Southeast Wisconsin votes with rest of state at WDNR Spring Rules Hearings, mostly

Last month the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources held their Spring Rules Hearings in each county across the state.  The hearings gave the public a chance to cast a vote in questions regarding management of a variety of natural resources.  I have looked at the data to see how southeast Wisconsin voted on fisheries issues in comparison to the rest of the state.  The five counties (Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Sheboygan and Racine), typically voted the same way as the rest of state.  On the most hyped question of the ballot, voters said no to allowing trolling statewide.  The narrow margin of victory for no voters was represented in the southeast by split in the countywide votes, with Kenosha, Racine and Waukesha voting yes and Milwaukee, Ozaukee and Sheboygan voting no.  In another close result, the majority statewide said yes to a lead tackle restriction on Enscanaba, Nebish and Pallette lakes in Vilas County.  All the counties in the southeast, except Milwaukee, voted no.

Some counties also had one or two votes that didn’t go along with the statewide majority.  Except for the two questions above, Racine, Sheboygan and Waukesha voted with the statewide majority on every fisheries-related question.  Kenosha said no to allowing panfish bag limits split by species and allowing alternating length and bag limits under certain conditions, contrary to the majority.  Ozaukee was undecided about the latter question as their vote was tied on that one.  Ozaukee also voted down length and bag limits for walleye on Silver Lake in Barron Country.  If anybody knows why Ozaukee residents care so much about a lake on the other side of the state, please let me know.  Finally, Milwaukee voted no on eliminating Inland Trout and Great Lakes Stamps for 16-17 year old youth.  I think voters must have been confused by the wording of this question because it was a close vote statewide and I don’t see why anybody would vote no on eliminating the stamp requirement for 16-17 year old youth and save young anglers some money.

Fisheries event: WDNR online chat

The WDNR is hosting a series of online chats with department experts, the topic this week is springtime fishing.  The chat is on May 1 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.  Use the following link to connect: http://dnr.wi.gov/chat/expert.html

Fisheries news for southeast Wisconsin

Walleye bag limits in Ceded Territory posted at boat landings and online

Sturgeon spawning run held up by cold weather

Natural Resources Board makes moves to increase transparency and public participation
WDNR outdoor report

National
Obama administration releases implementation plan for National Ocean Policy

National Fisheries Institute accuses Greenpeace of lying about seafood sustainability

Congress may ban genetically modified salmon

International
Killer whales preying on humpback whales caught on camera

Fisheries events

Regulations

April 28- Early catch-and-release only trout season closes at midnight. Season is artificial bait only.

April 30- The yellow perch season closes on Lake Michigan and tributaries. The season reopens June 16.

May 4-General inland waters game fish opener (trout, walleye, northern pike, bass in the southern zone).

May4- Catch and release only bass season opens through June 17 in the northern zone.

May 4-Muskellunge season in waters south of State Highway 10 opens.

May 4-From Sept. 15 through the first Saturday in May, hook and line fishing is prohibited from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise in all Lake Michigan tributaries except the Oconto River and its tributaries and the downstream portion of the Peshtigo River.

Meetings

April 30- Presentation by Matt Wagner, owner of The Driftless Angler fly shop, at the Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter of Trout Unlimited meeting at the Charcoal Grill in New Berlin at 7 p.m. www.sewtu.org

May 4- Fly fishing 101 clinic at the Milwaukee Orvis store from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Fisheries Events

Regulations

April 24- Presentation by Great Lakes fisheries scientist Bill Horns to the Natural Resources Board on harvest limits for commercial species in Wisconsin waters at the Natural Resources Board meeting in the State Natural Resources Building in Madison at 8:30 a.m.. http://dnr.wi.gov/about/nrb/

April 28- Early catch-and-release only trout season closes at midnight. Season is artificial bait only.

April 30- The yellow perch season closes on Lake Michigan and tributaries. The season reopens June 16.

Meetings

April 23- Presentation by Mike Mordas of Muskie Train at the Muskies Inc. meeting at the Waukesha Elks Lodge #400 Board Meeting at 7:30 p.m. www.milwaukeemuskiesinc.com/

April 27- Fly fishing 101 clinic at the Milwaukee Orvis store from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

April 30- Presentation by Matt Wagner of the Driftless Angler at the Southeast Wisconsin Chapter of Trout Unlimited meeting at the Charcoal Grill in New Berlin at 7 p.m. www.sewtu.org/

Fishing

April 27- The 2013 Greater Milwaukee Shore Fishing Club Spring Perch and Trout Tournament at McKinley Marina.

April 27- Rock River Gold Walleye Tournament at Anchor Inn Landing in Newville from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

April 28- Rock River Team Bass Tournament at Wootan Park in Beloit.

Fisheries events

Meetings

April 16- Sheboygan Area Great Lakes Sport Fishermen meeting at the Sheboygan Outboard Club at 7 p.m. www.sheboyganfishingclub.com

April 16- Presentation on fly fishing for musky, salmon and rainbow trout at the Okauchee Fishing Club meeting at the Knights of Columbus Hall in West Allis at 7 p.m. ($5 for non-members). www.ofcfish.com

April 20- Milwaukee Riverkeepers Spring River Cleanup from 9 a.m. to noon.

April 20- Seminar on fly fishing for beginners at the Bong State Recreation Area visitor center from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

April 20- Fly fishing 101 clinic at the Milwaukee Orvis store from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Fishing

April 19-21- 25^th annual Bailey’s Harbor Brown Trout Tournament

Fisheries news for southeast Wisconsin

Voters say no to statewide trolling

330,000 trout stocked in Wisconsin inland waters

Great Lakes to get new research vessel

WDNR keeping an eye on Vern Wolf Lake Dam in Kenosha County

WDNR outdoor report

International
Australia and Japan going to UN court over whaling

Scientists object to 'sustainable' label from Marine Stewardship Council