The state Natural Resources Board has implemented a plan supporting a five year catch-and-release only walleye fishery on the Minocqua and Tomahawk chain of lakes. The plan was brought forward by Northwoods angling groups, community leaders and Chippewa tribal leaders with support from DNR as part of a plan to restore natural walleye reproduction. The Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa agreed not to harvest these lakes during the rehabilitation plan.
The board also approved an emergency rule maintaining a three walleye daily bag limit on most lakes and rivers in the Wisconsin Ceded Territory.
The rule replaces annually adjusting bag limits with protective minimum length and slot limits in conjunction with the three walleye daily bag limit says the DNR's Steve Hewitt..
"...with a 15-inch minimum with an added 20(inch) to 24 protected slot where no fish can be harvested between those two sizes, then one fish over 24. This will reduce the number of larger fish taken by anglers..."
The Chair of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress, Rob Bohman, said anglers will appreciate the uniformity of the new rule compared to the prior rule of bag limit adjustments...
"....this constant variability leads to uncertainty to what the season holds for non-trial anglers and leads to animosity among our groups..."
Hewitt says anglers fishing Ceded Territory waters should check signs at boat landings or with local tackle shops or DNR offices to confirm the minimum length restriction for walleye harvest on lakes before going fishing.
