Local Regulations

This page contains information on Fishing, Boating, Recycling, Fireworks, Burning Permits, Shoreline Protection and Water Testing.

Fishing Licenses & Bag Limits

Licenses are generally required for fishing on Anvil Lake. They can be obtained from most local sporting goods stores. The following information and fee schedule is from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website.

Wisconsin residents who are 16 years old or older need a fishing license to fish in any waters of the state. A driver's license or social security number is required to purchase a license. Residents need a fishing license to take rough fish by hand, hook and line or to spear fish where allowed. Residents do not need a fishing license to take smelt, rough fish, or minnows with nets, traps, and seines of legal size. (See the Guide to Wisconsin Spearing, Netting, and Bait Harvest Regulations, 2014-2015 for additional regulations).

Nonresidents who are 16 years old or older need a nonresident fishing license to fish in Wisconsin waters with hook and line. Nonresidents need a fishing license to take rough fish by hand, hook and line, or to spear fish where allowed. Nonresidents of any age need a fishing license to take smelt, spear fish, or to take rough fish and minnows using nets, traps, and seines of legal size. Nonresidents may not sell minnows or smelt. (Obtain the Guide to Wisconsin Spearing, Netting, and Bait Harvest Regulations, 2014-2015 for additional regulations).

Fishing licenses are sold at DNR Service Centers, License Sales Agents, or for an additional fee, over the phone at 1-877-WILICEN (1-877-945-4236) or online at www.dnr.wi.gov.

Groups of disabled persons on fishing excursions conducted by nonprofit organizations may not need fishing licenses. Well in advance of your event, contact the WDNR Bureau of Customer Service and Licensing, 1-888-936-7463 or 608-266-2621 for more information. All 2014 annual licenses are valid from date of purchase through March 31, 2015

Resident individual (annual) fishing license: $20.00

Resident first-time buyer license — A reduced-price license for residents who have not purchased a license before or last purchased a license 10 or more years ago: $5

Resident combination (husband and wife) license— Issued to a legally married husband and wife who meet residency requirements.$31.00

Resident sports license— This license allows for fishing and hunting of small game and gun deer. (Nonresident fee $275) $60.00

Resident junior sports license-10 to 17 years (Nonresident fee $36.00) $35.00

Resident reduced-rate fishing license — Required of anglers 16 and 17 years of age and anglers 65 years of age and older. Residents born before 1927 do not need a fishing license. Simply carry proof of age when fishing. Nonresident senior citizens must purchase a regular nonresident license.$7.00

Resident conservation patron license—This license serves as a substitute for separate licenses and stamp privileges for annual fishing, inland trout fishing, Great Lakes trout and salmon fishing, hook and line lake sturgeon harvest, hunting small game, turkey, pheasant, deer, waterfowl, archer hunting, and trapping (trapping for residents and qualified nonresidents only). You also receive an admission sticker for state parks, state forests and state trails, and a one-year subscription to Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine. (Nonresident fee $600) $165.00

Resident junior conservation patron license - 10–17 years (Nonresident fee $77.00) $75.00

Resident annual fishing licenses for the disabled— Anglers must annually provide one of the following as proof: Social Security Disability Award Notice for the current year, Letter from Social Security Administration advising the customer is currently (within the past year) receiving disability benefits, Letter or Notice of Railroad Retirement Disability, or signed state- ment from a licensed physician or optometrist indicating that the customer’s sight is impaired to the degree that he/she cannot read ordinary newspaper print with or without corrective glasses. Discount applies to resident fishing license only. Disabled nonresidents need to buy a regular nonresident license. $7.00

Resident annual disabled veteran’s fishing license—Veterans must provide one of the following as proof: Veteran’s Disability Award Letter showing benefits are being paid for a disability of 70% or more, or Letter from Veterans Administration that indicates customer is receiving benefits for a service-related disability of 70% or more. Nonresident disabled veterans must purchase a regular nonresident license. $3.00

Free annual resident armed forces fishing license for members of the U.S. armed forces who exhibit proof that they are in active service with the armed forces and that they are a resident on furlough or leave (includes the inland trout and Great Lakes salmon stamps) NC

Nonresident individual (annual) fishing license $50.00

Nonresident first-time buyer license — A reduced-price license for nonresi- dents who have not purchased a license before or last purchased a license 10 or more years ago. $25.75

Walleye: Daily bag limit: 2 per person. Only one walleye less than 14” and one over 18” may be kept.

Largemouth bass season: May 3 to March 1 - Largemouth bass must be at least 14"

Smallmouth bass season: May 3 to June 20—Catch and release only: June 21 to March 1. Smallmouth bass must be at least 14". Daily bag limits: During the harvest season for each species, you are allowed a daily bag limit of five bass in total.

