Wisconsin Administrative Code › Department of Natural Resources › NR 1-99 - Fish, Game and Enforcement, Forestry and Recreation › Chapter NR 26 - Fish Refuges › Section NR 26.01 - Fish refuges

Current through June 24, 2024
The following areas are created and established as fish
				  refuges and it shall be unlawful for any person or persons to take, disturb,
				  catch, capture, kill, or fish for fish in any manner at any time listed,
				  including the start and end dates, each year in, on, or along the following
				  described water areas.
COUNTY
WATERS
REFUGE BOUNDARIES
START DATE
END DATE
(3) Barron
(a) Beaver Dam lake inlets
Cumberland ditch (unnamed, SW ¼ of the NE
								¼, section 5, T35N, R13W) upstream to Riebe lake (unnamed, SW ¼
								of the NW ¼, section 4, T36N, R13W)
April 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(b) Granite lake inlet
Unnamed stream in SW ¼ of the NW ¼,
								T36N, R13W upstream to U.S. highway 63 (SW ¼ of the SE ¼, section
								18, T36N, R13W)
April 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(c) Hemlock creek
That part of Hemlock creek in the NW ¼ of
								the NE ¼, section 36, T36N, R10W) upstream 500 feet
April 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(d) Rice creek
From 100 feet north of state highway 8 to 100 feet
								south of state highway 8
April 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(e) Spring creek
From 100 feet north of county highway M to 100 feet
								south of county highway 8
April 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(f) Turtle creek
From Upper Turtle lake downstream to Lower Turtle
								lake
April 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(4) Bayfield
(a) Bayfield hatchery outlet ditch
Bayfield hatchery downstream to the outlet ditch
								confluence with Pike's creek
July 15
October 31
(b) Eau Claire chain of lakes
That part of the Eau Claire river system connecting
								the Eau Claire chain of lakes in Barnes township
April 15
May 15
(c) Pikes creek
Structure commonly known as Red dam downstream 100
								feet (section 28, T50N, R4W)
April 1
May 31
(d) Sioux river
"Big Rock Hole" downstream 200 feet (section 19,
								T49N, R4W)
September 1
May 31
(5) Brown
(a) Fox river
Beginning at the De Pere dam in the city of De Pere
								(T23N, R20E) downstream to the downstream side of the Wisconsin Public Service
								power lines from the east shore of the river and extending parallel to the
								power lines in a southwesterly direction to the northeast corner of the Nicolet
								Paper Company
March 1
May 31
(b) Sensiba wildlife area discharge area to the
								Suamico river
From the dike to the south end of the culvert under
								Sunset Beach road (section 24, T25N, R20E)
March 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(9) Chippewa
(a) Chippewa river
Jim Falls Dam at section 29, T30N, R7W downstream
								1000 feet
Continuous
Continuous
(b)Chippewa river
From 1,000 feet below the Jim Falls dam (section
								20, T30N, R7W) downstream to county highway Y bridge (section 30, T30N,
								R7W)
First Saturday in September
October 15
(c) Otter creek
Otter lake dam (section 11, T30N, R5W) downstream
								300 feet
March 1
May 15
(d) Yellow river
Cadott (Svetlik) dam (section 31, T29N, R6W)
								downstream to the Main street (also known as 257th street) bridge in Cadott
								when posted closed to fishing with department signs
March 1
May 15
(10) Clark
(a) Eau Claire river (South Fork)
Mead Lake dam downstream 500 feet
March 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(13) Dane
(a) University of Wisconsin
								Arboretum
All springs, spring holes, streams, potholes and
								lagoons lying within the boundaries of the University of Wisconsin Arboretum
								located in section 9, township 6 north, range 9 east, town of Madison, and in
								sections 26, 27, 28, 32, 33, and 35, township 7 north, range 9 east, town of
								Fitchburg
Continuous
Continuous
(b) Wingra creek
Entire spillway of Wingra lake and downstream from
								spillway to the Arboretum drive bridge
March 1
May 15
(c) Yahara river, city of Madison
