04-18-2003, 12:54 AM
The following new major rule changes take effect April 1, 2003, unless noted:
Trout Regulations Simplification
The entire trout regulation category system was simplified, with the changes effective March 1, 2003. Category 1 waters, those which had no minimum length limit and a 10 fish daily bag limit, were eliminated, and the number of waters listed in categories 2, 3, and 4 were reduced. This change resulted in 546 fewer waters needing to be listed in the trout regulations. The different types of special regulations, category 5, were reduced from 12 to 8, affecting 50 waters. An additional 55 waters now have special regulations. To check on specific changes, please see the Wisconsin Trout Fishing Regulations and Guide, 2003-2004.
Cisco (lake herring) and whitefish in the Great LakesThe daily bag limit for cisco, lake herring, whitefish, and their hybrids has been changed to 10 fish in total on all Great Lakes waters.
Muskellunge in Green Bay and Lake MichiganThe minimum length limit for muskellunge has been increased to 50 inches on Green Bay, Lake Michigan and Lake Michigan tributaries in the northern muskellunge zone (north of Waldo Boulevard in the City of Manitowoc).
Yellow perch in Lake MichiganThe closed season for yellow perch has been changed to May 1 through June 15 on Lake Michigan and tributaries.
Salmon in Lake SuperiorThe 15-inch minimum length limit for salmon on Lake Superior has been eliminated.
Brook trout in Lake SuperiorThe minimum length limit for brook trout on Lake Superior has been increased to 20 inches and the daily bag limit has been reduced to
1.Unattended fishing linesDuring the open-water portion of the fishing season, anglers will be required to remain within 100 yards of all their lines at all times.
Sturgeon spearingThe deadline for registering a sturgeon speared from Lake Winnebago system waters has been permanently changed to 1:30 p.m. on the day speared and the closed hours for sturgeon spearing have been changed to 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. the following day. This rule went into effect as an emergency rule for the 2002 spearing season.
Special regulations by countySize and/or bag limits that differ from the statewide rules have been established on the following waters:
Bayfield County – A catch and release only season has been established for brook trout on Whittlesey Creek, the Bark River, and their tributaries.
Green Lake County –The gamefish season on Big Green Lake has been changed to the statewide open season and is now open from the first Saturday in May until March 1.
Kenosha County – The minimum length limit for bass has been increased to 18 inches, the daily bag limit for bass reduced to one in total, and the daily bag limit for panfish has been reduced to 10 in total on Vern Wolf Lake.
Langlade County – The minimum length limit for bass on Greater Bass Lake has been increased to 18 inches and the daily bag limit reduced to one in total.
Oneida County – The minimum length limit for muskellunge on Clear Lake has been increased to 50 inches.Sawyer County – The minimum length limit for muskellunge on Moose Lake has been increased to 40 inches. The minimum length limit for muskellunge on the Chippewa Flowage has been increased to 45 inches. The daily bag limit for panfish on Sissabagama Lake has been reduced to 10 in total. A 14-18 inch protected slot limit with only one fish longer than 18 inches allowed has been established for walleye on Winter Lake and the Brunet River upstream from Winter Lake to the Lake Loretta dam. The minimum length limit for walleye on Black Dan, Clear, and Island lakes has been increased to 28 inches and the daily bag limit reduced to one.
Vilas County – The minimum length limit for walleye on Escanaba Lake has been increased to 28 inches and the bag limit reduced to one effective May 3, 2003.
Walworth County – A 14 – 18 inch protected slot limit with only one fish longer than 18 inches allowed has been established with a daily bag limit of three in total for bass on Lulu Lake.
Waukesha County – A 14 – 18 inch protected slot limit with only one fish longer than 18 inches allowed has been established with a daily bag limit of three in total for bass on Eagle Spring Lake.
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Trout Regulations Simplification
The entire trout regulation category system was simplified, with the changes effective March 1, 2003. Category 1 waters, those which had no minimum length limit and a 10 fish daily bag limit, were eliminated, and the number of waters listed in categories 2, 3, and 4 were reduced. This change resulted in 546 fewer waters needing to be listed in the trout regulations. The different types of special regulations, category 5, were reduced from 12 to 8, affecting 50 waters. An additional 55 waters now have special regulations. To check on specific changes, please see the Wisconsin Trout Fishing Regulations and Guide, 2003-2004.
Cisco (lake herring) and whitefish in the Great LakesThe daily bag limit for cisco, lake herring, whitefish, and their hybrids has been changed to 10 fish in total on all Great Lakes waters.
Muskellunge in Green Bay and Lake MichiganThe minimum length limit for muskellunge has been increased to 50 inches on Green Bay, Lake Michigan and Lake Michigan tributaries in the northern muskellunge zone (north of Waldo Boulevard in the City of Manitowoc).
Yellow perch in Lake MichiganThe closed season for yellow perch has been changed to May 1 through June 15 on Lake Michigan and tributaries.
Salmon in Lake SuperiorThe 15-inch minimum length limit for salmon on Lake Superior has been eliminated.
Brook trout in Lake SuperiorThe minimum length limit for brook trout on Lake Superior has been increased to 20 inches and the daily bag limit has been reduced to
1.Unattended fishing linesDuring the open-water portion of the fishing season, anglers will be required to remain within 100 yards of all their lines at all times.
Sturgeon spearingThe deadline for registering a sturgeon speared from Lake Winnebago system waters has been permanently changed to 1:30 p.m. on the day speared and the closed hours for sturgeon spearing have been changed to 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. the following day. This rule went into effect as an emergency rule for the 2002 spearing season.
Special regulations by countySize and/or bag limits that differ from the statewide rules have been established on the following waters:
Bayfield County – A catch and release only season has been established for brook trout on Whittlesey Creek, the Bark River, and their tributaries.
Green Lake County –The gamefish season on Big Green Lake has been changed to the statewide open season and is now open from the first Saturday in May until March 1.
Kenosha County – The minimum length limit for bass has been increased to 18 inches, the daily bag limit for bass reduced to one in total, and the daily bag limit for panfish has been reduced to 10 in total on Vern Wolf Lake.
Langlade County – The minimum length limit for bass on Greater Bass Lake has been increased to 18 inches and the daily bag limit reduced to one in total.
Oneida County – The minimum length limit for muskellunge on Clear Lake has been increased to 50 inches.Sawyer County – The minimum length limit for muskellunge on Moose Lake has been increased to 40 inches. The minimum length limit for muskellunge on the Chippewa Flowage has been increased to 45 inches. The daily bag limit for panfish on Sissabagama Lake has been reduced to 10 in total. A 14-18 inch protected slot limit with only one fish longer than 18 inches allowed has been established for walleye on Winter Lake and the Brunet River upstream from Winter Lake to the Lake Loretta dam. The minimum length limit for walleye on Black Dan, Clear, and Island lakes has been increased to 28 inches and the daily bag limit reduced to one.
Vilas County – The minimum length limit for walleye on Escanaba Lake has been increased to 28 inches and the bag limit reduced to one effective May 3, 2003.
Walworth County – A 14 – 18 inch protected slot limit with only one fish longer than 18 inches allowed has been established with a daily bag limit of three in total for bass on Lulu Lake.
Waukesha County – A 14 – 18 inch protected slot limit with only one fish longer than 18 inches allowed has been established with a daily bag limit of three in total for bass on Eagle Spring Lake.
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