proposed DNR rule changes
According to the January 22 2010 issue of the Wisconsin Outdoor News, A proposed rule change is to be the subject of a public opinion poll at the April 12 sportsmans spring hearings that will be held statewide. It will ask if the bass size limits should be removed to increase the harvest of Bass. The daily bag will remain, and the season will still be delayed. These rules will be for both largemouth and smallmouth.
The proposal also includes Walleye changes of an 18 inch minimum size limit with a bag limit of three. The idea is to limit the harvest of Walleye. These proposed changes are for 20 lakes in 7 northwest Wisconsin counties. Included is the Chippewa Flowage.
My first reaction to this proposal has me wondering why the DNR refuses to differentiat between Large, and Small mouth Bass. They are different fish. My other reaction is to an 18" size limit for Walleyes. I'm not totally against such an idea, but I have to wonder if another regulation wouldn't be more beneficial. Such as some type of a slot limit. The 18" size limit will encourage the harvest of the larger Walleyes.
What is your opinion? Share them with us. The Chippewa Flowage concerns us all. I'll be keeping an eye on this story, and if any one else hears more about this, please share the info.
Walleyemaxx(Tom)
New Proposed Rule Changes
I have to believe that the majority of anglers will know the difference. their is much more than just the "red eye "difference". Having said that, I believe a slot is a good idea. Maybe 15 -23" or so. I also believe that the Chip should have its own plan since it is such a unique body of water. The introduction of the larger fry is a good idea. The Chip has, in the last several years, been 3 limit so thats no biggie I believe 4 to 6 inch fry have a much greater survival history. It is good that the disscussion is taking place and I voice my thoughts at the spring hearings. They have been trying this approach in Nelson Lake for the last couple of years. I was up their this past year and caught my first few walleyeys in many years. That was a good sign. Still think that opening Bass season in the firs week in May on those lakes in this program would be a good idea to reduce the largemouth population and try to create more balance.
Rick Murry
More on the DNR rule changes
Hi everyone,
I saw some interesting comments about the trolling issue that will affect our area. This is from the DNR website.
Fisheries proposals
Anglers will find more than two dozen statewide fisheries questions to weigh in on, including a series of questions for two issues relating to northwest Wisconsin lakes, according to Joe Hennessy, the DNR fish biologist who coordinates regulations.
Several questions revolve around a walleye recovery plan for 21 lakes in northwestern Wisconsin where walleye populations have declined, and natural reproduction has vanished at the same time that bass populations in those lakes have significantly increased. The plan would remove bass length limits, increase walleye length limits, and stock larger walleye in an effort to move the lakes back to walleye-dominated fisheries.
All of the 21 lakes – in Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Polk, Rusk, Sawyer and Washburn counties -- have primarily been managed for walleye, and each has had a walleye population sustained by natural reproduction during the past 20 years but in more recent years walleye reproduction has failed or has been insufficient to support a self-sustaining population. At the same time, bass have increased in abundance and potentially present a barrier to re-establishing successful survival of young walleye.
The other issue revolves around motor trolling. Currently motor trolling is allowed only on the Kakagon River and sloughs in Ashland County, Pike Lake and Round Lake in Price County, and Chetac, Grindstone, Lac Courte Oreilles, Nelson, Round, Whitefish and Windigo lakes in Sawyer County.
Opening all waters in Ashland, Iron, Price and Sawyer counties would allow motor trolling in about 700 more waters. Motor trolling poses no more threat to fish populations than conventional angling, so there is no biological reason to continue the prohibition, Hennessy says.
Prohibitions on motor trolling have been favored by some angler groups and have been handled by the DNR on a county-by-county basis in line with local preference. Currently motor trolling is allowed county-wide in 18 of the state’s 72 counties. “We endorse removing motor trolling prohibitions wherever it is locally supported,” Hennessy says
If you don't want motor trolling on the Chippewa Flowage, I would suggest you attend one of the meetings to voice your opinion.
Walleyemaxx