Tenney locks (section 12, T7N, R9E) downstream 900
								feet
March 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(d) Yahara river, village of
								McFarland
From Exchange street bridge (sections 3 and 10,
								T6N, R10E) downstream 600 feet and upstream to the lock and dam
March 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(e) Yahara river, village of
								McFarland
Beginning 400 feet upstream from the Dyreson road
								bridge (section 14 T6N, R10E) upstream 1,000 feet
March 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(f) Yahara river (Dunkirk dam)
Dunkirk dam (section 20, T5N, R11E) downstream to
								county highway N (section 21, T5N, R11E)
March 1
May 15
(14) Dodge
(a) Beaver Dam creek
County highway G bridge (NW ¼ of the NE
								¼, section 17, T12N, R13E) downstream to the mouth at Beaver Dam lake
								(SW ¼ of the SW ¼, section 9, T12N, R13E)
March 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(b) Mill creek
Fox Lake dam (SW ¼ of the NE ¼,
								section 26, T13N, R13E) downstream to Beaver Dam lake (SW ¼ of the SW
								¼, section 3, T12N, R13E)
March 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(c) Rock river (Hustisford dam)
Hustisford dam, in the village of Hustisford,
								downstream 725 feet
March 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(15) Door
(a) Ahnapee river
Forestville dam (section 29, T26N, R25E) downstream
								500 feet
March 1
May 15
(b) Samuelsons creek
From Samuelsons creek mouth at the Sturgeon Bay
								ship canal upstream to its source
Continuous
Continuous
(c) Strawberry creek
Sturgeon Bay ship canal upstream to the source of
								Strawberry creek (SE ¼ of the SE ¼, section 16, T27N,
								R26E)
September 1
December 31
(d) Sturgeon Bay ship canal
Canal area within 500 feet of Strawberry creek in
								the SE ¼ of the SE ¼, section 16, T22N, R26E
September 1
December 31
(e) Mink River
Mink river downstream to its mouth at Rowley
								bay
Monday following the first Sunday in
								March
June 15
(16) Douglas
(a) Brule river
100 feet upstream and 100 feet downstream from "Box
								Car Hole" (section 2, T47N, R10W)
July 15
October 31
(b) Brule river
From the upper falls downstream to the upstream end
								of the island - area known as Skid Mays or Mays Ledges section 15, T48N,
								R10W
September 1
May 31
(br) Brule river
500 feet upstream and downstream from sea lamprey
								barrier
Continuous
Continuous
(c) St. Louis river
State highway 23 bridge (section 8, T48N, R15W)
								upstream to the Wisconsin-Minnesota border
March 1
May 18
(17) Dunn
(a) Red Cedar river
Cedar Falls dam located at section 6, township 28
								north, range 12 west downstream 4,300 feet
January 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(18) Eau Claire
(a) Eau Claire river
Altoona dam (NW ¼ SW ¼, section 14,
								T27N, R9W) downstream 500 feet
March 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(20) Fond Du Lac
(a) Silver creek
County highway NN (old state highway 23) downstream
								to the Green Lake-Fond du Lac county line
March 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(23) Green
(a) Sugar river
Albany dam downstream 500 feet
March 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(b) Sugar river
Decatur dam downstream 500 feet
March 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(c) Sugar river
Old Brodhead power house site spillway downstream
								500 feet
March 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(24) Green Lake
(a) Silver creek
Fond du Lac-Green Lake county line downstream to
								the Spaulding bridge (SE ¼ of the SE ¼, section 23, T16N,
								R13E)
March 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(25) Iowa
(a) Cox Hollow lake
Within 100 feet of the shoreline on the southern
								arm of the lake that is marked with buoys
Third Monday of May
19 days later
(26) Iron
(a) Fisher and Catherine lakes
That part of the connecting inlets and outlets
								between the lakes in section 2, T43N, R4E for 200 feet on either side of Fisher
								Lake road
April 1
May 14
(b) Flambeau river
Turtle-Flambeau dam downstream to the U.S.
