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.
Analysis and Supporting Documents Used to Determine Effect on Small Business: These rules will apply primarily to individual anglers and are not significantly different from those in place during previous seasons. The proposed rule would not impose any reporting requirements on small businesses and no design or operational standards are proposed 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 Comment period: The deadline for written comments was April 10, 2017.
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, 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) Largemouth 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 |
Section 7. NR 20.20 (3) (a) 1. 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) |
(a). Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 1. Big Dummy lake, Little Dummy lake | a. Hook and line | First Saturday in May to the first Sunday in March | 3 5 in total but only 1 may be longer than 18 | None except the possession of fish from 14 to 18 is prohibited |
Section 8. NR 20.20 (4) (c) 2. 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). Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 2. Pigeon lake | a. Hook and line | First Saturday in May to Friday preceding third Saturday in June Third Saturday in June to the first Sunday in March | 0 for smallmouth bass, 3 5 for large-mouth bass 3 5 in total | None for largemouth bass only except the possession of largemouth bass from 14 to 18 is prohibited and only one may be longer than 18 None except the possession of fish from 14 to 18 is prohibited and only one may be longer than 18 |
Section 9. NR 20.20 (4) (c) 3. 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). Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 4. Atkins lake, Diamond lake, Lake Owen, Lower Eau Claire lake, Middle Eau Claire lake, Namekagon (including Jackson and Garden), Upper Eau Claire Lake | a. Hook and line | First Saturday in May to Friday preceding third Saturday in June Third Saturday in June to the first Sunday in March | 0 for smallmouth bass, 5 for large-mouth bass 5 in total of which only 1 may be a smallmouth bass | None for large-mouth bass and 18 inches for smallmouth bass |
Section 10. NR 20.20 (5) (c) 2. 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). Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 2. Lilly lake | a. Hook and line | First Saturday in May to the first Sunday in March | 3 5 in total | None except the possession of fish from 14 to 18 is prohibited and only 1 fish may be longer than 18 |
Section 11. NR 20.20 (9) (f) 1. is created to read:
