SECTION 17 corrects part of the legal descriptions for the Sturgeon Bay ship canal fish refuge and the Thornapple River fish refuge.
SECTION 18 restores a longstanding fish refuge on the Bark River in Waukesha County to administrative code that was inadvertently omitted from administrative code during a rewrite of ch. NR 26. 6. Summary of, and Comparison with, Existing or Proposed Federal Statutes and Regulations:
No federal regulations apply. States possess inherent authority to manage the fishery and wildlife resources within their boundaries, except insofar as preempted by federal treaties and laws, including regulations established in the Federal Register.
7. If Held, Summary of Comments Received During Preliminary Comment Period
and at Public Hearing on the Statement of Scope:
The department was not directed to hold a preliminary public hearing on this rule.
8. Comparison with Similar Rules in Adjacent States:
Fisheries management rules are generally similar in the states surrounding Wisconsin. Each bordering state regulates fishing by the use of seasons, bag limits and size limits. Specific seasons and bag and size limits may differ for species among the surrounding states, but the general principles are the same. Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois all have statewide seasons and bag and size limits for fish species, along with special or experimental regulations on individual waters.
9. Summary of Factual Data and Analytical Methodologies Used and How Any Related Findings Support the Regulatory Approach Chosen:
Fishing regulations, such as length and bag limits or season dates, are used as a tool to ensure that good fishing exists into the future. The department has used different types of fishing regulations in order to: control angler impacts on fish populations; maintain numbers and sizes of fish in a lake or stream; provide different types of fishing experiences, such as fishing for dinner or for a trophy fish; and make access to fishing as fair as possible.
This rule includes minor changes to administrative code that support existing policies and fisheries management goals. The items in this rule have been compiled by fisheries staff across the state as well as department law enforcement professionals.
10. Analysis and Supporting Documents Used to Determine the Effect on Small Business or in Preparation of an Economic Impact Report:
The proposed rule will have minimal impact on sport anglers and is not expected to have an economic impact. As with any change in regulations, there will be a requirement for anglers to learn the new rules. However, a majority of this rule change clarifies code to reflect existing policies for which anglers must already comply. The department works to notify the public of new regulations via press releases, the internet, and fishing regulations pamphlets.
The department will conduct an economic impact analysis and comment period to determine if any individuals, businesses, local governments, or other entities will be affected economically.
11. Effect on Small Business (initial regulatory flexibility analysis):
The department expects no economic impact directly related to these rule changes. The proposed rule does not impose any compliance or reporting requirements on small businesses nor are any design or operational standards contained in the rule.
13. Place where comments are to be submitted and deadline for submission:
Written comments may be submitted at the public hearings, by regular mail, or email to:
Meredith Penthorn
Department of Natural Resources, FH/4
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707
RULE TEXT
Section 1 NR 20.03 (15) is amended to read:
NR 20.03 (15) “Green Bay” means those waters of Lake Michigan located to the west of the Green Bay−Lake Michigan line. For the purposes of s. NR 20.20, Green Bay shall mean Green Bay, Sturgeon Bay, Sawyer’s Harbor, the Sturgeon Bay ship canal from Sturgeon Bay to a line located in the NE¼ of the NW¼, section 22, T27N, R26E, Door county, commencing at a point on the southwest shore of the Sturgeon Bay ship canal directly beneath the center of the Wisconsin public service company power line and extending in a northeasterly direction beneath and parallel to the center of the power line to a point on the northeast shore of the ship canal and the Fox river from its mouth at the east shore of the Fox river where the metal walkway extends out from shore at 44° 32' 18.5274"N, 88° 0' 11.628"W and the west shore of the Fox river at 44°32.363‵N, 88°00.395‵W, up to the dam at DePere. For purposes of this chapter, “Green Bay” does not include that portion of Green Bay bounded by the mouth of the Menominee river on the west, the “government pier” or breakwall on the south, the “lighthouse pier” or breakwall on the north, and a line connecting the eastern−most points of those breakwalls on the east. Section 2 NR 20.03 (21) is amended to read:
NR 20.03 (21) “Major Green Bay tributaries” means Duck creek upstream to the first dam above the Pamperin park foot bridge in the village of Howard, located at coordinates 44° 32' 27.8514"N, 88° 6' 39.1674"W on the Oneida Golf and Riding Club property, city of Green Bay, excluding its tributaries, Suamico river upstream to CTH HS, East river upstream to Hoffman road (CTH XX) excluding its tributaries, Brown county; Peshtigo river upstream to the Peshtigo dam, Little river upstream to Radar road, Marinette county; Little Suamico river upstream to CTH J excluding tributaries, Pensaukee river upstream to CTH J excluding tributaries, Oconto river upstream to Stiles dam excluding tributaries except Little river, Little river upstream to state highway 141 excluding tributaries, Oconto county.