								government gaging station (part of the Flambeau river located in the SW
								¼ of the SE ¼ and SE ¼ of the SW ¼ of section 34,
								township 42 north, range 2 east, and the NE ¼ of the NW ¼ and the
								NW ¼ of the NE ¼ of section 3, township 41 north, range 2 east,
								beginning at the dam in and across the Flambeau river in section 34, township
								42 north, range 2 east, commonly known as the Turtle-Flambeau dam and extending
								downstream from said dam to the U.S. government gaging station of said river in
								the NE ¼ of the NW ¼ of said section 3)
Continuous
Continuous
(c) Gile flowage at Junk Shop Dike (Dirt
								Dike)
200 feet upstream and downstream from Junk Shop
								Dike on Knight road where it crosses the flowage (between section 36, township
								46 north, range 2 east, and section 1, township 45 north, range 2
								east)
April 1
May 14
(d) Gile Flowage at county highway
								C
200 feet upstream and downstream from county
								highway C (SW ¼ of the NW ¼, and in the NW ¼ of the SW
								¼, section 1, township 45 north, range 2 east)
April 1
May 14
(e) Manitowish river
Bridge at state highway 47 (section 9, T42N, R4E)
								upstream to the Vilas county line
First Saturday in May
June 1
(f) Mercer creek
Between Mercer lake and Grand Portage lake (section
								36, T43N, R3E)
April 1
May 14
(g) Turtle-Flambeau river (Seifert's
								Point)
Within 200 feet of the shoreline of the peninsula
								in section 5, T41N, R3E, commonly known as Seifert's Point
April 1
May 14
(h) Turtle river
Lake of the Falls dam (in section 6, township 42
								north, range 3 east) downstream 1,000 feet
April 1
May 14
(29) Juneau
(a) Meadow Valley flowage
That part of the Meadow Valley flowage beginning at
								a point in the E ½ of section 10, township 20 north, range 2 east, where
								the drainage ditch intersects the Meadow Valley flowage road; then northerly
								along the east spoil bank of said ditch to the junction of a brushed line at
								the approximate interior quarter corner of section 3, township 20 north, range
								2 east; then west along said brushed line to its junction with the east-west
								drainage ditch; then westerly along the north spoil bank of said ditch to its
								junction with the main north-south drainage ditch; then south along the west
								spoil bank of said ditch to its point of intersection with the Meadow Valley
								flowage road; then east along said Meadow Valley road to the point of
								beginning
Beginning of migratory waterfowl hunting open
								season
End of migratory waterfowl hunting open
								season
(b) Meadow Valley flowage
That part of the Meadow Valley flowage lying in the
								following described area: Township 20 north, range 2 east.
Section 1 - W ½
Sections 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 - Entire sections
Section 7 - N ½
Section 8 - N ½
Section 9 - N ½
Section 10 - N ½
Section 11 - All that part lying north of the
								Meadow Valley flowage road and west of state highway 173.
March 1
June 30
(31) Kewaunee
(a) Flume of Kewaunee Nuclear power
								plant
Continuous
Continuous
(b) Kewaunee river
From county highway F bridge upstream 500 feet past
								the fish return pipe of the Kewaunee river coho salmon spawning facility (W
								½ of section 14, township 23 north, range 24 east, town of West
								Kewaunee)
Continuous
Continuous
(34) Langlade
(a) Wolf river
Post lake dam downstream 75 feet to the bottom of
								the first rapids
April 1
May 31
(35) Lincoln
(a) Little Somo river
Dam in section 27, T35N, R5E downstream 900
								feet
March 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(b) Tomahawk river
Jersey dam in section 28, T35N, R6E downstream to
								the railroad trestle
March 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(36) Manitowoc
(a) Flume of Point beach Nuclear power
								plant
Continuous
Continuous
(38) Marinette
(a) Peshtigo river
Badger Paper Mill dam in the city of Peshtigo
								(section 19, T30N, R23E) downstream 300 feet
March 1
May 31
(39) Marquette
(a) Grand river
Grand River wildlife dam located in the NW ¼
								of the NW ¼ of section 1, township 14 north, range 10 east downstream 50
								feet
Continuous
Continuous
(b) Grand river
Beginning 50 feet downstream from the Grand river
								wildlife area dam (NW ¼ NW ¼, sec, 1, T14N, R10E) extending
								downstream 300 feet
March 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(c) Montello river
