2018 Spring Hearings

The annual Wisconsin Conservation Congress Spring Hearings just occurred, and the results of the vote on the advisory questions is now available.

You can read about the process in an easy to understand flowchart that is available here, but the important part of a resolution is that it can start a revision in a specified regulation.

Some items of local note.

Item #1 was supported. Item 1 is a proposal to change the traditional season for bass fishing. The season would still prevent catch and keep between early March and early May, but would implement a catch and release season during the traditionally closed period.

Item #2 was also supported. Item 2 would establish alternate size and bag limits for permitted, catch-and-release bass fishing tournaments.

Items #6 and #7 were passed and are also of local note. Item 6 proposes an increase in minimum length for walleye, sauger and hybrids on Koshkonong Lake and the Rock River, and item 7 would close the spring season in the same waters: "Season closure for walleye, sauger and hybrids during standard closed season on Koshkonong Lake and the Rock River."

Item 28 passed and is also of interest: "Establish a statewide 12-inch size limit and a three-fish bag limit per day on largemouth bass."

Item 30, a proposal to increase bag limits for channel catfish on Beaver Dam Lake in Dodge County was also passed. "Increase daily bag from 10 to 25 on channel catfish on Beaver Dam Lake, Dodge County."

 Stay tuned. Changes to size and bag limits for LM Bass, as well as new structures for tournament fishing appear to be on the way.