In keeping with a Wisconsin tradition, the Governor’s Fishing Opener will be held in 2026. The fishing for this year’s edition will take place Saturday, May 2, on Nelson Lake near Hayward in Sawyer County.
Gov. Tony Evers will once again be in attendance for the opener, promoting fishing and tourism and looking to extend his years-long streak of catching fish. The event is hosted by the Northwest Wisconsin International Trade, Business and Economic Development Council Tourism Committee.
Activities will include a Family Fishing Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 2 at Lake Hayward Beach.
Here’s what to know about the 2026 Wisconsin fishing season, including some parts already underway.
When is the general fishing season in Wisconsin?
The Wisconsin general inland fishing season for game fish opens Saturday, May 2. This is the traditional harvest season opener and covers most inland waters for walleye, largemouth bass and northern pike, for example, and this year also includes muskellunge.
Most panfish species such as bluegill and black crappie may be fished for and kept year-round.
What are the license requirements?
Wisconsin residents and nonresidents age 16 and older must have a fishing license to fish in any waters of the state. An annual license costs $20 for residents. A $5 option is available for first-time buyers.
To buy a license, visit a sales outlet such as a sporting goods store or bait and tackle shop or purchase one online at gowild.wi.gov.
What is the weather forecast for the May 2 fishing opener?
The early forecast for May 2 is calling for partly to mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the low 50s across most of Wisconsin.
Where can I fish?
In 2025 the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources initiated the Wisconsin Fishing Finder to help anglers find places to fish in the Badger State.
The free online tool provides lake access information with boat launches, shore fishing locations, public lands and easements; fish stocking information; fishing regulations; DNR service centers and license agents; and healthy guidelines for eating fish. For more information, visit dnr.wi.gov and search for “Wisconsin Fishing Finder.”
What are fishing and boating safety tips?
Recreational safety specialists with the DNR and other agencies remind anglers to follow safe boating procedures. For more boating safety tips, visit dnr.wi.gov.
What is responsible catch and release?
Fish that anglers decide to release, and fish they are required to release because they don’t meet the legal length limit or are not in season, should be played as little as possible and handled carefully with wet hands, according to DNR recommendations. Also minimize the time fish are held out of water to remove hooks, take a photograph or measure a fish.
Deep-hooked fish, if meeting the legal limit, should be kept. If the fish does not meet the legal length limit it must be let go; cut the line or leader as close to the hook as possible and put the fish back in the water. The DNR has more information on responsible release on its website.
What’s new in 2026 fishing regulations?
This season is bringing, and in fact has already brought, notable changes in Wisconsin fishing regulations.
The first went into effect April 4 with the inland trout harvest season. In a rule change it developed over several years, the DNR opened the season about a month earlier than it had previously.
Another regulation change kicks in May 2 when anglers statewide can pursue muskellunge. For several decades the harvest season in the northern zone didn’t open until late May. Similar to the new trout rule, the DNR ran this musky modification through the normal process, including Wisconsin Conservation Congress advisory and rule change questions, over several years.
Since modern musky anglers predominantly practice catch and release, the DNR doesn’t expect the change to result in a decline in the musky population. In recent years the annual statewide musky harvest has averaged 237 fish, the DNR’s Dan Oele said.
However as news spread this year of the new musky regulation, a motivated corps of anglers galvanized in opposition to it. They’d rather have the fish protected as much as possible during the spawning period. Resolutions to reverse the rule and restore the late May northern zone musky opener in the future were introduced April 13 in more than 20 counties at the 2026 spring hearings held by the DNR and Wisconsin Conservation Congress.
This year will also feature a new catch-and-release season for lake sturgeon on 18 waters. It runs June 6, 2026, to March 7, 2027. You do not need a harvest tag to catch-and-release lake sturgeon on these 18 waters.
And about 120 Wisconsin waters have panfish regulation changes for 2026. These are specific to the waterbody so anglers are encouraged to look closely at the regulation pamphlet.
The 2026-27 Wisconsin fishing regulations pamphlet features all the details.
Anglers are advised to carefully review the fishing regulations pamphlet to be certain of rules on waters they plan to fish. Copies of the booklet may be downloaded at dnr.wi.gov or picked up at license sales outlets.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: The Wisconsin general fishing season opens May 2. Here’s what to know
Reporting by Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