Lake Montello dam (NE ¼ SE ¼, sec. 8,
								T15N, R10E) downstream to the first bridge crossing
March 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(44) Oneida
(a) Little Rice creek
Oneida lake dam (NE ¼ of the NE ¼, section 8) downstream to Hancock lake
April 10
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(b) Pelican river
The 5th lake dam of the Moen lake chain (SE
								¼, section 4, T36N, R10E) downstream 500 feet
April 10
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(c) Squirrel river
Squirrel lake dam downstream 500 feet (NW ¼
								of the NE ¼, section 30, T39N, R5E)
April 10
May 10
(d) Tomahawk river
Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company bridge (NE
								¼ of the NE ¼, section 27, T38N, R5E) downstream 500
								feet
April 10
May 20
(e) Willow river
Upstream end of the rapids (NE ¼ of the NE
								¼, section 15, T37N, R4E) downstream 2,000 feet
April 10
May 20
(f) Wisconsin river
Rainbow flowage dam (at county highway D, SW
								¼ of the SW ¼, section 30, T39N, R8E) downstream 500
								feet
April 10
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(46) Ozaukee
(a) Milwaukee river
Fishway at the Thiensville-Mequon Dam: 750 feet
								around the dam located at river mile 20
Continuous
Continuous
(49) Polk
(a) Balsam branch
Wapogasset lake (NE ¼ of the NW ¼,
								section 14, T33N, R17W) upstream to the dam at Kennedy's Mill (SE ¼ of
								the SE ¼, section 10, T33N,R17W)
April 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(b) Butternut creek
Between Big Butternut lake and Little Butternut
								lake in Luck township
April 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(c) Harder creek
Between Balsam lake and Half Moon lake in
Milltown township
April 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(d) Horse creek
Horse creek in NW¼ of the SE ¼,
								section 27, T32N, R18W (Cedar lake inlet) upstream 1,000 feet
April 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(dm) St. Croix river
From the upstream side of the state highway 8
								bridge (T34N R18W S30) upstream to the St. Croix Falls dam
March 1
June 15
(e) Sucker creek
From the outlet of Lake Wapogasset downstream to
								the county highway F bridge (section 26, T33N, R17W)
April 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(51) Price
(a) Flambeau river (North Fork)
Upper Park Falls dam downstream to the state
								highway 182 bridge
Continuous
Continuous
(b) Schnur creek
From west shore of Schnur lake to its mouth on the
								east shore of Butternut lake (SE ¼ of NE ¼, section 5, T40N,
								R1W)
April 1
May 31
(c) Spirit river
Spirit lake dam downstream 500 feet
April 1
May 31
(52) Racine
(a) Root river
At Lincoln Park in the city of Racine, from 200
								feet downstream from the fish ladder and extending 100 feet past the instream
								fish barrier of the Root river steelhead facility
August 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(b) Root river
At Lincoln Park in the city of Racine, from 100
								feet downstream from the fish return pipe and extending upstream to 100 feet
								past the fish return pipe of the Root river steelhead facility
August 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(55) Rusk
(a) Flambeau river
Within 200 feet downstream of all hydroelectric
								dams (closed to all fishing during the muskellunge closed
								season)
End mus-kellunge season (Northern
								zone)
Start mus-kellunge season (Northern
								zone)
(b) Thornapple river
Confluence with Chippewa river in section 4, T34N,
								R7W upstream to the Thornapple road crossing in section 33, T35N,
								R1W
April 25
May 14
(57) Sawyer
(a) Chief river
From 200 feet upstream from the county highway B
								bridge upstream to the dam at the outlet of Callahan lake (sections 34 and 35,
								T41N, R7W)
April 15
June 1
(b) Chippewa river
Arpin Dam located in section 23, T38N, R7W
								downstream 500 feet
Continuous
Continuous
(c) Chippewa river
Winter dam (the gate of the reservoir dam, in
								government lots 1 and 9 in section 2, T39 N, R6W) downstream 1,000
								feet
April 15
June 1
(d) Connor creek
Between Lake of the Pines (Pickerel lake) and
								Connor lake (section 22, T38N, R3W)
April 1
May 14
(e) Knuteson creek
Between Chetac lake (section 9, T37N, R9W) and
								Knuteson lake (section 10, R37N, R9W)
April 1
May 14
(f) Squaw creek
From Chetach lake upstream 1,000 feet (section 33,
