If you are looking forward to throwing your first cast of the season to hook that trophy fish, the wait is over.
Starting April 1, everyone over 16 years old needs a new 2025-2026 license to fish in the state's inland waters. Residents can get their annual license for $20, or couples can snag a spousal license and fish together for $31. You can buy your new license online through Go Wild, at DNR Service Centers, or at a registered sales location. Depending on what you want to reel in, you still have time before the season officially begins.
Wisconsin’s 2025-2026 general inland fishing season doesn’t open until May 3rd. However, early inland trout (catch and release) season runs now through May 2nd for designated early-season trout streams. You can find the specific species season dates below:
- General Inland Trout (Keep): May 3rd (5 a.m.) to October 15th.
- Largemouth Bass Northern Zone Harvest: May 3rd to March 1st, 2026.
- Smallmouth Bass Northern Zone Harvest: June 21st to March 1st, 2026.
- Large and Smallmouth Bass Southern Zone Harvest: May 3rd to March 1st, 2026.
- Musky Northern Zone Harvest: May 24th to December 31st.
- Musky Southern Zone Harvest: May 3rd to December 31st.
- Northern Pike: May 3rd to March 1st, 2026.
- Walleye: May 3rd to March 1st, 2026.
- Lake Sturgeon: February 8th to February 23rd (Winnebago System spearing), and September 6th to September 30th (hook-and-line).
- Free Fishing Weekends (No License Required): June 7-8, 2025, and January 17-18, 20