Section 3 NR 20.10 (7) is amended to read:
NR 20.10 (7) Fish for lake sturgeon with a spear having a spearhead width greater than 18 inches as measured between the outside edges of the tines from the outside edge of one outermost tine to the outside edge of the other outermost tine, excluding barbs, or with tines arranged in any formation other than a single straight line, or both, or possess such a spear during the open season for lake sturgeon.
Section 4 NR 20.10 (7) (note) is created to read:
NR 20.10 (7) Note: Barbs are not considered to be part of the tine and can extend beyond 18 inches.
Section 5 NR 20.19 (1) (table) is amended to read:
NR 20.19 (1)
Cisco (lake herring), whitefish, and their hybrids | 20 in total |
Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 10 in total |
Minnows | As specified in s. NR 20.14 |
Rock bass, white bass, yellow bass, white perch, bullheads, and rough fish | NoneNo limit |
Ruffe and gobies | 1 of each which has been killed and possessed only for immediate delivery to a department service center or regional office |
Shovelnose sturgeon | 6 in total |
Trout and salmon | 10 in total from inland waters except that only 4 may be lake trout, and 10 in total from outlying waters except that only 4 may be lake trout |
Walleye, sauger, and their hybrids | 10 in total |
Section 6 NR 20.20 (4) (h) 1r. is amended to read:
county and species | WATERS | AUTHORIZED METHODS | OPEN SEASON (both dates inclusive) | DAILY BAG LIMIT | MINIMUM LENGTH OR OTHER SIZE RESTRICTIONS (INCHES) |
(4) BAYFIELD (for species or waters not listed, including Lake Superior, see sub. (73)) |
(h) Trout and salmon | 1r. Bark river and all its tributaries, Whittlesey creek and all its tributaries downstream from Town Hall road | a. Hook and line | First Saturday in May at 5:00 a.m. to November 15 | 555 in total but only 2 may be brown trout longer than15 and only 1 may be a rainbow trout, all brook trout caught shall be immediately released | Brown trout 10, salmon 12, rainbow trout 26 |
Section 7 NR 20.20 (25) (b) 2. is created to read:
county and species | WATERS | AUTHORIZED METHODS | OPEN SEASON (both dates inclusive) | DAILY BAG LIMIT | MINIMUM LENGTH OR OTHER SIZE RESTRICTIONS (INCHES) |
(25) IOWA (for species or waters not listed, see sub. (73)) |
(b) Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 2. Blackhawk lake, Cox Hollow lake | a. Hook and line | First Saturday in May to the first Sunday in March | 5 | None |
| | | Monday following the first Sunday in March to the Friday preceding the first Saturday in May | 0 | None |
Section 8 NR 20.20 (38) (d) 4. is amended to read:
county and species | WATERS | AUTHORIZED METHODS | OPEN SEASON (both dates inclusive) | DAILY BAG LIMIT | MINIMUM LENGTH OR OTHER SIZE RESTRICTIONS (INCHES) |
(38) MARINETTE (for species or waters not listed, see sub. (73)) |
(d) Trout and salmon | 4. North branch Pemebonwon river, Wausaukee river from the dam in Wausaukee downstream to the confluence with the Menominee river, south branch Pike river from the Brock pond dam downstream to the confluence with the north branch Pike river | a. Hook and line | First Saturday in May at 5:00 a.m. to October 15 | 5 in total | None |
Section 9 NR 20.20 (44) (c) 2., (d) 2., and (g) 1. are amended to read:
county and species | WATERS | AUTHORIZED METHODS | OPEN SEASON (both dates inclusive) | DAILY BAG LIMIT | MINIMUM LENGTH OR OTHER SIZE RESTRICTIONS (INCHES) |
(44) ONEIDA (for species or waters not listed, see sub. (73)) |
(c) Muskellunge | 2. Bearskin lake, Booth lake, Julia lake (T38N R11E S1), Squaw Amber lake (on Vilas county border) | a. Hook and line | Saturday nearest Memorial day to December 31 on open water | 1 | 28 |
(d) Panfish | 2. Indian lake, Oneida lake, SquawAmber lake (on Vilas county border) | a. Hook and line | Continuous | 15 in total but no more than 5 of a single species until March 1, 2026 when it becomes 25 in total | None |
