8. Comparison with Similar Rules in Adjacent States:
Individual state agencies are responsible for managing fisheries within their state boundaries and each jurisdiction has its own decision-making process. Wisconsin’s approach to fisheries management and regulations are comparable to that of surrounding states. Additionally, Wisconsin works with the natural resources agencies of neighboring states when proposing rules relating to fishing in shared boundary waters. The St. Louis River regulation changes described in this rule are consistent with the Minnesota side of the river.
9. Summary of Factual Data and Analytical Methodologies Used and How Any Related Findings Support the Regulatory Approach Chosen:
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 the diverse fish populations in waters of the state. 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 biological surveys and analyses conducted by fisheries biologists and input from local stakeholders and the Wisconsin Conservation Congress.
Department staff specialists in Fisheries Management, Law Enforcement, and Legal Services review all proposals for justification, enforceability, and completeness.
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.
This rule contains a notable multi-waterbody regulation that establishes a catch-and-release hook-and- line fishing season for lake sturgeon from the first Saturday in June through the first Sunday in March. Recently, the DNR conducted a hooking mortality study to determine if expanding angling opportunities would have negative biological effects on lake sturgeon populations. This study took place on multiple lake sturgeon fisheries throughout the state across a range of water temperatures. No lake sturgeon mortality was observed during the study. Additionally, the physiological impacts of angling on the test subjects were low. Most hooked sturgeon recovered immediately without impairment upon release. These results suggest that expanding the catch and release opportunities will have little, if any, negative impacts on lake sturgeon populations.
This rule also contains over 120 size and bag limit regulation changes to waters primarily of local interest. The majority of these proposals apply an alternate fisheries management toolbox regulation to specific waters of the state to create consistency in regulation types while maintaining diverse fishing opportunities across the state and responding to public desires for fishing regulation changes. A significant number of them relate to panfish regulations, because changes to panfish bag limits have been largely on hold pending the results of a recent 10-year panfish study of experimental regulations.
Most recreational fishing regulation changes are updated in the administrative code every two years. Forestalling the proposed rule changes would result in less-than-optimal management of fish populations in waters of the state 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.
11. 10. Analysis and Supporting Documents Used to Determine the Effect on Small Business or in Preparation of an Economic Impact Report: The department does not expect an economic impact or change directly related to implementing these rule changes (less than $50,000, minimal to no economic impact). The proposed rule will primarily affect recreational anglers, but will not impose any costs on anglers or fishing-related businesses. Fishing regulations are already in place for waters of the state, and this rule is intended to continue the protection and enhancement of the state’s fish resources by adjusting regulations on specific waters where there is a management need. One purpose of the rule is to help maintain the general, beneficial economic impact of fishing throughout Wisconsin. Updated fishing regulations will also help ensure the sustainability of fish populations for the continued benefit of anglers and the fishing economy into the future.
The department prepared an economic impact analysis and solicited public input to determine if any individuals, businesses, local governments, or other entities expect to be adversely affected economically by the rule. The department received no comments on the economic impacts of implementing or complying with this rule.
22. 11. Effect on Small Business (initial regulatory flexibility analysis): The proposed rule would not impose any reporting requirements on small businesses, nor are any design or operational standards 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.
44. 13. Place where comments are to be submitted and deadline for submission: Written comments may be submitted at the public hearing, by regular mail, or email to: Kari Lee-Zimmermann Department of Natural Resources, FH/4
P.O. Box 7921
101 S. Webster St. Madison, WI 53707
Comments may be submitted to the department contact person listed above or to DNRAdministrativeRulesComments@wisconsin.gov until the deadline given in the upcoming notice of public hearing. The notice of public hearing and deadline for submitting comments will be published in the Wisconsin Administrative Register and on the department’s website, at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/calendar. Comments may also be submitted through the Wisconsin Administrative Rules Website at https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/chr/active. (See PDF for image)
RULE TEXT
SECTION 1. NR 20.15 (4) is amended to read:
Fish by the method of trolling with up to 3 hooks, baits, or lures on all inland waters 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, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waupaca, Waushara, Waukesha, Winnebago, and Wood.
SECTION 2. NR 20.16 (1) (a) 1. is amended to read:
1. ‘Countywide.’ All streams in Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, St. Croix, Sauk, Sawyer, Sheboygan, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waushara and Wood counties.
