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Posts: 1168
| Here is the story in the JS: http://www.jsonline.com/sports/outdoors/122631738.html
From the article:
"Voters at the spring hearings gave the thumbs-up for the change to a 40-inch minimum by a 2 to 1 margin. The measure was supported by a majority in all 72 counties.
As a result of the regulation, about 600 Wisconsin waters will have the 40-inch minimum for musky in 2012, while 20 special waters will have a 28-inch minimum and 20 others will have 45- or 50-inch minimums."
Also from the same article:
"In other fisheries regulations, the board approved a rule that will require anglers to use a quick-strike rig or circle hooks when using 8-inch or longer minnows for bait."
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Posts: 14
| This is great news that the 40" size limit is now official! It has been a long time coming and although it might not be perfect, it is another step to improving our fishery in Wisconsin. Much thanks to Tim S. from the DNR (and many others) for helping educate and promote this effort and to everyone that got out and voted. |
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Posts: 1220
| These things will not always proceed to the finish line without some special interest getting in the way....but if this goes into effect, I say, "Yippee!"
Marty |
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Posts: 968
Location: N.FIB | anybody know how someone will be able figure out what lakes are what size limit,I was told by tony rizzo about 6-7 yr ago that if the size limit wasn`t posted at the landing in was a 34in size limit,will it be something like that,could end up with folks taking undersize fish out of some lakes thinking they are legal. |
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Posts: 3242
Location: Racine, Wi | CASTING55 - 5/26/2011 7:19 AM
anybody know how someone will be able figure out what lakes are what size limit,I was told by tony rizzo about 6-7 yr ago that if the size limit wasn`t posted at the landing in was a 34in size limit,will it be something like that,could end up with folks taking undersize fish out of some lakes thinking they are legal.
I believe the regulations typically say that the minimum size limit is xxx (in this case 40"). Lakes with special regulations will be noted at launches (or something to that effect).
All in all, it's up to the fishermen/women to know the regulations to the lakes. Ignorance is not an excuse (unless your the president)  |
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Posts: 470
Location: Blaine, MN | Great work, Congrats to everyone involved.
Geno
Edited by short STRIKE 5/26/2011 7:45 AM
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Location: SE Wisconsin | I'm in support of everything I've read in the summary article - only I would have like to have seen the 18"/limit 3 for walleye in S. Wisconsin. |
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Posts: 582
| So does that mean all tournments will now be counting only 40" or bigger fish ? I guess so as it makes sense. But i have been in a few where the biggest fish was a 39" No one would have won the tournment. |
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | If the event is CPR a variance can be issued. |
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Location: Hayward, WI | I haven't had a chance to click the link and read through it, but that's great news. It should stop a lot of accidental catches Being brought home by non musky fishermen I would think. I would have to guess the majority of muskies kept here in WI would have been in the 34-40 inch range?
Tucker |
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Posts: 1158
| curleytail - 5/26/2011 8:52 AM
I haven't had a chance to click the link and read through it, but that's great news. It should stop a lot of accidental catches Being brought home by non musky fishermen I would think. I would have to guess the majority of muskies kept here in WI would have been in the 34-40 inch range?
Tucker
My thoughts exactly. |
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Location: APPLETON, WI | *w00t!* Awesome news... |
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Posts: 229
| I think this is great news. I just wonder how transport tournaments will handle this. Will they go to judge boat format?
John |
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Posts: 968
Location: N.FIB | they will have to go to judge boats or get a witness,which is good cause I would think the muskie could get injured splashing around in a livewell once in a while. |
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Location: Columbus, Georgia | Nice development. |
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Posts: 1168
| Wimuskyfisherman - 5/26/2011 2:09 PM
I think this is great news. I just wonder how transport tournaments will handle this. Will they go to judge boat format?
John
Transport tournaments are officially called "catch-hold-release" tournaments. Two key points from the WDNR guidelines on that format as it relates to muskies:
A. All transported fish must be of legal size for that water body
H. Muskellunge that are transported to a registration site must be counted towards the participant's daily bag limit, and that person may not fish for muskellunge during the remainder of the day.
The WDNR wants any/all muskie tournaments to be immediate release (judge boat) format. The sticky part of this is that they can't simply say; "no catch-hold-release" without getting people worked up. They can still happen but they would be restricted enough where it's next to impossible to have a transport tourney.
