April 30, 2020 at 4:47 p.m.
2020 fishing opener should bring good results
2020 fishing opener should bring good results
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has asked that people stay close to home as the recreate and enjoy the outdoors. Luckily for those in the Northwoods, finding a lake close by on which to fish is not a problem. Some lakes do still have ice on them, but others have been open for some time or are just opening up this week.
According to Jeff Smith from J&J Sports in Lake Tomahawk, rivers and larger lakes across the Northwoods are open and should provide some very good fishing for opening weekend.
"We're looking for a large amount of local fishing traffic," he said. "The weather looks like it's going to be great for people to get out and enjoy the lakes."
Crappies, he said, were starting to move up on flowages such as the Rainbow. There is good flow in the rivers, and anglers have lately been having good luck with crappie and perch. He felt conditions would set up much better than last year for anglers. He did caution that many piers and docks may not be in place at some landings, so anglers should plan ahead for that and possibly bring boots to launch their boats.
Smith said guides have been rescheduling their early trips, as they have not been lumped into the "essential" category, at least at the time of this writing, in the face of the COIVD-19 pandemic. Most bait and tackle shops are taking steps to stay within the social distancing guidelines and anglers may find limits on the number of people that are allowed into any given business at any given time. One thing Smith said could alleviate backlogs at tackle shops would be if people would purchase their licenses online rather than at a local business.
"If they can get their license before Saturday, that would alleviate a lot of the delays people would experience otherwise," he said.
Clean Boats Clean Waters
One sight most Northwoods anglers have become used to, especially over the last few years, will be missing on opening weekend this year. The Clean Boats Clean Waters (CBCW) program has been suspended at least until June. While these volunteers and interns will not be manning area launch ramps, lake organizations and county conservation departments would like to remind people to be aware of invasive species and make every attempt not to transport them from one lake to another.
Anglers should inspect their boats, trailers and gear before entering a body of water and at the ramp before leaving the lake or river. Remove all vegetation as well as any muck or other debris that may be attached to boats and trailers. Completely drain bilges and live wells in an area where that water will either leach into the soil or run back into the lake. It is best to allow all gear to dry out for seven days before moving from one body of water to another. Also, bait should never be moved from one lake to another. Being aware of which lakes have which invasive species can also be helpful as different invasive species hitch a ride to a new home in a different way.
Boating Safety Month
May is also boating safety month. With the excitement of getting out on the water for the first time of the year, it can be easy to pass over some safety features. However, anglers should take the time to ensure they have all of the proper and required safety equipment aboard before heading out.
Some safety gear is actually required by the state. For instance, there must be one personal floatation device, (PFD), or life jacket, in the vessel for each person aboard. These PFDs must be in good repair and each person must be properly fitted for a PFD. This regulation also pertains to canoes, kayaks and paddleboards. PFDs must be readily accessible, although wearing a PFD is always the best option. All vessels 16 feet or more must also have a throwable PFD that is immediately accessible. Having a rope available that can be quickly tied to the throwable PFD can be invaluable in a rescue situation. Those on a personal watercraft must wear a coast guard approved Type I, II, III or V PFD.
Many vessels are also required to have a fire extinguisher on board. These must be labeled as Marine Type USCG (US Coast Guard) Approved.
Navigation lights should be checked to ensure they are in proper working order. They must be used between sunset and sunrise as well as at times of restricted visibility. Sound producing devices are a good idea, although not mandatory, when fishing in restricted visibility situations.
Visual distress signals, or flares, are only mandatory on federally controlled waters, but can be helpful in emergencies. An operator who observes a distress signal must stop and render aid if safe.
For those headed out early in the season, it is important to remember, likely other than opening weekend, there will be less boating traffic on lakes and rivers. This can make it more difficult to find help in an emergency situation. Also, colder water temperatures early in the year can make for a more dangerous situation should someone accidentally enter the water.
Having a fully charged cellphone is recommended, as is letting someone know where you will be going and when they can expect you to be back. It is important to remember, however, that many lakes in the Northwoods have limited cellphone access, so relying completely on a phone call for aid may not be realistic.
Boaters should check all of their equipment before heading out to make sure the boat starts and runs properly, lights are in good repair, safety equipment is still on board, and proof of registration is also somewhere it can be easily produced. Preparing before getting on the water can make for a much nicer, and safer, fishing experience.
Spring research delays
With the extension of the governor's Safer at Home order, DNR spring netting surveys will be delayed for one year. According to fisheries supervisor Mike Vogelsang, that will mean the 40-50 spring surveys planned, including the Minocqua Chain, will not take place this year. The DNR will basically have to "scrap" this year and resume surveys again next year, he said.
"GLIFWC will be in the same boat, it sounds like," he said. "They won't be doing any surveys either, so it looks like we're all just going to have to scratch this year."
He had no idea if that would mean another extension on the zero bag limit for walleyes on the Minocqua Chain and was unsure what bearing that would have on things going forward. With no information being gathered during the spring fyke netting survey period, it may delay some decisions on regulation changes for some lakes, or it may mean that there is simply not enough data available, extending some studies for another year.
For the Minocqua Chain specifically, Vogelsang said fall stocking would go on as planned, which is important to bring walleye populations back to where the department would feel better about having a sustainable fishery. For this year, as explained below, the zero bag limit will still apply to the chain. When the "no harvest regulation" will be lifted remains unclear, as is what the bag limit will be once walleye harvest is allowed again. Vogelsang said there has been some discussion among the stakeholder groups, but they would all sit down together and make sure they were making a solid recommendation when the time came. He stressed the goal is to have a sustainable fishery, and not set a regulation that would see the walleye populations in the chain crash again.
Regulation changes
One regulation of particular note is the extension of the zero bag limit for walleyes on the Minocqua Chain. This is part of a study originally meant to last five years. Walleyes will continue to be stocked, but the goal of three adult walleye per acre in Minocqua and Kawaguesaga and two adult walleye per acre in Lake Tomahawk has not yet been seen. Population numbers, however, seem to be tracking in the right direction.
Earlier this year fisheries Supervisor Mike Vogelsang approached the Natural Resources Board (NRB) asking that the zero bag limit be extended one more year.
The department felt that one more year of no harvest would allow the fishery to come closer to returning to its former state. The NRB approved that emergency rule for one more year, meaning there is still a zero bag limit on walleyes for the entire Minocqua Chain this fishing season.
Fishing regulations have also changed on the Manitowish Waters Chain. The new regulation is only one walleye from 15-20 inches may be kept, except that one walleye may be larger than 24 inches. The daily bag limit will be three fish for the entire chain. The regulation change is in response to a consistent decline in walleye populations over the last several years. It is hoped the rule will help to increase natural reproduction by protecting walleye from harvest until they have had at least one chance to spawn.
Other changes in regulations include a year-round catch-and-release season for bass. There has not been a change to the harvest season, however.
In the Northern Zone, which encompasses the Northwoods and is denoted by a line north of Highway 64, largemouth bass may be harvested from May 2 to March 7, and smallmouth bass may be harvested from June 20 to March 7.
There was a change made to musky season as well. The closing date for the season will be Dec. 31 on open water for the northern zone, which is north of Highway 10, including the Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters. On those boundary waters, the season will open June 1 and the minimum length for musky will be 50 inches.
Anglers should consult the Wisconsin fishing regulations handbook, which can be found on the DNR website, before heading out to ensure they are not in violation of any other rules or regulations.
There may have been changes to rules for particular bodies of water as far as bag or size limits
Beckie Gaskill may be reached via email at [email protected].
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