Upper Mississippi fishing regulations on Pools 8 and 9
The confusing part of fishing Pools 8 and 9 is not the fish — it is that Wisconsin publishes two boundary-water chapters that do not match. This page is the comparison table. Place context stays on theMississippi River fishing guide; money and residency stay in the license finder.
Which rulebook covers the water under the boat?
NR 21 covers Wisconsin–Minnesota boundary waters (Pool 8 and upper Pool 9 in common use). NR 22 covers Wisconsin–Iowa boundary waters (Pool 9 south of the state line). Boundary waters themselves are defined by Wisconsin as the area between the railroad tracks that parallel both sides of the river:The boundary waters area is defined by the railroad tracks that parallel both sides of the river.
Where do NR 21 and NR 22 disagree?
| Topic | NR 21 (WI–MN) | NR 22 (WI–IA) |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye/sauger bag (Pool 8 group) | 4 aggregate | n/a on Pool 8 water |
| Walleye/sauger bag (Pool 9) | 6 aggregate + slot | 6 aggregate + slot |
| Catfish | 10; one over 30 in | No bag limit listed |
| Northern pike | 3; one over 30 in | 5; no size |
| Bluegill / sunfish | 15 combined | 25 combined |
Walleye detail for anglers who only care about eyes is expanded on thewalleye fishing page. Catfish anglers should read thecatfish page before assuming a ten-fish habit applies on Iowa-boundary water. Pool-specific narrative lives on the Pool 8 fishing guide and thePool 9 fishing guide.
Source documents: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin Administrative Code chapter NR 21, Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin Administrative Code chapter NR 22, Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters. Click through from the source list at the foot of this page — do not trust a paraphrase when you are filling a limit.
Where do license questions go instead?
Which state card to buy, the resident rule, and the four license-free weekend days (Both chapters carry the same waiver in identical wording. It does not extend to commercial fishing licenses, and it waives the license only, not the rules.) are handled by theMississippi River fishing license findertool. This regulations page intentionally omits fee tables so it cannot go stale on prices or cannibalise that tool’s keyword.
Questions anglers ask
Is this page Iowa or Minnesota law?
No. It summarises Wisconsin’s boundary-water chapters NR 21 and NR 22, which Wisconsin anglers and many visitors use on these pools. Iowa and Minnesota publish their own codes — follow the chapter that matches your location and residency.
Why is Pool 9 in both tables?
Because the Iowa–Minnesota state line runs through Pool 9. Upper Pool 9 is often fished under the Wisconsin–Minnesota chapter; water south of the line falls under the Wisconsin–Iowa chapter. The chapters do not agree on every species.
Where are license prices?
Not here. Prices and residency rules belong in the license finder so this page does not compete for that search intent or go stale on fee schedules.
Sources
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Fishing Wisconsin, Mississippi River
Reciprocity agreements let an angler fish the boundary waters on a valid license from either adjoining state, but residents must hold a resident license when fishing their own state’s boundary waters, and anglers must obey the rules of the state they are fishing in.
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin Administrative Code chapter NR 21, Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters
Read from NR 21.04, sport fishing seasons and limits, in the version inserted into the administrative code on 1 July 2026. Entries listed for "Pools 3 to 9" are shown here as they apply to Pools 8 and 9.
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin Administrative Code chapter NR 22, Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters
Read from NR 22.04, sport fishing seasons and limits, in the version inserted into the administrative code on 1 July 2026.