I know some have "DNR bashing" as a hobby or favorite pastime but encouraging judge boat tournaments is an area that they have been strongly in favor of. The language in the tournament guidelines, increased state wide size limits, genetic studies, and a few others are areas where we really can thank the WDNR. |
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Posts: 1220
| First, I prefer the judge boat format and have always said so. I like it better than a transport format and better than a photo release format--it's a free country and that is my first choice. I still fish the WMT/Pro-MAC however for a lot of reasons, mainly it's the biggest circuit with the most money, most events and the most anglers to try to beat or just have a good time with. The math is simple too. You can fish a one day or two day event for just over $300.00 per team entry, win $10,000.00 for a one day or $20,000.00 for a two day event. I fish judge boat tournaments like the PMTT too but for a similar purse you have to pay double the entry and the higher fee can reduce the teams and have a further erosion on the prize money when some balk at the higher fees and don't come. It's just numbers really if you consider the cost of paying as many as a dozen judges to bring their boats and work the event-thousands extra that result in the higher entry. Now...if the new size limit really takes place, this will all be a moot point. There are not enough fish over 40 caught in any Wisconsin tournament to allow for the transport tournaments to continue. The format will switch to judge boats or photos and that will be that. Interestingly, I suspect that those who don't care for tournaments will just find something else to get cranky about, and the rest of us will keep doing the thing we enjoy doing. Like I said...free country! Marty Forman |
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| Thats fantastic, and the bait and hook restriction is going to be a great deal as well, congrats Wisco... |
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Posts: 14
| Marty, I am with you on the judge boat format being first choice, in my mind by a long shot over the other two choices. I do have to say, however, on many bodies of water the judge boat format really shouldn't be that much less of a payout ratio. I would have to double check, but I believe the IMTT (Ironman, not IL) has a similar entree fee to payout ratio as WMT/Pro-MAC. In addition, I would think there would be enough interest from Muskies Inc members or others not fishing a particular tournament that would be very interested in helping as a judge boat for very little compensation. For someone new to musky fishing it would be a great way to see how and where people are catching muskies.
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Posts: 1168
| Junkman - 5/26/2011 10:15 PM
I fish judge boat tournaments like the PMTT too but for a similar purse you have to pay double the entry and the higher fee can reduce the teams and have a further erosion on the prize money when some balk at the higher fees and don't come. It's just numbers really if you consider the cost of paying as many as a dozen judges to bring their boats and work the event-thousands extra that result in the higher entry.
I have a question about this. You say that some balk at events that have judge boats because the prize money is diluted by the need to pay those judge boats. Since the rule in WI is that a fish that is transported counts against your daily bag limit does your comment suggest that people are more willing to take a shot at more prize money knowing that they and their partner can only catch a maximum of two fish a day combined?
Based on what the rules are in WI, anyone competing in tournaments where there is the option of a judge boat being called or transporting a fish (I'm not sure if any of these duel format events exist anymore) would be stupid to transport. It lowers the number of fish you can catch and stacks the deck against you in favor of teams that are doing immediate release. |
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Why not adapt CPR events. They are bulletproof as far as trying to 'cheat', proven out by Anglers Insight Marketing and Paul Hartman. Several other events in Canada and the US now use the format. No waiting for a judge, immediate release after C and P, pretty much like any other day on the water. Unquestionably best for the fish, and for the chance to catch multiples during the event day. I know the WIDNR really likes that format, and eventually may require it for Muskie events. |
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Posts: 1220
| To answer your question, I think everybody would just as soon stay out there and fish all day which you can not do if you catch two fish (for two anglers) in a transport event. It's a downside for the angler, but maybe an upside for the musky actually. Each team can only bother two fish per day where in another event they could catch 5 or 6 fish...maybe causing more of a "beat-up" fishery than if they only got two. On last Saturday, 150 of us only caught 8 fish (none over forty inches) so it is more often not an important consideration. The key answer to your question however, is about the money. It's a simple thing that a whole lot of folks think it makes more sense to plunk down $300 to fish for 10K or 20K than it does to plunk down $600 to fish for less. I'm not the normal guy, I am not fishing for the cash really anyway, ( it goes to charity) don't care about the entry fee, just like doing this a whole, whole lot and will pretty much go wherever and whenever it is happening. The great majority of folks, however, are still reeling from a recently rotten economy and that amount of money makes a real difference to them. The important thing to always keep in mind however is that regardless of personal finance, these guys and gals are mostly talented anglers who love the resource as much as anyone, could likely all give totally good classes on proper fish handling and release and are consumate sportsmen and girls. Marty Forman |
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Location: North/Central WI | I'm not saying transport is the best option, but I've always kind of liked catching our two fish nice and early and having to quit. We either take the opportunity to pre-fish for another upcoming tournament...or sit and drink beer all day long and watch the rest of the tournament field slave away. |
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| Paper tournaments are nice |
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Posts: 1220
| Just realized that I did not properly answer the comment on the Ironman Series. I fish every Ironman event I can get to, really enjoy them and those who run it and those who fish in them. But, they are a different category for me. The history has been more of a local group, more of a "friendly" style, lower entry and prizes, trolling or live bait fine, but most importantly...not a blatantly For Profit tourney organization. Because of that Tom is often able to get judges to donate the day on the water and use local folks. The PMTT going to Kentucky, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Minnesota this year has to hire a bunch of strangers, pay them enough to get them and hire plenty to cover the water. Again, when you spend this money, it has an impact. Honestl, I am really just grateful that I have all three of those groups to fish with, and they provide me with a whole lot of the fun that I have during daylight hours. Marty |
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| Ironman..."most importantly...not a blatantly For Profit tourney organization."
Now that's hilarious!!
If you havent noticed, things have changed a bit the last couple years. Do the math... |
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Posts: 5874
| Just because it was voted on by the majority, doesn't neccesarily mean that it will become the regulation.
Remember the 54" limit for Green Bay that was "passed" twice in the spring hearings over the past 4 years? Still not a reality. |
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