2012 Spring Questionnaire Available for Review

[Nick Kuhn]

There are a few interesting proposals this year, especially for fishing seasons, trolling, and panfish bag limits. You can find and review all the questions in the link below.

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/nrboard/congress/s...20FINAL40pg.pdf

[RiverFish]

Thanks for the link.

Sounds like results will be online:

The results of the 2012 Spring Hearings will be available online beginning Wednesday, April 11, 2012.

The results can be found at

dnr.wi.gov – search for “Spring Hearings”

[RiverFish]

I can not figure out why WI still has a no motor trolling rules in certain waters.

[Nick Kuhn]

Yeah, the no trolling gets me too. All the counties I fish allow trolling. Except my infrequent visits to Sawyer county. I was trolling for about 3 minutes on a lake last year before I caught myself and remembered it was the island of a county that doesn't allow it.

[DonBo]

You're right, that does seem like a silly law. Can't imagine ANY other state has that?

I like the idea of lowering panfish limits too. When the crappies are really biting, I've seen people take way more than they could possibly eat, day after day.

[mwal]

Here is why there is no trolling in Sawyer CTY and other areas. Back in the 20's 30' etc you came up to Hayward and hired somebody to row you around. OLe Evinrude then made small dependable portable outboards. Guess what buy a motor do not hire a guide etc. So the Resort /guide industry demanded that you couldn't use that motor to troll. If you wanted to troll you could hire the guides with the row trolling boats. AS the motors become more popular the guides also said motor trolling was an unfair advantage to those who did not use motors. Then it changed to motor trolling is unfair to the fish. Only in the heavily guided musky areas did the motor bans stick. I have not seen a row trolling guide boat since around 1970. And trolling has proven not to decimate the fish populations so the rule needs to go.

Mwal

[RiverFish]

Mwal,

Your right the WI DNR has stated that motor trolling has no ill affect on fish populations when compared to no motor trolling.

I think this law will be on its way out.

DonBo,

I too would also like to see the panfish limits reduced. MN has done it, I think we need to.

[vman59]

agreed on the panfish limits, I to like Donbo have seen people continually taking limits off lakes. I go out get what I want to eat then its catch and release after that.

the trolling law is so old its a relic and needs to go as well.

Also I would have to vote yes for

QUESTION 2. Modernizing license requirements for hunting guides.

this is just me be for the most part most guides are good law abiding people out to make a living or a little extra money. But as it is written I think it would protect them from the more unscrupulous members of the profession. As with anything there are always the few bad with the majority of good.

Here is a idea thats been thrown around before but what are your guys opinion on a slot for walleyes. I talked to a fish biologist who is in favor of it but Madison is vehemently opposed to it?

[DonBo]

Here is a idea thats been thrown around before but what are your guys opinion on a slot for walleyes. I talked to a fish biologist who is in favor of it but Madison is vehemently opposed to it?

I think the statewide 15" limit is already a good idea and at least in my opinion is working pretty well.

[RiverFish]

Donbo,

I could be wrong, but I don't think there is a state wide 15" limit on walleyes.

On the WI river there is a slot. All fish outside of 15-20" must be released with one trophy over 28".

There is a lot of mixed opinions on how it is working.

[Nick Kuhn]

Donbo,

I could be wrong, but I don't think there is a state wide 15" limit on walleyes.

On the WI river there is a slot. All fish outside of 15-20" must be released with one trophy over 28".

There is a lot of mixed opinions on how it is working.

The 15" minimum applies to most lakes in the Ceded Territory, and something like 70% of all Wisconsin's Lakes are located in the Ceded Territory.

[RiverFish]

Thanks Nick. I really don't pay a lot of attention to the rest of the state regulations since I fish almost 100 percent of my time on the WI river. I only live 2 miles from my main landing on the river.

Sounds like the WI walleye river is happening now. Good luck.

[vman59]

Nick you and Donbo are both right. There is a statewide 15' limit but as it says unless otherwise noted. For this you need to look at the "special county regulations". When you check it out many lakes have no size limit and some have very high size limits. As for the slot I myself would welcome it but thats my opinion. I myself would like to see a slot like 18-19 to 26-28. Just MY opinion.