Agency Contact Person: Scott Loomans, 101 South Webster St., PO BOX 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921. (608) 225-9440, scott.loomans@wisconsin.gov Section 1. NR 20.20 (73) (n) 2. and 3. are amended to read:
COUNTY AND SPECIES | WATERS | AUTHOR-IZED METHODS | OPEN SEASON (both dates inclusive) | DAILY BAG LIMIT | MINIMUM LENGTH OR OTHER RESTRICTIONS (SIZE) |
(n) Trout and salmon. | 2. Green Bay, major Green Bay tributaries, all other waters of Lake Michigan, Lake Michigan tributaries. | a. Hook and line | Continuous except the open season for lake trout is March 1 to October 31. | 5 in total but only 2 may be lake trout | 10 |
| 3. All other tributary streams, rivers and ditches to Green Bay upstream to the first dam or lake. | a. Hook and line | First Saturday in May to the first Sunday in March. | 5 in total but only 2 may be lake trout | 10 |
Section 2. Finding of emergency. The welfare of recreational angling businesses and recreational anglers is threatened by a decline in the alewife forage base in Lake Michigan. Chinook salmon feed primarily on alewife and the alewife population decline threatens the valuable chinook salmon fishery in the lake. Lake trout also consume alewives as part of their overall diet and are not currently as desirable by angling businesses (guides and charter boats) as chinook. This rule would allow increased fishing opportunities and harvest of lake trout, reducing the number of trout in the lake and decreasing the predation pressure on alewives. The department finds that the emergency rule process is necessary in order to implement lake trout bag limit and season changes for the 2018 fishing season and to ensure that the Lake Michigan fishery continues to be sustainable.
Section 3. Effective Date. This rule shall take effect upon publication in the Wisconsin state paper pursuant to s. 227.24 (1) (c). Section 4. Board adoption. This rule was approved and adopted by the State of Wisconsin Natural Resources Board on February 28, 2018.
Dated at Madison, Wisconsin _____________________________.
STATE OF WISCONSIN
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
By _____________________________
Daniel L. Meyer, Secretary
(SEAL)
