Fishing Regulations for Yellowstone Lake
General Waterbody Restrictions
Catch and release fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open year round unless otherwise noted.
Motor Trolling is allowed with up to 3 hooks, baits, or lures, per angler.
Fishing Regulations
NOTE: Regulations listed below may not reflect fish species actually found in the lake. See Yellowstone Lake's
WDNR Lake Page for more information on this lake's characteristics.
Fish |
Season |
Regulation |
Longnose gar |
Open All Year |
Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only) |
Shortnose gar |
Open All Year |
Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only) |
Bowfin |
Open All Year |
Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only) |
Catfish |
Open All Year |
No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. |
Panfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, sunfish, crappie and yellow perch) |
Open All Year |
No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25. |
Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass |
May 7, 2022 to March 5, 2023 |
Daily combined bag limit of 2 fish for walleye, sauger and their hybrids 15"-18", and largemouth and smallmouth bass 12"-15" |
Muskellunge and hybrids |
May 7, 2022 to December 31, 2022 |
The minimum length limit is 50" and the daily bag limit is 1. |
Northern pike |
May 7, 2022 to March 5, 2023 |
Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only) |
Trout |
See specific regulations |
https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/trout/ |
Walleye, sauger, and hybrids |
May 7, 2022 to March 5, 2023 |
Daily combined bag limit of 2 fish for walleye, sauger and their hybrids 15"-18", and largemouth and smallmouth bass 12"-15" |
Bullheads |
Open All Year |
No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. |
Cisco and whitefish |
Open All Year |
No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. |
Lake sturgeon |
Closed |
No fishing allowed. |
Paddlefish |
Closed |
No fishing allowed. |
Rock, yellow, and white bass |
Open All Year |
No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. |
Rough fish |
Open All Year |
No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. |
Round goby |
Open All Year |
The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a wdnr office. |
Ruffe |
Open All Year |
The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a wdnr office. |
Shovelnose sturgeon |
Closed |
No fishing allowed. |
White perch |
Open All Year |
The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a wdnr office. |