Catching up on the new fishing regulations
A creel full of new Wisconsin fishing regulations take effect Wednesday, the start of the 2020-21 license year.
The changes represent arguably the most significant set of single-year modifications to the state’s fishing rules in decades.
Chief among them is a statewide regulation that allows anglers to catchand-release largemouth and smallmouth bass any time of year.
The practical effect of the rule is to allow anglers to legally target bass when regular harvest seasons are not open, most notably mid-March to early May when Wisconsin has traditionally closed game fish seasons.
It will likely also increase the number of bass tournaments and bass club outings in spring.
As with most regulations, some waters have closed bass seasons or refuges; anglers should consult the county section of the DNR’s 2020-21 fishing pamphlet for exceptions.
Another substantial change will usher in a walleye daily bag limit of three fish on the Lake Winnebago system, including the Wolf River. The limit had been five.
As with the previous rule, there is no minimum size limit. The bag of three fish may include one sauger or one walleye/sauger hybrid.
Musky anglers in northern Wisconsin will also see a change this year. The closure of the musky fishing season in the northern zone has been extended to Dec. 31, same as the southern zone. It had previously ended Nov. 30. The regulation pertains to angling on open water (not ice fishing) only.
A lengthy list of modifications has also been made to regulations in the Mississippi River.
In the section of the river along the Wisconsin-Iowa border, beginning this year walleyes 20 to 27 inches in length must be released and only one longer than 27 inches may be kept. The minimum size limits for walleyes (15 inches) and saugers (no minimum) are unchanged.
In Pools 3 to 8 of the Mississippi between Wisconsin and Minnesota, the daily bag limit is now four walleyes and saugers total, with a 15-inch minimum size limit on walleyes (only one longer than 20 inches may be kept).
On Pools 9 through 12 the daily bag limit is six walleyes and saugers, with a 15-inch minimum limit for walleyes. Walleyes 20 to 27 inches must be released and only one longer than 27 inches may be kept. There is no minimum size limit for saugers.
Panfish anglers on the Mississippi will also want to take note. Beginning this year on Pools 3 to 9 the daily bag limit of bluegills, yellow perch, pumpkinseed sunfish and crappies is reduced to 15 each.
The rest of the Mississippi retains a 25 fish daily bag limit for each of the panfish species.
For the Wisconsin-Minnesota portion of the Mississippi below the Red Wing dam, the shovelnose sturgeon daily bag limit has been reduced to three; it had been 10.
Also on the Mississippi, northern pike, white bass and yellow bass daily bag limits have been reduced.
For full details, check the 2020-21 Wisconsin fishing regulations pamphlet . Copies of the booklet may be viewed or downloaded at dnr.wi.gov or picked up at license sales outlets.
County deer meetings
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the spring 2020 meetings of the state’s County Deer Advisory Councils will be held via teleconference.
Each county will hold a preliminary meeting and a final meeting. The CDACs are intended to help local stakeholders work with the DNR to guide deer management. All meetings are open to the public.
DNR biologists in each county have prepared video presentations of deer data for public review prior to the meetings.
The first round of meetings will be held from Monday to April 9. The video presentations, meeting dates, call numbers and pass codes are posted on dnr.wi.gov.
In southeastern Wisconsin, the Milwaukee and Ozaukee CDACs will hold their meetings at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Washington will hold its meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday and Waukesha will hold its meeting at 6 p.m. April 6.
River clean-up postponed
Due to the coronavirus pandemic and social distancing requirements, the 25th annual Milwaukee Riverkeeper Spring Cleanup has been postponed until later this year, the organization announced Friday.
The event, planned at 70 sites in the Milwaukee, Menomonee and Kinnickinnic river systems, was originally scheduled for April 18.
Last year 3,600 volunteers removed 85,000 pounds of trash from local waterways.
Milwaukee Riverkeeper asks that people find time in April to “help our waterways recover and, on your own (safely) pick up trash and litter when you’re out finding fresh air.”
The organization plans to announce a new date for the 2020 clean-up in the coming weeks.