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Posts: 714
Location: Rhinelander, WI | Some new language in the Wisconsin Fishing regulation pamphlet.
I had a little to do with this as I lobbied to get the C&R language changed in the pamphlet, to add some wording about photographs in the paragraph, because as we attended meetings for the Pelican 50” limit one concern that came up many times was that if the fish wasn't 50” you wouldn’t be able to take it out of the water for a photo.
We also discussed added more language about swallow rigs. More general for all fish species not just musky. I think its better, but not quite sure how much. One thing, it at least points out the dangers, also it may stop someone from catching multiple fish on swallow rigs and releasing them all in the same day thinking they were doing good. That is if they actually read the regulations.
Here is the old language and the new language, what do you think?
2007-’08 Language:
CATCH AND RELEASE: IT WILL GROW ON YOU!
Fish you wish to release, and fish not meeting the legal length limit, should be handled carefully with wet hands and played as little as possible. When fish are deeply-hooked, cut the line as closely to the hook as possible and let the fish go. Attention Musky Anglers! It is recommended that you use a quick set rig when fishing for muskies with live bait
2008-’09 Language:
CATCH AND RELEASE: IT WILL GROW ON YOU!
Fish you wish to release, and fish not meeting the legal length limit, should be played as little as possible and handled carefully with wet hands. The fish should not be held out of the water longer than necessary to remove hooks, take a photograph, or measure the fish. If live release is intended, a quick set rig should be employed, where the hook is set immediately upon pickup, to prevent deeply hooked fish. Deep-hooked fish, if meeting the legal limit, should be kept as studies have shown that leaving the hook in the gullet or gut and cutting the leader regularly kills the fish. If the fish does not meet the legal length limit it must be let go after cutting the line or leader as close to the hook as possible.
Nail A Pig!
Mike
Edited by MRoberts 3/11/2008 10:27 AM
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Posts: 199
Location: Anchorage | Huge improvement! Great work Mike!
I love the fact that it gives less experienced anglers some solid and specific advice on how to rig and release fish. I also think the recomendation to keep deep-hooked legal fish is a worthwhile addition. My only question, it touches on allowing fish not meeting the length limit to be removed from the water, what about accidental catches out of season?
Edited by woody 3/11/2008 10:45 PM
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Posts: 714
Location: Rhinelander, WI | Woody, in my correspondence with WDNR personnel I originally tried to get a definition of possession into the pamphlet, as this is what truly concerns most of us. They did do a pretty good job of defining it in the new tourney regulations, but those don’t apply across the board to all anglers. Here is how one official responded:
“My take is that Law Enforcement tends not to want to print interpretations because each situation is a little different and they want to reserve as much flexibility as possible in enforcing the law (e.g., they don't want to be forced into writing a ticket when the
totality of the situation may not warrant it). I would agree that the vague wording may lead to ambiguity and confusion for some anglers…”
To there credit they did take the existing C&R paragraph and reword it to help some.
Regarding fish out of season; there will be some that adamantly disagree with me here, but this is my opinion. It really comes down to possession as I mentioned above, and this is how I see it: If a sub legal fish is not considered being possessed by bringing it into the boat for a picture, than similarly an out of seasons fish would not be considered possessed by taking it’s picture. However from the regulations:
It is illegal—to fish for a species of fish during the closed season for that species (includes catch and release fishing)
So if a warden was watching and they thought there was enough evidence that someone was specifically targeting out of season fish, they could write a ticket.
So take that for what it’s worth my Opinion, and I in NO WAY want to encourage anyone to target fish out of season, in fact it is one of my biggest pet peeves living here in the north woods. Watching guys “PIKE” fishing with 8” St. Croix rods throwing 5 to 8 inch bucktails, crankbaits and jerkbaits. While I am pike fishing with my trusty number 2 French spinner catching one pike after another, waiting for the musky season to open.
Nail A Pig!
Mike
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