NR 20.40(7)(c)(c) The following shall apply to fishing tournaments permitted for any combination of lakes within a chain of interconnected lakes: NR 20.40(7)(c)1.1. Permitted fishing tournaments may engage in fishing activities in lake chains or connected lakes but the tournament organizer must select a lake where the primary fishing activity or weigh-in will take place. NR 20.40(7)(c)2.2. The availability of permits will be based on the acreage of the lake selected in subd. 1. as outlined in par. (a). NR 20.40(7)(d)(d) For boundary water lakes, the limits on the number of permitted fishing contests shall be determined based on the Wisconsin acreage. NR 20.40(7)(e)(e) For flowages and impoundments of rivers, the limits in par. (a) shall include tributaries upstream to the first dam or road crossing unless otherwise specified in the permit. NR 20.40(7)(f)1.1. The maximum number of permitted fishing tournaments per month on the Mississippi River, Lake St. Croix, St. Croix River, Wisconsin River, Fox River and Wolf River are outlined in the following table. NR 20.40(7)(f)2.2. Fishing tournament waters identified in the permit for Mississippi River pools are limited to no more than 3 pools where each pool is separated by a lock and dam. NR 20.40(7)(f)2m.2m. Fishing tournaments permitted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources are authorized to operate in Wisconsin portions of Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters under the regulations specified in the Minnesota permit. NR 20.40 NoteNote: Under s. 29.403 (1m), Stats., a bass tournament permitted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources may cull largemouth and smallmouth bass in Wisconsin portions of Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters. Culling is not allowed in Minnesota waters of Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters at the time this rule was drafted. Tournaments authorized by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources may not cull in Minnesota waters unless authorized by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. NR 20.40(7)(f)3.3. No more than 2 permitted fishing tournaments per month, not to exceed 4 days combined, may be issued for any 10 mile segment of a river not listed in subd. 1., as defined in the permit. If any portion of river permitted overlaps with a previously permitted portion of the same river, it shall be considered the same segment. Segment boundaries shall be readily identifiable features as close to 10 miles apart as possible. NR 20.40(7)(f)4.4. Permitted fishing tournaments may engage in fishing activities in multiple pools but the tournament organizer must select the pool where the primary fishing activity or weigh-in will take place. The availability of permits will be based on the selected pool as outlined in subd. 1. NR 20.40(8)(8) Additional fishing tournament permits. Notwithstanding the limits in sub. (7), the department may allow one additional permit each year for fishing tournaments on lakes greater than 1,000 acres or river segments identified by the department. For additional fishing tournaments permitted under this subsection, the fishing tournament permit applicant shall demonstrate to the department that the tournament: NR 20.40(8)(a)(a) Will promote public awareness of fishing and the state’s resources and conform to best management practices for the lake; or NR 20.40(8)(c)(c) The department may issue one advance tournament permit for each waterbody in each year that authorizes a tournament on that waterbody up to 3 years before the tournament is to occur when: NR 20.40(8)(c)1.1. The tournament sponsor can demonstrate undue hardship unless they receive an advance permit, and NR 20.40(8)(c)2.2. The tournament sponsor can demonstrate a substantial economic benefit to the local economy by being able to receive a tournament permit up to 3 years in advance for a specific waterbody. NR 20.40(9)(9) Disposition of dead fish. The department shall require each applicant to provide a written plan for the disposition of any dead fish encountered within a 48-hour period from the end of the tournament and are a result of the fishing tournament which complies with s. 23.095 (1g), Stats. No plan may include retention of any fish contrary to the requirements of department rule, except that the department may, via permit condition, authorize a tournament organizer or their designee to receive and transport trout or salmon from tournament participants, in excess of established possession limits, for immediate delivery to a food distribution service as defined in s. 29.001 (28), Stats. NR 20.40 NoteNote: Section 23.095 (1g), Stats., General prohibition. No person may damage or attempt to damage any natural resource within the state. Under s. 23.095 (1) (a) “Damage” means to commit a physical act that unreasonably destroys, molests, defaces, removes or wastes. NR 20.40(10)(a)(a) No person may organize fishing tournaments on the same body of water with starting dates separated by less than 2 weeks unless 50% or more of the participants in the additional tournament are younger than 18 years of age or are developmentally disabled as defined under s. 51.01 (5) (a), Stats., or physically disabled and eligible for a license under s. 29.193 (3) or (3m), Stats. NR 20.40(10)(b)(b) The department may deny an application for a fishing tournament permit upon determination that the body of water, the fish or other aquatic resources may be substantially harmed by the concentration of fishing activity from the fishing tournament. NR 20.40(10)(c)(c) No person may conduct a fishing tournament on any of the following unless it is a traditional fishing tournament: NR 20.40(10)(c)1.1. Opening weekend of the fishing season, except that a person may conduct a fishing tournament that is not a traditional fishing tournament on opening weekend on waters with a continuous open harvest season for that species.
