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Posts: 61
Location: Janesville wi | Wdnr website list the Muskie opener as may 2 this year.
Is that a typo or did they change it?
Will most guys still wait until the traditional time? |
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Posts: 1344
Location: E. Tenn | Sure looks that way, replete with "New for 2026" in bold print.
Edited by miket55 1/18/2026 8:37 PM
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Posts: 167
Location: West Central WI | At our Muskies Inc meeting in October, our local DNR biologist, told us it was changing in 2026 to match the regular fishing season in WI. Only allowed on open water so even if the season is open, you can't fish through the ice that hasn't cleared. |
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| Rotorhead - 1/18/2026 8:37 PM
At our Muskies Inc meeting in October, our local DNR biologist, told us it was changing in 2026 to match the regular fishing season in WI. Only allowed on open water so even if the season is open, you can't fish through the ice that hasn't cleared.
I am in the northern zone and saw an online version of the DNR season but didn't know if it might have been AI. Also, any other old guys who remember when it used to open the same time as other fishing? Seems like it was that way in the 1970s when I started fishing for muskies. I then lived in Michigan for 20 years and it definitely was Memorial day weekend when I returned. |
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Posts: 594
Location: deephaven mn | if thats for northern Wisconsin i think that could be prespawn in some years. maybe not the best idea
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| kap - 1/19/2026 8:10 AM
if thats for northern Wisconsin i think that could be prespawn in some years. maybe not the best idea
Some years it would be before spawning is done. Musky spawn along the shore line in front of my house and time does vary, weather/water temp dependent. 7 or 8 years ago, we had a late spring/ice out and they were not there until mid May. If we have early ice out, see them in April. The area where I see them is shallow and gets morning sun. |
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Posts: 1630
Location: Brighton CO. | Well another older guy here, back in the 70's when I started fishing in Wisconsin there was a general opener first Saturday in May for everything and second week of may for the U.P. and the size limit was 30". Well most years someone fishing for Walleyes would catch a monster muskie and kill it. (I think in the early 80's a Walleye fishermen got a 45 pounder on opening weekend out of Round lake by Hayward on a minnow) That's when they started thinking about the later opening. We are not going to catch a Muskie while it's spawning they don't feed, However you can walk right up to a spawning Muskie and touch it with a stick! So someone can walk up on a spawning giant and whack it and go have it mounted and say you caught it on a rod and real. Minnesota has a first weekend in June and Ontario third weekend in June. If you want to protect your big fish have late opener. |
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| I would love to see an explanation of seasons from a qualified fisheries biologist. In particular, I would ask if 100 miles really makes that much of a difference. This would be based on how the season was divided between north and south. |
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Posts: 1152
| Being in the Wausau area, I primarily fish the Wisconsin River and often drive 30 miles down to Point to fish the river where it is open earlier in the spring. With the boundary being Hwy 10, the water temps are typically the same on either side of this arbitrary line. In that respect, I see it as a win. Also consider that Michigan's U.P. has opened the season earlier than the WI northern zone for years without any measurable impact on the fishery. For people arguing that fish will be snagged, I feel like anyone with that kind of intent would do it regardless of whether the season is open or not. I understand it creates the opportunity for additional fish to be harvested during this time but don't see that as having a big impact either. Between the new spring opener, live scope sniping, and native spearing, which is worse? |
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Posts: 689
Location: Duluth | MartinTD - 1/20/2026 9:55 AM
Being in the Wausau area, I primarily fish the Wisconsin River and often drive 30 miles down to Point to fish the river where it is open earlier in the spring. With the boundary being Hwy 10, the water temps are typically the same on either side of this arbitrary line. In that respect, I see it as a win. Also consider that Michigan's U.P. has opened the season earlier than the WI northern zone for years without any measurable impact on the fishery. For people arguing that fish will be snagged, I feel like anyone with that kind of intent would do it regardless of whether the season is open or not. I understand it creates the opportunity for additional fish to be harvested during this time but don't see that as having a big impact either. Between the new spring opener, live scope sniping, and native spearing, which is worse?
Speak for yourself on the impact of early open in the UP. It's hurt many of the rivers with natural reproduction, not because of locals but because out of towners drive up because it's open and whack a few vulnerable fish. It's legal, but dumb. This is not good news for the fishery. |
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Posts: 32953
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | North of 8 - 1/19/2026 2:23 PM
I would love to see an explanation of seasons from a qualified fisheries biologist. In particular, I would ask if 100 miles really makes that much of a difference. This would be based on how the season was divided between north and south.
If I remember correctly, it was management/stocking vs NR driving the original decision. |
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Posts: 360
Location: Vilas County, WI | For what it's worth, below are the WI DNR Spring Hearing results from 2022 and 2023, which was when this topic was proposed. Question 1 in 2022; then proposed again as question 10 in 2023:
"Do you favor implementing a standard season structure statewide (including boundary waters and the Great Lakes) for Muskellunge with opening day of the harvest season beginning the first Saturday in May and extending to December 31 in open water only?"
