Small Mouth Bass Season Starts Up North

WAUSAU, Wis. (WXCO) – Northern zone opens June 21 after the southern zone has been fishing since May, here’s what anglers need to know.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds anglers that the 2025-2026 smallmouth bass fishing season will open in the Northern Bass Management Zone on June 21, 2025, and runs through March 1, 2026.

Anglers can catch and keep smallmouth bass in waters north of State Highway 77, to the east of State Highway 27, and north of State Highway 64. 

The Northern Bass Management Zone also includes:

• Inland waters north of State Highway 29 in Brown and Kewaunee counties
• Wisconsin – Michigan Boundary Waters
• Tributaries to Lake Michigan north of State Highway 29 in Door and Kewaunee counties
• Lake Superior, including the Kakagon River and Slough

Catch-and-release fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass will remain open statewide throughout the year.

The new Wisconsin Fishing Finder can help aid in finding your next fishing adventure. It’s a one-stop shop for fishing regulations, launch locations and access points, stocking information and more. 

All anglers are required to have a current Wisconsin fishing license. Licenses are available for purchase online through Go Wild or from an authorized license vendor.