2015 WDNR Spring Hearing Results
Article written on 2015-04-06 by: Lee Meseberg
On Monday, April 13th 2015, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) Spring Hearings included a handful of proposed changes to trout fishing in Wisconsin.
Each of the four major questions passed with clear county majorities.
Ballot Questions 11-13
The department has conducted a review over the past four years of Wisconsin’s inland trout fishing regulations using input from trout anglers and fisheries biologists. Through public stakeholder meetings and surveys, the department reached out to trout anglers and the broader community to better understand the public’s perceptions and desires for trout angling opportunities in Wisconsin.
The department has reviewed the public and scientific input to develop new regulation proposals that address the following goals: (1) retain or improve traditional opportunities for quality trout fishing, (2) expand seasonal fishing opportunities for all anglers, and (3) simplify regulations.
Here are the questions and results…
11. For lakes and ponds, including put-and-take lakes and ponds stocked with trout, do you favor a statewide open season from the first Saturday in May to the first Sunday in March, which matches the general game fish open season, and a daily bag and size limit that matches the county base regulation?
Passes – 72 counties vote yes, 0 counties vote no.
12. For lakes and ponds, including put-and-take lakes and pondsstocked with trout, do you favor a statewide open season from the first Saturday in May to the first Sunday in March, which matches the general game fish open season, and a daily bag and size limit that matches the county base regulation?
Passes – 66 counties vote yes, 5 counties vote no, 1 county tied.
13. Using the following proposed new categories…
Category (green)No Minimum Length Limit, Daily Bag Limit: 5
Category (yellow) 8-inch minimum Length Limit, Daily Bag Limit: 3
Category (red) Special Regulations: Length, Bag and Possession Limits vary by water:
10 trout of any size may be kept per day
5 trout may be kept per day, brown and rainbow trout may be any size and brook trout must be less than 9 inches
5 trout may be kept per day, brown and rainbow trout may be any size and all brook trout shall be immediately released
5 trout may be kept per day only if they are less than 12 inches
3 trout may be kept per day only if they are less than 12 inches
3 trout may be kept per day, brown and rainbow trout must be at least 12 inches and brook trout must be at least 8 inches
2 trout may be kept per day if they are at least 12 inches
1 trout may be kept per day if it is at least 14 inches
1 trout may be kept per day if it is at least 18 inches
All trout caught shall be immediately released
Total Daily Bag Limit (combined daily limit of all waters fished) of trout from inland waters: 5 in total but only 2 may be lake trout, except as listed in specific waters.
Do you favor the proposed changes to inland trout regulations that pertain to size limits and bag limits as listed above in order to improve opportunities for quality trout fishing and simplify regulations?
Passes – 71 counties vote yes, 1 county tied.
…and finally…
Great Lakes Advisory Question
16. Would you support legislation to increase the Great Lakes Trout and Salmon Stamp fee?
Passes – 42 counties vote yes, 29 counties vote no, and 1 tie.