SECTION 3. NR 20.20 (1) (a) 1. and (b) 2. are amended to read:
COUNTY AND SPECIES | WATERS | AUTHORIZED METHODS | OPEN SEASON (both dates inclusive) | DAILY BAG LIMIT | MINIMUM LENGTH OR OTHER SIZE RESTRICTIONS (INCHES) |
(1) ADAMS (for species or waters not listed, see sub. (73)) |
(a) Lake | 1. Wisconsin river | a. None | No open | — 0, catch | — |
sturgeon | from the dam in | | seasonFirst | and release | |
| Wisconsin Dells | | Saturday in | only | |
| upstream, including all | | June through | | |
| tributaries upstream to first dam or highway bridge | | Sunday in March | | |
(b) Largemouth and smallmouth bass | (See PDF for image)2. Mason lake, Amey pond, Parker lake, Camelot lake, Lake Sherwood, Lake Arrowhead, and all reservoirs on 14-mile creek | a. Hook and line | First Saturday in May to the first Sunday in March Monday following the first Sunday in March to Friday preceding the first Saturday in May | 5 in total 0 | None except the possession of fish from 14 to 18 is prohibited and only 1 may be longer than 18 None |
SECTION 4. NR 20.20 (1) (d) 4. is created to read:
COUNTY AND SPECIES | WATERS | AUTHORIZED METHODS | OPEN SEASON (both dates inclusive) | DAILY BAG LIMIT | MINIMUM LENGTH OR OTHER SIZE RESTRICTIONS (INCHES) |
(1) ADAMS (for species or waters not listed, see sub. (73)) |
(d) Northern | 4. Crooked lake | a. Hook and line | First Saturday | 2 | None except the |
pike | | | in May to the | | possession of fish |
| | | first Sunday | | from 25 to 35 is |
SECTION 5. NR 20.20 (1) (e) 1. and 2. are amended to read:
COUNTY AND SPECIES | WATERS | AUTHORIZED METHODS | OPEN SEASON (both dates inclusive) | DAILY BAG LIMIT | MINIMUM LENGTH OR OTHER SIZE RESTRICTIONS (INCHES) |
(1) ADAMS (for species or waters not listed, see sub. (73)) |
(e) Panfish | 1. Arrowhead lake, Camelot lake, Crooked lake, Peppermill lake, Lake Sherwood | a. Hook and line | Continuous | 25 in total but no more than 10 of a single species until March 1, 2026 when it becomes 25 in total | None |
| 2. Parker lake | a. Hook and line | Continuous | 1510 in total but no more than 5 of a single species until March 1, 2026 when it becomes 25 in total may be bluegill | None |
SECTION 6. NR 20.20 (1) (e) 3. is repealed.
SECTION 7. NR 20.20 (1) (f) 1. and 2. are amended to read:
COUNTY AND SPECIES | WATERS | AUTHORIZED METHODS | OPEN SEASON (both dates inclusive) | DAILY BAG LIMIT | MINIMUM LENGTH OR OTHER SIZE |
(1) ADAMS (for species or waters not listed, see sub. (73)) |
(f) Trout and salmon | 1. Fairbanks creek | a. Hook and line | First Saturday in May April at 5:00 a.m. to October 15 | 2 in total | 12 |
| 2. Fordham creek | a. Hook and line | First Saturday in May April at 5:00 a.m. to October 15 | 3 in total | 12 for brown trout and rainbow trout, 8 for brook trout |
SECTION 8. NR 20.20 (1) (f) 3. is repealed.
SECTION 9. NR 20.20 (1) (f) 4. and 5. are amended to read:
COUNTY AND SPECIES | WATERS | AUTHORIZED METHODS | OPEN SEASON (both dates inclusive) | DAILY BAG LIMIT | MINIMUM LENGTH OR OTHER SIZE RESTRICTIONS (INCHES) |
(1) ADAMS (for species or waters not listed, see sub. (73)) |
| 4. Neenah creek | a. Hook and line, only artificial lures may be used | First Saturday in May April at 5:00 a.m. to October 15 | 2 in total | 12 |
| 5. All waters not listed | a. Hook and line | Streams and connected springs and spring ponds: first Saturday in May April at 5:00 a.m. to October | 35 in total | 8None |
(See PDF for image)
SECTION 10. NR 20.20 (2) (b) 1. is amended to read:
COUNTY AND SPECIES | WATERS | AUTHORIZED METHODS | OPEN SEASON (both dates inclusive) | DAILY BAG LIMIT | MINIMUM LENGTH OR OTHER SIZE RESTRICTIONS (INCHES) |
(2) ASHLAND (for species or waters not listed, including Lake Superior, see sub. (73)) |
(b) Lake sturgeon | 1. Butternut lake, East Fork Chippewa river including sloughs, bayous and flowages flowing into the East Fork Chippewa river upstream to the first highway or railroad bridge, including Pelican lake, and North Fork Flambeau river including sloughs, bayous and flowages upstream to the first highway or railroad bridge | a. Hook and line | First Saturday in June to the Friday before the first Saturday in September First Saturday in September to September 30 October 1 to the first Sunday in March | 0, catch and release only 1 per season None, catch and release only | ꟷ 60 ꟷ |
SECTION 11. NR 20.20 (2) (b) 2. is created to read:
