DNR spring wildlife and fisheries rules hearing to be held April 13

Press Release is here

Dodge County:

Horico n Marsh International Education Center, Lower Auditorium, N7725 STH 28, Horicon, WI 53032

Milwaukee County:
Nathan Hale High School, 11601 W Lincoln Avenue, West Allis, WI 53227

Walworth County:

Delavan

-Darien High School, 150 Cummings Street, Delavan, WI 53115

Waukesha County:

Waukesha Co. Tech. College, Richard Anderson Center, 800 Main Street, Pewaukee, WI 53072 

Complete List: is here.

Questionaire is here

I also talked about the local issues in this post from February.

A couple of local issues on the docket:

1.) Changes to some of the local the fish refuge rules:



2.) Walleye Bag and Size Limits

Pewaukee, Nagawicka and Pine would have a 3 fish, 18 in minimum as would Big Cedar and Gilbert Lakes in Washington County.



Lac Labelle size limit on walleye raised to 28 in minimum, with limit of one per day.

 


3.) Pike Bag and Size Limit Changes

32in minimum, 1 fish limit on Northern Pike for Pewaukee, Lac Labelle, Eagle Spring and Lu Lu Lakes.




4.) It looks like our local area will not have many lakes brought under the new 25/10 or 15/5 panfish provisions, but a couple of nearby lakes will be voted on:

News you can use (3-30-15)

1.) I hit the Rock River today.

Fished between Kmart and Fort Atkinson. Walleye are biting, but they are running small. Saw a bunch of fish caught from deep water hole betwen the wing dam above the 106 bridge down to Starpole. I didn't see any walleye, in my boat or in any of the others, anywhere near legal. Our largest was a 13 3/4 and that was a monster compared to some of the ones we saw caught. Action can be had, but keepers will be hard to come by.

Water was between 38-40 degrees, and the fish were still as hard as rocks.

2.) The Okauchee Lake Public Launch will be closing for a few months while the long planned expansion is completed. According to sources this will occur as soon as Wednesday, April 1st and may last into late June.

3.) Panfish are starting to bite on the local lakes. Focus on dark bottom shallow bays with a north facing shoreline, and look for green weeds and slightly warmer water. Until the water temperature gets up a bit, waxworms or spike on a number 12 red hook below a bobber will outproduce most other presentations.

4.) Time to renew your fishing license if you haven't already done so.

Fishing Report 3-27-15

Cold water and low river flows is the story heading into this weekend.

Fish are biting in the usual spring river stretches, but with the low water levels and limited current, anglers are working hard for quality catches.

Anglers at Depere, Oshkosh, Fremont, Omro and Winneconne are reported limited or mixed success, but conditions have been tough. Water temps in most areas are in the high 30's to very low 40's, but the lack of current has kept spring walleyes from large activity periods.

The reports, although a bit limited with the cold snap this week, out of the Dells are almost the same, some, but limited success, and each day has been different. Water levels are apparently very low below the dam, so watch those lower units.

Closer to home, the Rock River is giving up a few fish, but the action has been inconsistent. Again, the water temperatures are in the right range, but the water flow/ water level has been problematic. I've been fishing spring runs on the Rock for many years, and low water years always make for a tough bite. If you're heading down, all reports suggest the mass of the fish are closer to Blackhawk than Jefferson, but some fish have been caught in the stretch above the fish ladder as well.

Tip: Your natural tendency to jig this time of year can work, but if you're out and the bite is tough, catch that drift pulling a split shot rig behind you. Don't forget the key element...a gold hook. When in doubt...go old school.

 On the area lakes, the ice is more or less out, but there's still a few floaters hanging around in some of the areas protected from the wind. The shallow bays and smaller lakes are in the mid 30's, but early panfish action will start to pick up pretty quickly once air temps become a little more seasonal and the weather stabilizes.

Good Luck,
CT

Lakeland Times Story on DNR Walleye Proposal

Lakeland Times Outdoor Reporter Ryan Matthews, who is both a friend and a former student of mine at UWM, just posted a story about the DNR's emergency proposal for walleye limits in the ceded territory.

Check it out here.