NR 19.058NR 19.058 Sport trolling. No operator of a boat may engage in trolling, as defined in s. NR 20.03 (40), with the use of downriggers on outlying waters, as defined in s. 29.001 (63), Stats., without direct and immediate access to a wire cutter or other hand-held device on board capable of immediately severing any fishing line or cable being used in the water behind the boat.

NR 19.06(1)(1) It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to take, catch or kill fish or fish for fish of any species when such fish are being held in any fish net, fish holding net, fish trap, fish pond, either artificial or natural, or any structure or net placed in any of the waters of the state by the department or under its authority for the purpose of taking or holding fish therein at any time, or for any person or persons to lift, molest, cut or destroy any fish net, fish holding net, fish trap, fish pond, or any structure or net placed in any of the waters of the state by the department or under its authority for the purpose of taking or holding fish therein.

NR 19.06(2)(2) It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to take, catch, capture or kill fish or pursue fish in any fishing operations within 500 feet above or 500 feet below any net, dam or weir wherein the state of Wisconsin is fishing or holding fish for commercial, scientific, or biological purposes, when the area is properly posted by the department.

NR 19.06(3)(3) No provisions in this section shall prohibit the department, its agents, deputy conservation wardens or representatives of the division of fish, game and enforcement of such department from taking any of the fish mentioned in any of the sections of this order at any time or from lifting, setting, or transferring any nets or structures used in holding or capturing fish, wherein they deem it advisable and necessary to promote the department fish management program.

NR 19.06 HistoryHistory: 1-2-56; am. (1), Register, December, 1960, No. 60, eff. 1-1-61; am. (1), Register, December, 1961, No. 72, eff. 1-1-62; renum. from WCD 19.06 to be NR 19.06 and am. (1), (2) and (3), Register, April, 1971, No. 184, eff. 5-1-71.

NR 19.07NR 19.07 Commercial fishing studies on inland, outlying, and boundary waters. The department may authorize commercial fishing studies, pursuant to s. 23.09 (2) (h) and (k), Stats., that contribute to increased, useful scientific knowledge of fisheries management and that may include one or more participating commercial fishing licensees. The department may authorize a commercial fishing study to be conducted at a time, in a location, or using a gear type for which commercial fishing is otherwise restricted by department rules.

NR 19.07 NoteNote: Nothing in this section precludes a commercial fishing licensee operating under s. 29.519 (1m) or (4), 29.523 (1), 29.526 (1), 29.529, 29.531, or 29.533, Stats., and operating under the rules and regulations of chs. NR 20, 21, 22, or 25 from conducting independent research on their own commercial fishing practices and commercial harvest.

NR 19.07 HistoryHistory: CR 21-058: cr. Register March 2022 No. 795, eff. 4-1-22; correction made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register March 2022 No. 795.

NR 19.09(1)(1) Removal or destruction of wild rice.

NR 19.09(1)(a)(a) No person may remove or destroy by hand, mechanical or chemical means wild rice growing in navigable lakes unless the department has approved the removal or destruction under par. (b).

NR 19.09(1)(b)(b) In addition to harvest in accordance with s. 29.607, Stats., and subs. (2) to (8), the department may authorize by written approval the removal of wild rice growing in navigable lakes upon a finding that:

NR 19.09(1)(b)1.1. The wild rice resource in the navigable lake will not be substantially affected. The department may consider cumulative effects of an approval on such a lake under this paragraph; and

NR 19.09(1)(c)(c) Persons requesting an approval under this subsection, shall apply on department forms and provide information requested by the department.

NR 19.09(2)(2) A closed season is established for the harvesting or gathering of wild rice in the following described areas at all times except as hereinafter provided and it is unlawful for any person to harvest or gather wild rice in any manner or at any time during such closed season.

NR 19.09(3)(3) The secretary is authorized and directed, after determining by investigation and study that the wild rice is ripe, to designate the open season for harvesting or gathering wild rice in each of the areas described in sub. (4). The open season in any area may continue in effect for not more than 60 days. The open season in any area as designated by the secretary pursuant to this subsection shall be put into effect by posting of proper notice of the open season on the shores of, and at places of public access to, the lakes and streams in which the open season is effective at least 24 hours before the beginning of the open season.

NR 19.09(4)(4) There is no closed season for the harvesting of wild rice in any other area of the state of Wisconsin not herein described:

NR 19.09(4)(j)(j) Vilas county. Allequash lake, Little Rice lake, Nixon lake, Irving lake, Aurora lake, West Plum lake, and Island lake.