CR 26-041 Hearing Information

Notice of Hearing

_Hlk78190518 The Department of Natural Resources announces that it will hold a public hearing on a permanent rule to revise s. NR 20.35 to allow for alternate size and bag limits for walleye under specific conditions for the rehabilitation of walleye fisheries, at the time and place shown below.

Hearing Information

Date:   August 20, 2026

Time:   1:00 pm

Join: Walleye Rehab Rule Public Hearing

Meeting ID: 264 212 639 494 779

Passcode: 4rB2G25A

Dial in by phone

[phone],,478568083# United States, Madison

Find a local number

Phone conference ID: 478 568 083#  

Rule Information:

This rule will amend s. NR 20.35, Wis. Adm. Code, “alternate size and bag limits” to outline specific conditions that, if met, will allow the department to implement alternate size and bag limits for walleye on specific waters where a quick regulation change is needed to preserve or rehabilitate a walleye fishery in which natural reproduction is experiencing sudden decline to numbers insufficient to support a healthy walleye population. 

Section NR 20.35, Wis. Adm. Code, outlines the conditions and process by which the department may apply the alternative size limits, bag limits or both for fish species in order to provide for better use and management of the fishery resource of the water to which the proposed alternate limit would apply. The proposed rules are compatible with existing policies that aim to regulate fish harvest for conservation purposes. This rule will primarily affect recreational anglers, but the impacts will be relatively minor. 

Accessibility

For the hearing or visually impaired, non-English speakers, or those with other personal circumstances which might make communication at the meeting/hearing difficult, DNR will, to the maximum extent possible and with reasonable advance notice, provide aids including an interpreter, or a non-English, large-print, or recorded version of hearing documents. To access these resources, please contact the email address or phone number listed below as soon as possible.

Appearances at the Hearing and Submittal of Written Comments:

The public has the opportunity to testify at the hearing. Registration will take place at the hearing by completing a Hearing Appearance form, which is available here Hearing Appearance form (https://apps.dnr.wi.gov/doclink/forms/8300-014.pdf). Pre-registration is strongly encouraged if you plan to provide spoken comments during the hearing. To pre-register, please download and complete the fillable Hearing Appearance form (https://apps.dnr.wi.gov/doclink/forms/8300-014.pdf) and send it to [e-mail].

Comments on the proposed rule must be received on or before August 20, 2026. Written comments may be submitted by U.S. mail, E-mail, or through the internet and will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the public hearing.

Written comments and any questions on the proposed rules should be submitted to:  

Department of Natural Resources

Attn: Kari Lee-Zimmermann (FH/4)

P.O. Box 7921

101 S. Webster Street,

Madison, WI 53707-7921

The rule may be viewed at: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/news/input/ProposedPermanent.html

Comments may be emailed to: [e-mail]

The rule may be reviewed, and comments made at: http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/chr/hearings.

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis:

Economic impacts are expected to be minimal, if any. The regulation changes proposed in this rule will change the bag and/or size limit for walleye on specific waters when certain criteria are met. The rule is mainly applicable to individual anglers and imposes no compliance or reporting requirements for small business, nor are any design or operational standards contained in the rule.

Agency Small Business Regulatory Coordinator:

Phillip Bower

[e-mail]

608-266-1318