense fund myself. Kinda our own little indian fishing rights battle!!!
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He felt that if Minnesota wardens were trying to enforce in WI water, i.e. east of the line, that they would only be issuing warning tickets to Minnesota residents, especially if they had WI licenses.
I guess that was what I was trying to get at earlier. If a MN CO gives a ticket to someone IN WI waters, this “should” be considered unconstitutional. Since the violation was in WI the person should ask to go to a WI court, because a MN court can not hear a case from another state.
Same if a WI CO tickets someone in MN.
The CO’s only have the power to enforce the laws of the state they are employed by and while they are in that state.
kind of off topic but similar. has anyone ever seen MN & WI CO’s in the same boat? I was stopped one time on pool 4 and they said they rode together so the could enforce both sides of the river???? Also, if you are a MN resident w/o a MN license, but do have a WI license are you allowed to fish the WI side of the river? and vice versa?
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He felt that if Minnesota wardens were trying to enforce in WI water, i.e. east of the line, that they would only be issuing warning tickets to Minnesota residents, especially if they had WI licenses.
I guess that was what I was trying to get at earlier. If a MN CO gives a ticket to someone IN WI waters, this “should” be considered unconstitutional. Since the violation was in WI the person should ask to go to a WI court, because a MN court can not hear a case from another state.
Same if a WI CO tickets someone in MN.
The CO’s only have the power to enforce the laws of the state they are employed by and while they are in that state.
i’m sure both states have reciprocity to enforce their homestate laws on both sides of the river.
In 06 I sent an e-mail to our local MN CO about this…..Here is the reply……
“Jeff
The Wisconsin regulation is correct. An angler must obey the regulations of the state in which they are fishing.
The example of using 3 lines in Minnesota waters would be a violation that could result in a citation.
Minnesota CO’s have jurisdiction on the boundary waters between the rail road tracks. We enforce like laws from for both states. Example: life jackets – same for both states, fishing license – same for both states. Our authority covers all of the boundary waters.
When the laws differ between the states Minnesota CO’s only enforce MN laws on the MN side of the river. This is the same for the WI Wardens. Example: 3 lines on the WI side – we do not enforce MN law on the WI side of the river.
Your efforts to educate our fishermen through a news letter or the local paper would be beneficial.
Contact me if you have any further questions.
Conservation Officer
Scott Fritz”
For what it’s worth 
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