2022 Results (WI Residents Only)
10,415 Yes
3,165 No
7,009 No Opinion
2023 Results (WI Residents Only)
3,874 Yes
1,279 No
2,041 No Opinion
A couple noteworthy things here. 2022 had far more participants, but when you consider the ample number of sportsmen and women in the state, it's a small sample size.
The vast majority of the no responses (both years) came from the northern territory residents, the majority of those being Vilas and Oneida county respondents.
Lastly, after the 2023 results, the WCC published they would NOT be supporting this change. Here we are a few short years later, and it's happening any way. As a Vilas county resident, I definitely oppose this change.
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| The no response data, including where it came from, is interesting. I tend to oppose the change but don't feel I really have the knowledge to make in an informed decision.
(Oneida County resident) |
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Posts: 1152
| I would have much rather seen the DNR pass 3 lines trolling/person statewide than this early season for the northen zone.
Edited by MartinTD 1/21/2026 10:54 AM
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| I don't see the three line rule changing soon. I remember the pushback when they went to one line. I troll from time to time musky. I will be 75 when the season opens and while I work at staying in shape I can no longer cast all day on a regular basis. I did 5 hours straight all last summer on league night but beyond that, just get too tired. And still I have people make snide comments about my trolling. Doesn't bother me but that mind set is there in the north woods.
I personally would like to see three lines, it would make it easier to see what fish want, what depth, etc.
Edited by North of 8 1/21/2026 1:04 PM
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Posts: 8859
| Disclaimer: I don't often fish the lakes down near Minocqua, so it may be different there. I don't see many people fishing up North anymore even on nice weekends and holidays. Late fall/early season it's unusual to see another boat, and when I do, they're usually fishing for something else. I don't agree with targeting muskies during the spawn, but it doesn't seem like there are many folks fishing for them at all, especially before Memorial day. |
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Posts: 1344
Location: E. Tenn | esoxaddict - 1/21/2026 9:06 PM
Disclaimer: I don't often fish the lakes down near Minocqua, so it may be different there. I don't see many people fishing up North anymore even on nice weekends and holidays. Late fall/early season it's unusual to see another boat, and when I do, they're usually fishing for something else. I don't agree with targeting muskies during the spawn, but it doesn't seem like there are many folks fishing for them at all, especially before Memorial day.
Well, up until this upcoming season, you couldn't target them before Memorial Day weekend. I can only speak for myself, but I fish muskies hard (what used to be) the first couple weeks of the season, and from Labor Day through the end of September,
There is the occasional break to bag some perch and crappies, but not too many.. |
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Posts: 20271
Location: oswego, il | No8, huge difference between the snow belt to once you are out of it. All the lakes I fish up there are not stocked. Good to see some guides up there like LSC guides sticking to guiding post spawn fish.
He finally got one of his poops to stick to the wall. Anyone who's been here a long time knows what I mean. |
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| ToddM - 1/22/2026 8:13 AM
No8, huge difference between the snow belt to once you are out of it. All the lakes I fish up there are not stocked. Good to see some guides up there like LSC guides sticking to guiding post spawn fish.
He finally got one of his poops to stick to the wall. Anyone who's been here a long time knows what I mean.
Todd, I understand about stocking. I live on a chain that depends on natural reproduction. My question was really if there have been formal studies on the impact of fishing musky while they may be spawning. Pete Maina had an interesting post about the issue, suggesting the DNR should open some lakes, compare to lakes that don't have the early open. Personally, I have always like the Memorial Day weekend open. Fish for panfish, etc. in May and then the opener is like a kickoff for summer. |
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Posts: 1630
Location: Brighton CO. | I enjoy coming up north in early in the season before the crush of people and boats everywhere, twitching live minnows, throwing Mepps sized 2#-4# on a ultra light, jigs and twister tails, and Bass/Walleye sized Rapalas. And last fall we talked with the guide about early in the year casting Beetle Spins and catching everything from a Perch to a Muskie.
One thing the early opener does is give Wisconsin a shot at a world record because if you catch a very large fish and it's full of spawn then we have a shot with peak weight of the fish. |
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Posts: 20271
Location: oswego, il | North of 8 - 1/22/2026 8:26 AM
ToddM - 1/22/2026 8:13 AM
No8, huge difference between the snow belt to once you are out of it. All the lakes I fish up there are not stocked. Good to see some guides up there like LSC guides sticking to guiding post spawn fish.
He finally got one of his poops to stick to the wall. Anyone who's been here a long time knows what I mean.
Todd, I understand about stocking. I live on a chain that depends on natural reproduction. My question was really if there have been formal studies on the impact of fishing musky while they may be spawning. Pete Maina had an interesting post about the issue, suggesting the DNR should open some lakes, compare to lakes that don't have the early open. Personally, I have always like the Memorial Day weekend open. Fish for panfish, etc. in May and then the opener is like a kickoff for summer.
We may not have data on how it affects spawning but certainly catch data during the spawn from states that have year round musky fishing. I have had fish come right out of circling with each other to follow, not had one eat but one could assume it happens if one will peel off like that. |
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Posts: 1630
Location: Brighton CO. | Think in some places with no closed season the muskies spawn but there may be little or no recruitment so it has no effect on the fishery if we fish. (this does not include Northern Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ontario, ECT) |
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