National Resources Board approves fisheries rule package

During its June meeting, the state’s Natural Resources Board (NRB) approved rule packages the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) brought forth following the DNR and Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) spring hearings. One of the rule packages that received considerable support thought the spring hearings process was the change in bag limit for walleye and sauger from five per day to three per day on all inland waters.

Meredith Penthorn presented the fisheries rule package for approval. Wisconsin State Statute gives the DNR “broad authority to promulgate rules which establish conditions governing the taking of fish, such as open and closed seasons, bag limits, size limits, and rest days,” according to the NRB green sheet in the board members’ packets.

 In odd numbered years, such as 2023, the department poses various rule changes at the spring hearings that may affect inland, outlying or boundary waters fisheries. Some of these rules originate with citizens drafting a resolution and bringing it forward within their county for approval. Once a resolution receives support in its county of origin, it moves to the next step of seeking approval from all counties at the following year’s spring hearings. Another way a rule change can make it to the spring hearings questionnaire is through the Conservation Congress itself. Advisory questions come from various committees who work in the areas of fish and wildlife. 

Why the rule was being proposed

According to the background information provided, fishing regulations and changes to regulations are implemented in order to help meet management goals and objectives on the waters of the state. Those objectives may include things such as providing a trophy walleye or bass fishery that maximizes harvest of smaller fish. New regulations are proposed for specific water bodies when population levels, or management goals, change for a given lake.

Based on surveys and analysis conducted by fisheries biologists within the department, the regulations within the rule are proposed. Input from local stakeholders as well as the WCC were also used in the creation of the rule package Penthorn brought to the board. The rule, the packet material stated, was also reviewed for justification, enforceability and completeness by the department bureaus of fisheries management, law enforcement and legal services. 

Summary of the fisheries rule

The proposal in front of the board updated fishing regulations in response to those management goals and recommendations of the fisheries biologists as well as public input. The rule package included three regulation changes of statewide significance and 40 regulation changes on specific bodies of water that would have only local interest. 

Musky season regulation

The one change that did not make it to the final rule package was the standardization of the muskellunge season so that it would be open on all waters, including those in the north, from the first Saturday in May to December 31 each year. The Conservation Congress recommended that portion not  advance to the final proposal. Given that recommendation, the department dropped that provision from the final rule package.

The rule as approved

The proposed rule, which the board approved to send on, would reduce the daily bag limit for walleye and sauger to three fish per day, from the previous five fish limit, on all standard inland waters. This would simplify walleye daily bag limits from the northern to the southern parts of the state.

Another rule change request that was approved to move forward was that of self-registration of fishing tournaments. Some smaller tournaments do not require a permit and thus have largely gone untracked by the state. The addition of this mandatory self-registration would provide data on the frequency, locations and participation in those smaller tournaments. There would be no fee attached to these tournaments, however, as there are with larger tournaments.

Other portions of the proposed rule included changes to game fish size and bag limits on the St. Croix River. There were also provisions to change game fish size and bag limits on various individual bodies of water throughout the state. One of those questions that passed through the spring hearings to the proposed rule package was whether there was support to increase the size limit on musky to 50 inches on several lakes including Plum Lake in Vilas County and the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage and connected waters in Iron and Vilas counties. 

This rule package will be sent on to the DNR secretary for approval.