Section 44 establishes a slot size limit for bass on Deer, Wapogasset, and Bear Trap lakes in Polk County.
Section 45 establishes a 50 inch size limit for muskellunge on the Wisconsin river in Portage County.
Section 46 establishes that only 10 panfish of a single species are allowed in the bag limit of 25 on Soo lake (Lac Sault Dore), Grassy lake, and the Elk river between Jobes and Wiem dams in Price County.
Sections 47 to 49 reduce the walleye and sauger bag limit from 5 to 3 and increase the size limit to 18 inches county wide, increase the bag limit for northern pike from 2 to 5 and eliminate the minimum size limit on Browns lake, and eliminate special regulations for panfish on Eagle lake in Racine County.
Section 50 reduces the walleye and sauger bag limit from 5 to 3 and the size limit to 18 inches, and establishes a 10 fish bag limit for panfish on Lake Leota in Rock County.
Section 51 establishes a 50 inch size limit for muskellunge on the Holcombe flowage in Rusk County.
Sections 52 and 53 establish a slot size limit for bass on Devils lake and increase the muskellunge size limit to 50 inches on the Wisconsin river above WI & Southern railroad bridge in Sauk county
Sections 55 to 57 modify size and bag limits for fishing in Sawyer County. These Sections eliminate the size limit for largemouth bass and establishes an 18 inch size limit for smallmouth bass on Whitefish and Grindstone lakes. The size limit for muskellunge is increased to 50 inches on a stretch of the Chippewa river where it had not already been in effect, downstream from the Chippewa flowage (Winter dam) to the Arpin dam downstream to and including the Raddison flowage and all tributaries upstream to the first dam or lake, and on Whitefish lake in Sawyer County. Finally, Section 57 establishes a 5 fish bag limit and eliminates the minimum length requirement for trout on Beaver creek, Buckhorn creek and Buckhorn springs, Maple creek and Maple springs.
Sections 59 and 60 reduce the bag limit from 5 to 3 and increase the size limit to 18 inches for walleye and sauger in Sheboygan County.
Section 61 increases the daily bag limit for bass from 3 to 5 on Bass, Glen and Squaw lakes in St. Croix County.
Section 62 establishes year round fishing on the Black river in Trempealeau County
Sections 63 to 65 modify size and bag limits for fishing in Vilas County. For bass on Annabelle, Boulder, Razorback lakes a 1 fish bag limit and 18 inch size limit are established. On Nebish lake the slot size limit for bass if repealed and a maximum size limit of 14 inches is established. The size limit for muskellunge is increased from 45 to 50 inches on North and South Twin lakes. A walleye bag limit of 3 and size limit of 18 inches is established on Lac Vieux Desert.
Sections 66 and 67 modify size and bag limits for fishing in Walworth County. The bag limit for bass is increase from 3 to 5 on the Lauderdale lakes (Green, Middle and Mill). The bag limit for walleye and sauger is decreased from 5 to 3 and the size limit increased to 18 inches county wide. Finally, the size limit for muskellunge is increased from 45 to 50 inches on Lake Geneva.
Section 69 decreases the bag limit for walleye and sauger from 5 to 3 and increases the size limit to 18 inches on all waters in Washington County.
Section 70 modifies the size and bag limits for fishing in Waukesha County. The bag limit for bass is increased from 3 to 5 on Eagle Spring lake. The sunset of special regulations for northern pike on Big Muskego lake is extended so that the regulation expires in April, 2021 instead of 2018. Finally, the bag limit for walleye and sauger is decreased from 5 to 3 and the size limit increased to 18 inches county wide.
Section 71 increases the bag limit for bass from 3 to 5 on Brekke lake in Waupaca County.
Section 72 establishes a 50 inch size limit for muskellunge on the Wisconsin River in Wood County.
Sections 75 to 77 establish new size and bag limit options from which the department can select when establishing a bag or size limit in certain situations. The first option is for bodies of water where a special regulation is in effect. The department could use the process uncer current rules to replace the special regulation with a general county-wide regulation which is already in place for that county.
Another option would be available for a body of water where fish consumption advisories have been established. On those waters, a size limit could be established that allows consumption of fish of sizes which may be consumed under the recommendations of the advisory. The department could establish a bag limit of zero where the recommendation is that no fish should be consumed.
Federal Regulatory Analysis: States may manage the fish and wildlife resources located within their boundaries provided they do not conflict with regulations established in the Federal Register. None of these rule changes violate or conflict with the provisions established in the Federal Code of Regulations.
