Fishing Tournaments

Instructions for applying on-line for your fishing tournament!

Want to Find a Tournament? or Schedule a Tournament?

1. View a calendar with all scheduled Wisconsin tournaments and
2. Submit your application for a tournament permit [exit DNR]

Participates at the Midwest Fishing Tournament in Green Bay

New Fishing Tournament Rule Effective May 1, 2009

On February 13th 2009, the legislature passed new a fishing tournament rule [PDF 137KB] which is effective May 1, 2009. This rule is intended to allow tournament fishing to continue to exist and expand in Wisconsin while at the same time addressing concerns such as crowding, aquatic invasive species, and indirect mortality. With the new rule, Wisconsin, like neighboring Minnesota [exit DNR], will limit the size and number of tournaments on some lakes and rivers and establish an application fee. Tournament permits issued before May 1, 2009 will be "grandfathered" in so that they will be valid even if the tournament takes place after the new rule is in effect.

Applications received after May 1, 2009 must be accompanied by an application fee (see chart below) and will be approved on a first-come first-served basis if space is still available. Beginning in 2010, we will accept applications for the following year during an open period (April 1 through June 30), after which a lottery will be run if any limits have been reached.

Largemouth and smallmouth bass caught during a tournament.

Tournament Research and Additional Articles

• Bass Fishing Tournament Pilot Program
• Contemplating competition: Do fishing tournaments fit on Wisconsin's waters?

Contacts

For more information about fishing tournaments please contact:
Fish Biologist for the County where you want to have your tournament
or
if you have questions on tournament rule, please contact:

Joanna Griffin, Statewide Fisheries Database Manager,
(608) 264-8953
or
Andrew Fayram, Fisheries Policy Analyst,
(608) 266-5250