I was going to run a trap line on the river banks but that all changed when I called a DRN warden. In Wisconsin the river or mud banks 6 feet belongs to the owner so if I wanna still trap there I have to ask for permission. In other States the rivers are open to the public and the reason I don't want to ask for permission is when a person fishes there he doesn't have to ask for permission only if you wanna trap there.

where on the WI?

lots of it's owner is Army corps of Engineers or WI DNR or state natural area south of Prairie Du Sac and some north of portage

Merrill.

I know my opinion is probably in the minority but I do understand the permissions to trap on lake and river shores. If I saved all my life and finally bought 5 acres of lake shore somewhere I wouldn't want everyone thinking they can trap my piece of heaven. Beaver traps on drowners on my beach with my dogs, I wouldn't want to be the guy who comes to check after an accident. It's private land and yes I get fishermen can fish all day and if they cast a hook into my dog they'll get the same reaction from me. Trapping is very different from fishing, it dosen't seem like a big deal to ask permission, yeah you might need to ask many people but if you scout preseason and locate sign ypu only need permission to set sign not every foot of the bank. Not sure why so many have an issue with this law. Under ice swing sets and snares don't need to be staked to the bottom so it can be done. Just use common sense when thinking about these trapping laws. Most are written cause some uneducated trapper did something foolish, most of our dumber regulations are written because someone said its not illegal so I'm going to do it and to heck with everyone else.