Comparison with rules in Adjacent States: Individual state or provincial agencies are responsible for managing fisheries within their state boundaries and each jurisdiction has their own decision making process. Wisconsin’s approach to fisheries management and our regulations are comparable to that of our surrounding states.
Summary of Factual Data and Analytical Methodologies: With this rule, the department will make changes to certain fish size limits, bag limits, seasons, and other regulations related to fishing in inland, outlying, and boundary waters. Fishing regulations are in place to help meet management goals and objectives for waters and their fish species, such as providing a trophy walleye fishery or a bass fishery that maximizes predation on smaller fishes. New regulations are proposed when management goals have changed or the department must address a critical need, such as a fish population decline.
The regulation proposals included in this rule are based on surveys and analyses conducted by fish biologists and input from local stakeholders and the Wisconsin Conservation Congress. All proposals are peer-reviewed for justification, enforceability, and completeness by department Bureaus of Fisheries Management, Law Enforcement, and Legal Services.
Based on the management goals for individual waters and species, the department strives to provide:
consumptive opportunities where anglers can fish for a meal from a self-sustained, slow-growing fish population;
quality and memorable opportunities where anglers can catch large fish and the density of adult fish in the populations are sustained or increased; and
trophy opportunities where anglers can catch large trophy-size fish and the survival of older and larger fish is increased. Most recreational fishing regulation changes are updated in Administrative Code every two years. Not making the proposed rule changes would result in less than optimal management of fish populations in the waterbodies and reduced fishing opportunities for resident and visiting anglers. However, existing regulations would remain in place to provide some level of continued protection of fish resources.
Anticipated Private Sector Costs and Economic Impact of Implementing the Rule: It is not expected that there will be any economic impact or change directly related to these rule changes (Governor’s Executive Order 50, level 3 economic impact analysis of minimal to no economic impact less than $50,000). The proposed rule will primarily affect recreational anglers. Regulations are already in place and this rule is intended to continue protection and enhancement of the State’s fish resources. One purpose of the rule is to help maintain the general economic impact of fishing throughout Wisconsin.
The department has prepared a preliminary economic impact analysis and will gather public comments in March, 2017 to determine if any individuals, businesses, local governments, or other entities expect to be adversely affected economically by the rule.
Effects on Small Business: The proposed rule would not impose any reporting requirements on small businesses nor would any design or operational standards be contained in the rule. The rule would not allow for the potential to establish a reduced fine for small businesses, nor would it establish “alternative enforcement mechanisms” for “minor violations” of administrative rules made by small businesses.
Agency Contact Person: Scott Loomans, 101 South Webster St., PO BOX 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921. (608) 267-2452, scott.loomans@wisconsin.gov Section 1. NR 20.06 (1) is amended to read:
NR 20.06 (1) Fish in inland waters by the method of trolling with more than 1 line per person, with more than 1 hook, bait, or lure per line, and with more than a total of 2 3 lines used for trolling per boat, except where specifically authorized in ss. NR 20.15 (4) or 20.20 or as provided in s. 29.193 (1m), Stats. Section 2. NR 20.06 (1) (Note) is repealed.
Section 3. NR 20.15 (4) is amended to read:
NR 20.15 (4) Fish by the method of trolling with up to 3 hooks, baits, or lures on all inland waters located in the following counties: Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waushara, Waukesha, Waupaca, Winnebago, and Wood. Section 4. NR 20.15 (4) (Note) is repealed.
Section 5. NR 20.20 (1) (b) 2. is created to read:
COUNTY AND SPECIES | WATERS | AUTHOR-IZED METHODS | OPEN SEASON (both dates inclusive) | DAILY BAG LIMIT | MINIMUM LENGTH OR OTHER RESTRICTIONS (inches) |
(b) Large-mouth and smallmouth bass. | 2. Mason lake, Parker lake | a. Hook and line | First Saturday in May to the first Sunday in March | 5 in total but only 1 may be longer than 18 | None except the possession of fish from 14 to 18 is prohibited |
Section 6. NR 20.20 (1) (c) is amended to read:
COUNTY AND SPECIES | WATERS | AUTHOR-IZED METHODS | OPEN SEASON (both dates inclusive) | DAILY BAG LIMIT | MINIMUM LENGTH OR OTHER RESTRICTIONS (inches) |
(c). Muskellunge | 1. Wisconsin river including sloughs, bayous and flowages upstream to the first dam or highway bridge upstream from the Castle Rock dam | a. Hook and line | First Saturday in May to December 31 | 1 | 45 50 |
