Fishing_Content Page_Great Lakes Fishing Guide Information

Great Lakes Fishing Guide Information

As part of the effort to manage fisheries sustainably in the Great Lakes, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has broad authority under established rules (NR 20.65) to require guide reporting in the Great Lakes. In June 2021, the Natural Resources Board, Governor and Legislators passed a rule that clarifies who is a guide, when they have to report and ways to report to the DNR.

 

No person may engage or be employed for any compensation or reward to guide, direct, or assist any other person in hunting, fishing or trapping unless the person is issued a guide license by the DNR subject to s.29.512, Wis. Stats.

 

  • A guide license is required to be a guide for fish species other than trout and salmon on outlying waters (bass, walleye, etc.). The U.S. Coast Guard license is still required to guide passengers from a vessel on these waters.
  • A guide license is also required for trout and salmon guiding on the Great Lakes by means other than "trolling" (e.g., casting, drift fishing, jigging, tip-ups, etc.) and guiding customers for trout or salmon on the tributary streams to the Great Lakes regardless of the method used.
  • "Fishing guide" does not include a person who rents boats, fishing shelters, fishing gear or related equipment to an angler for the angler's independent use, provided that the person does not offer any additional services to guide, direct or assist the angler in attempting to catch fish.


Starting in January 2022, all guides who take clients on trips to Lake Superior, Lake Michigan and Green Bay, including their tributary streams/rivers up to the first fish impasse, may be required to report electronically. The DNR does not require guides on the Great Lakes to report fishing activities for all locations as guided.

Reporting will only be required for specific locations based on current management needs and may change from season to season.

2025 And Onward Reporting Locations

Green Bay – All species - All waters - including tributaries up to the first barrier impassable to fish.

Lake Superior – All Species – All Waters – including tributaries up to the first lake or barrier impassable to fish.

These reporting locations are in effect for the above-named fishing year and subsequent fishing years unless updated on or before December 1 of the preceding fishing year.

Reporting

For guides fishing in areas where reporting is required, you must electronically report all trips for all species, including unsuccessful trips where no fish were caught or harvested in Survey123 (NR 20.65).

Reports for guide trips must be recorded and submitted within 24 hours of the end of the trip.

Detailed instructions for filling out the guide survey using Survey123 can be found in the Fishing Guide Reporting Instruction Manual.

Reporting Options

Great Lakes fishing guides have options for reporting their trips. In all of the below cases, guides will use the Survey123 application to record the information (NR 20.65).

 

  1. Reporting as an individual. If you are guiding a trip as the sole guide, complete the electronic survey within 24 hours from the end of the trip.
  2. Reporting as a group. If you are guiding a trip with a group of guides, you can designate one of the guides to report the full trip information. The other guides, who are not the designated reporter, still have to fill out the first part of the form to associate themselves as part of the group, and the designated reporter will report all of the harvest and trip details for the group. All guides in the group must complete the electronic survey within 24 hours from the end of the trip.
  3. Reporting as a company. If you own a business that hires guides to take clients on fishing trips, you can obtain a guide license and report on behalf of your staff. Please complete and submit the Great Lakes Fishing Guide Application for Employer to Accept Responsibility for Required Reporting (Form 3600-548). 
    • Note: Once approved, you will be required to register on behalf of your employees for the entire calendar year. You may not switch back and forth once this reporting agreement is in place. As in individual and group reporting, all reports need to be completed using the electronic survey within 24 hours of the trip's end.

 

On occasions that a licensee is unable to access electronic reporting:

 

  • You must record your trip information on the printable Great Lakes Guide Report (Form 9400-610) within 24 hours of the completion of the fishing trip.
  • Once the licensee regains access to electronic reporting, the licensee shall retroactively enter the reports into the electronic Survey123 system within 48 hours of completing the guided trip. Please note on the retroactively entered trip that you cannot access the electronic reporting system for the retroactively entered trip.
  • The DNR will not accept any paper reports.
  • The licensee should retain any paper reports containing trip information for 5 years from when the trip was recorded.

Electronic Reporting Setup

To set up electronic reporting, please follow the instructions below.

Mobile Device

Survey123
  1. Download and install the ESRI Survey123 Field App to your device using the links below.
  2. Click on the URL: https://arcg.is/0aPnq1
  3. Choose: "Open the app in the Survey123 field app"
  4. Click "Continue without signing in"
  5. Once the survey is installed, go to the "X" at the top left of the screen, then select "Close survey and lose changes." The Survey123 app and the Great Lakes Fishing Guide Report are now loaded onto your phone and ready for you to record your observations.
  6. At the end of your next fishing trip, open Survey123: 
    • Click "Continue without signing in"
    • Click "Great Lakes Fishing Guide Report" to record your trip. 
    • Go to Step 7

Computer

  1. Download and install the ESRI Survey123 Field App to your PC using the below links.
  2. Click on the URL: https://arcg.is/0aPnq1
  3. Choose: "Open the app in the Survey123 field app"
  4. Click "Continue without signing in"
  5. Once the survey is installed, go to the "X" at the top left of the screen, then select "Close survey and lose changes." The Survey123 app and the Great Lakes Fishing Guide Report are now loaded onto your phone and ready for you to record your observations.
  6. At the end of your next fishing trip, open Survey123:
    • Click "Continue without signing in"
    • Click "Great Lakes Fishing Guide Report" to record your trip.
    • Go to Step 7

Both Mobile Devices and Computer

    7. Complete and submit the form for each fishing trip within 24 hours of its conclusion.
    8. If the electronic form is unavailable, download and print the Great Lakes Fishing Guide Report form and record your daily information. Once the system is back online, or you have connectivity, enter the information from the form into the electronic application. No paper copies will be accepted for your fishing trips.

Licensing

The DNR issues a guide license that allows the licensee to be compensated to guide, direct or assist any other person fishing on the Great Lakes and tributaries by any means other than sport trolling for salmon and trout. For returning guides who qualify, a Great Lakes fishing guide license can be purchased through the Go Wild.

All guide licenses are valid for the calendar year from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31.

License renewal notices for existing license holders will be emailed to current license holders with valid email addresses in their Go Wild customer account in early December for the upcoming license year.

You can update your Go Wild customer account by logging into Go Wild and using the "View/Edit Profile link" in the upper left-hand corner under your DNR ID. Then use the "Edit" button on the right side to update your information.

New Fishing Guides

New fishing guides, who have not previously held a guide license, can apply using the Guide License Application (Form 9400-019) located on the "Guides" tab on the DNR's Professional and Occupation Licenses webpage.

Learn more about becoming a licensed guide in Wisconsin.

More information on licensing fees can be found in s.29.563(5) Wis. Stats.

Contact Information

Miranda Westphal
Phone: 920-493-7593
Email: Miranda.Westphal@wisconsin.gov

Department of Natural Resources
101 S. Neenah Ave
Sturgeon Bay, WI 541235