								T38N, R9W)
April 1
May 14
(g) Totogatic river
From Nelson lake (in section 2 T42N, R9W) upstream
								to Seeley Fire Lane road crossing (section 2, T42N, R9W)
April 1
May 14
(h) Whitefish creek
Whitefish lake to Lac Courte Oreilles (sections 11
								and 12, T39N, R9W)
April 15
June 1
(58) Shawano
(a) Embarrass river
County highway M bridge (SE ¼ section 9,
								T26N, R14E) downstream to Rangeline road (SE ¼, section 13, T26N,
								R14E)
April 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(b) Wolf river
Shawano Paper Mill dam downstream to the Shawano
								county highway M bridge (SW ¼, section 36, T27N, R15E)
April 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in
May
(61) Taylor
(a) Otter creek
County highway H, on the Chippewa-Taylor county
								line, upstream to the north boundary of section 19, T30N, R4W
March 1
May 15
(64) Vilas
(a) Allequash creek
County highway M (NW ¼ of the NW ¼, section 20, T41N, R7E) downstream to Trout lake and into Trout lake for a
								distance of 100 feet in all directions
April 10
May 15
(b) Big Arbor Vitae lake outlet
From the lake outlet (NE ¼ of the SE
								¼, section 30, T40N, R7E) downstream 500 feet
April 10
May 10
(c) Helen creek
Entire creek from Mamie lake (SE ¼ of the NW
								¼, section 20, T43N, R9E) upstream to the creek source (NW ¼ of
								the SW ¼, section 31, T43N, R9E)
April 10
May 10
(d) Little Arbor Vitae lake outlet
Little Arbor Vitae lake dam downstream to Carrol
								lake, except unnamed lakes (NE ¼ of the SE ¼, section 33, T40N,
								R7E)
April 10
May 10
(e) Little St. Germain lake
From the lake outlet (SW ¼ of the SE
								¼, section 35, T40N, R8E) downstream 500 feet
April 10
May 15
(f) Manitowish river
From the dam across the Manitowish river located in
								section 9, T42N, R5E (Rest Lake dam) downstream 500 feet
April 1
May 31
(g) Manitowish river
From the Iron county line (section 7, T42N, R5E)
								upstream to U.S. highway 51 (section 7, T42N, R5E) excluding the lake basins of
								Vance, Sturgeon and Benson lakes
First Saturday in May
June 1
(h) Spring creek
From Mamie lake (NE ¼ of the SW ¼,
								section 21, T43N, R9E) upstream to the Spring lake outlet (NE ¼ of the
								NW ¼, section 27, T43N, R9E)
April 10
May 10
(i) Trilby lake
Entire lake located in sections 11, 12, 13 and 14,
								T40N R6E
Continuous
Continuous
(66) Washburn
(a) Balsam lake outlet
200 feet upstream and downstream of state highway
								48 (between Balsam lake and Red Cedar lake, section 34, T37N,
								R10W)
April 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(67) Washington
(a) Cedar creek
Dam which is the outlet of Big Cedar lake
								downstream to the Kettle of Little Cedar lake (sections 32 and 33, T11N,
								R19E)
March 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(68) Waukesha
(a) Bark river
The inlet to Upper Nemahbin lake upstream to Lake
								Nagawicka dam
March 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(ag) Bark river
Highway 83 bridge to the inlet to Lake Naga- wicka
								at NE ¼, section 9, T7N, R18E to NE ¼, section 8, T7N,
								R18E
March 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(am) Illinois-Fox river
From Madison street in the city of Waukesha
								upstream to the Barstow dam
March 1
May 1
(b) Oconomowoc river
Inlet to Okauchee lake (SE ¼, section 19,
								T8N, R18E) upstream to the North lake outlet (SE ¼, section 17, T8N,
								R18E)
March 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(c) Oconomowoc river
Oconomowoc lake inlet upstream to Okauchee lake
								dam
April 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(69) Waupaca
(a) Little Wolf river
From the dam in and across the Little Wolf river in
								the village of Manawa (section 15, T23N, R13E) downstream 500
								feet
April 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May
(b) Little Wolf river
300 feet upstream and 300 feet downstream of the
								state highway 54 bridge (NE ¼ of section1, T22N, R13E)
April 1
April 15
(c) Little Wolf river
900 feet upstream and 1,300 feet downstream of the
								Ostrander road bridge (SW ¼ of section 8, T22N, R14E)
April 1
April 15
(d) Little Wolf river
1,350 feet upstream and 150 feet downstream of
								county highway X bridge (SE ¼ of section 8, T22N, R14E)
April 1
April 15
(71) Winnebago
(a) Fox river
200 feet downstream from Eureka dam upstream 400
								feet past the Eureka dam
March 1
Friday preceding first Saturday in May