(g) Walleye | 1. Bearskin lake, Crescent lake (near Rhinelander), Diamond lake, Hasbrook lake, Julia lake (on Forest county border), Mercer lake, Oneida lake, SquawAmber lake (on Vilas county border), Squirrel lake, Three lakes chain (includes Big, Big Fork, Big Stone, Deer, Dog, Fourmile, Island, Laurel, Little Fork, Long, Medicine, Moccasin, Mud, Planting Ground, Rangeline, Round, Spirit, Townline, Virgin, and Whitefish lakes and all connecting waters and Eagle river downstream to the Long Lake (Burnt Rollways) dam combined) | a. Hook and line | First Saturday in May to the first Sunday in March | 3 in total | None, but only 1 may be longer than 14 |
Section 10 NR 20.20 (50) (f) 4m. is created to read:
county and species | WATERS | AUTHORIZED METHODS | OPEN SEASON (both dates inclusive) | DAILY BAG LIMIT | MINIMUM LENGTH OR OTHER SIZE RESTRICTIONS (INCHES) |
(50) PORTAGE (for species or waters not listed, see sub. (73)) |
(f) Trout and salmon | 4m. Springville pond | a. Hook and line | First Saturday in May at 5:00 a.m. to the first Sunday in March | 3 in total | 8 |
Section 11 NR 20.20 (64) (d) 2., (f) 2., and (g) 2. are amended to read:
county and species | WATERS | AUTHORIZED METHODS | OPEN SEASON (both dates inclusive) | DAILY BAG LIMIT | MINIMUM LENGTH OR OTHER SIZE RESTRICTIONS (INCHES) |
(64) VILAS (for species or waters not listed, see sub. (73)) |
(d) Muskellunge | 2. Amber lake (on Oneida county border), Upper Gresham lake | a. Hook and line | Saturday nearest Memorial day to December 31 on open water | 1 | 28 |
(f) Panfish | 2. Amber lake (on Oneida county border), Fishtrap lake, High lake, Rush lake | a. Hook and line | Continuous | 15 in total but no more than 5 of a single species until March 1, 2026 when it becomes 25 in total | None |
(g) Walleye | 2. Big lake (T42N R6E S4), Big Arbor Vitae lake, Big Muskellunge lake, Birch lake, Boulder lake, Crab lake, Harris lake, Ike Walton lake, Island lake, Little Arbor Vitae lake, North Crab lake, North Turtle lake, Oxbow lake, Presque Isle chain (Averill lake, Presque Isle lake, and Van Vliet lake combined), Rock lake, South Turtle lake, SquawAmber lake (on Oneida county border), Star lake, Sherman lake (on Oneida county border), Squirrel lake, Three lakes chain (includes Big, Big Fork, Big Stone, Deer, Dog, Fourmile, Island, Laurel, Little Fork, Long, Medicine, Moccasin, Mud, Planting Ground, Rangeline, Round, Spirit, Townline, Virgin, and Whitefish lakes and all connecting waters and Eagle river downstream to the Long Lake (Burnt Rollways) dam combined) | a. Hook and line | First Saturday in May to the first Sunday in March | 3 in total | None, but only 1 may be longer than 14 |
Section 12 NR 20.20 (73) (f) 4. is amended to read:
county and species | WATERS | AUTHORIZED METHODS | OPEN SEASON (both dates inclusive) | DAILY BAG LIMIT | MINIMUM LENGTH OR OTHER SIZE RESTRICTIONS (INCHES) |
(73) SPECIES OR WATERS NOT LISTED IN SUBS. (1) TO (72) |
(f) Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 4. All waters not listed in subs. (1) to (72) or this paragraph north of a line following state highway 77 from its bridge over the St. Croix river east to state highway 27, south on state highway 27 to state highway 64, east on state highway 64 to its terminus in the city of Marinette and continuing due east to the shore of Green Bay and all waters, excluding tributaries to Green Bay, north of state highway 29 from its bridge over the Fox river east to its terminus in the city of Kewaunee and continuing due east to the shore of Lake Michigan. | a. Hook and line | First Saturday in May to Friday preceding the third Saturday in June | 0 for smallmouth bass, 5 for largemouth bass | 14 |
| | | Third Saturday in June to the first Sunday in March | 5 in total | 14 |
| | | Monday following the first Sunday in March to Friday preceding the first Saturday in May | 0 | None |
Section 13 NR 20.38 (1) (a), (d) and (e) are amended to read:
NR 20.38 (1) (a) All waters in Barron, Burnett, Chippewa, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida, Polk, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, St. Croix, Taylor, Vilas, and Washburn counties.
(d) Florence county. Bass, Fay, Frog, Halsey, Long (Forest county), Patten, Scout and West Bass lakes; Line and Pine river flowages.
(e) Forest county. Arbutus lake, Crane lake, Jungle lake, Lake Metonga, Lily lake, Little Rice lake, Pickerel lake, and Roberts lake.
Section 14 NR 20.38 (1) (g), (h), (j) and (L), (3) (b), and (5) are repealed.
Section 15 NR 20.40 (10) (c) 1. is amended to read: