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| As was mentioned in my letter to Steve AveLallemant, of the WDNR Northern Region, that a proposal to establish catch and release only lakes was included. An addendum to revisit the WDNR rules and policies that are endangering our fisheries was also included.
The interest of muskie fisherman to improve and preserve our sport was demonstrated this April 14 by the yes and no voters. While there is still a heighten interest in muskie managenent, I would like to ask my fellow anglers their opinions on the following proposal.
CATCH AND RELEASE ONLY LAKES PROPOSAL
This is a propsal for the WDNR to set up and establish "catch and release only" lakes. The intent of this proposal is to create catch and release lakes for trophy fishing of all species, and to utilize the test lakes as research labs to accurately establish for other bodies of water (according to their eutrophic classification, size and forage) to set ecologically sound size and creel limits. I am certain a proposal to set up catch and release lakes will be widely accepted because it focuses on the improvement of the entire ecosystem, instead of singling out one species of fish that to many is illogical or unfair. Following are some steps that will be needed to be followed if such an undertaking is to succeed, although admittedly they aren't the only ones.
1. Form an exploratory committee made up of resort owner(s), chamber of commerce member(s), guide(s), anglers representing all targeted species, tournament organizers of all species, fishing club rep(s), fishing educator(s), tribal members, Wis. tourism member(s) and of course, the WDNR.
2. Categorize muskie lakes (both natural and man-made) by eutrophic classification.
3. Narrow down the lakes in each category that would represent the best canidates for each eutrophic class.
4. Once the field is narrowed down, rate the lakes by each category from #1 (the best) on down the list.
5. Develop a marketing plan that will increase the visibility for the chosen lakes that will create a direct financial benefit to the area businesses and making it attractive to the general fishing public, ie. establish a graphite reproduction give-away through out the year for each species of fish per lake for several divisions (youth, junior, men, women) with the cost of the reproductions being covered by a joint venture of: tournament organizers, chambers of commerce, tourism, guides, outdoor magazines, taxidermist, industries involved in fishing, fishing clubs, resort and other businesses. Catch and release ice fisheries can also be established and promoted that would increase the chosen area's economy amoung other projects. We must not have the attitude, "if you build it, they will come"; that only works in movies and a comprehensive marketing plan must be developed if we are to expect folks to get on board.
6. Approach the resorts, taverns, hotels, chambers of commerce and other business owners effected by a chosen lake with the prososed changes to receive their support or to answer criticisms, correcting any dificiencies and sell them on the benefits, in order to get them on board.
7. Cooperation of tribal members must be seeked out, with negotiations for a signed agreement for the suspension of tribal spearing on the chosen catch and release lakes.
ADDENDUM
In addition, all lakes that harbor muskies are in a state of crisis. By crisis I mean that less than 20% of the muskies lakes can sustain their populations through natural reproduction, and by this stanard they are indeed in CRISIS. There are existing rules and policies of the WDNR that should be revisited with the intent to change to help preserve and correct the miscalculations of the past and are listed below, by their urgency (time is of the essence), and their importance.
1. STOCKING: Stop all stocking of muskies in their native lakes or rivers, and after implementation, a close observation of lakes and rivers, where water levels have been altered due to dams and other man-made obstructions, is critical.
2. WATER USAGE: This is a broad subject that includes but is not limited to: industrial, farming and residential pollution, limitations of inappropriate watercraft for the body of water they are being used on, shoreline protection, aquatic plant protection, ect.
3. TROLLING: Unlike other states and provinces, Wisconsin has a live bait tradition because on most muskie waters, trolling is not allowed. Hundreds of fish annually, and usually the largest muskie in the system, are gut hooked with the use of live bait and are dying. Legalizing trolling will, in time, replace the present day reliance of live bait and eliminate the unitentional waste of the natural resource.
4. NO CULLING: The culling rule is another outdated rule that was enacted before the advent of viable livewells. When it was put into law, it actually helped preserve the fishery; now it is causing untold deaths of all species of fish.
5. POSSESSION: The rule of what constitutes possession must be changed to reflect the intentions of the angler. When an angler pulls his boat out of the water, or is on shore with a bucket, then the fish are in his/her possession. If an angler has, for example, a sublegal muskie in his/her livewell to help revive a fish that is difficult to release, he/she should not be pinched for possessing a sublegal. Countless numbers of fish of all species are being sacrificed due to the present rule.
I hope the WDNR will take into consideration my proposal to create Catch and Release Lakes, and agrees with the urgent nature of the crisis I have described, and will revisit existing rules and policies that are counter productive to the health of our resources.
Thank you for your time.
Tom McInnis | |
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Posts: 20238
Location: oswego, il | I think what you would find is that the fishing would be phenominal. I can tell you of two bass lakes by me that are just that. 44 fish, 3 people in 2.5 hours and the smallest is 18" is not to shabby. No skunks ever and you always catch at least 5 fish even on a bad day.
Wi, has lakes that are catch and release. One is so good that Roland Martin filmed a show on it quite a few years ago. I hear it has not lost a beat either. Any regulation to put the fish back in the lake is going to improve your rate of catch and in most cases the size. | |
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CATCH and RELEASE ONLY LAKES PROPOSAL