Northern pike season & limits: May 3 to March 1; Five northern pike of any length may be kept.

Panfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, white and black crappie) 25 in total

Rock bass, white and yellow bass, bullheads, and rough fish: No limit

Free Fishing Weekends— June 7-8, 2014 and January 17-18, 2015 Every year, the first consecutive Saturday and Sunday in June and the third Saturday and Sunday in January, are designated as Free Fishing Weekends throughout the state of Wisconsin. Residents and nonresidents of all ages can fish without a fishing license (and trout stamps) over these two days. However, all other fishing regulations (length limits, bag limits, etc.) apply.

Boating Information

Registration is required for use of any motorized boat used in Wisconsin. All non-motorized sailboats 12’ and greater must also be registered. Voluntary registration of non-motorized canoes or boats is also available. Any boat from another state or country must be registered in Wisconsin if it is used in this state for more than 60 consecutive days.

A wearable personal flotation device (life jacket) of the correct size for the intended wearer must be available for each person in a boat. Additional boating information is contained in Wisconsin Boating Regulations available from any WDNR office, the website, dnr.wi.gov, or by calling (608) 266-2141. Information on boat registration can be obtained from the website or by calling 1-888-936-7463 or 608-266-2621.

Recycling

Mandatory recyclables must be separated into the following categories:

1. Food and Beverage container glass only! Container glass must be rinsed out and have caps and/or lids removed. All clear and colored glass may now be co-mingled.

2) Newspaper, Office Paper and Magazines may be commingled. Newspaper, office paper, junk mail, envelopes, (except brown and goldenrod), all computer/typing paper, adding machine tape, account ledgers, loose leaf paper, time cards, posters, carbonless forms, fax paper and magazines must be dry and bagged or boxed in cardboard to be accepted. Please Do NOT include grayboard with papers.

3. Corrugated Cardboard and Grayboard. Cardboard and greyboard must be clean, dry and flattened. Grayboard includes: beer or soda cases, cereal boxes, toilet and paper towel rolls, misc. food boxes, tissue boxes, etc.

4. #1 & #2 Plastic Containers only! Container plastics must be rinsed out and have caps and/or lids removed. They may now be commingled. You can now put your milk jugs, laundry soap, dish soap, shampoo, clear and green soda, alcohol, peanut butter, water, orange juice, windshield wash, and all of the other plastic containers that you've been recycling, into a single bag or box. No motor oil bottles or bleach bottles

5. Aluminum Cans. Beer and soda cans only! Rinsed and bagged.

6. Tin Cans, Metal Caps and Lids. Cans must have tops removed, and if possible, remove the bottoms. Rinsed and bagged.

7. Small Metals (No appliances) Aluminum pots, pans and other small metals need to be under 50 lbs. per piece and no larger than 3'x3'. Metals with plastic, rubber, wood, paper or other foreign material attached will not be accepted.

NO ON-SITE SEPARATION CAN BE ALLOWED!

Bagged garbage and separated recyclables can be taken to the Town of Washington Transfer Station located at 1850 Rangeline Road. The Transfer Station is now open 8 AM to noon Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Summer hours will resume May 1st. A permit is required to use the Transfer Station. For questions, contact the Town of Washington Treasurer, Lanae Slizewski, at 715-479-5439.

Fireworks

Fireworks may be exploded with a permit that can be obtained from Town of Washington Chairman James Spring. Address: 4377 Chain O’Lakes Rd; Eagle River, WI 54521. Telephone at: 715-891-1095

Burning Permits

The simple steps to being a responsible debris burner:

1. Obtain the annual burning permit online or by calling 1-888-WIS-BURN (947-2876) to have a permit mailed or instantly emailed. Permits are also available at a local Ranger Station or from local the Fire Warden at Nobbe's North Store on Highway 70.
2. On the day of the burn, check on the internet or over the phone after 11:00 a.m. for the daily fire restrictions in the county where you wish to burn: dnr.wi.gov/wisburn. or call: 1-888-WIS-BURN (947-2876) and enter the county code listed on your burning permit.
   1. Campfires may be burned without a permit. Please use common sense.

Shoreline Protection

Each property owner may remove vegetation by hand from up to 30 feet of shoreline below the Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM). Removing vegetation using a mower, or by any means from more than 30 feet of shoreline below the OHWM requires a permit from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. For complete Vilas County Shoreline regulations, you may click http://www.co.vilas.wi.us/dept/Zoning%20Forms/shorelandzoningordinance.pdf

Water Testing

The Vilas County Well Testing Testing Laboratory will test the quality of your well water for a nominal fee of $15. To arrange for testing, call the lab at 715-479-3656.