Viewing a thread - Culling forum is set

Walleye Discussion Forums

You are logged in as a guest. ( logon | register )

	View previous thread :: View next thread
Jump to page : 1 Now viewing page 1 [25 messages per page] Walleye Fishing -> General Discussion -> Culling forum is set

Message Subject: Culling forum is set

Guest

Posted 8/23/2004 9:21 PM (#21982)
Subject: Culling forum is set

FYI Anyone attending?

Advisory team formed
to help develop tournament fishing rules

MADISON – An advisory group has been formed and meets for the first time Aug. 28 in Stevens Point to help the Department of Natural Resources carry out new legislation requiring the agency to develop rules regulating fishing tournaments and to determine which four bass tournaments will participate in a pilot study to evaluate the effects of culling, or sorting fish.

Group members include representatives from the ranks of tournament organizers, fishing clubs, the sport fishing industry, the tourism industry, the general angling public, and other users of Wisconsin lakes and rivers, according to Mike Staggs, who leads the Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Management and Habitat Protection program.

“Over the long term, this advisory group and the subsequent rulemaking process will allow us to address all of the concerns we’ve heard over the years with fishing tournaments, including one of the most common complaints, overcrowding at boat ramps on tournament days,” Staggs says.

In the short term, the group will help DNR carry out the new law’s provision concerning bass tournaments, Staggs says. 2003 Wisconsin Act 249, in addition to requiring DNR to promulgate rules to regulate fishing tournaments, requires the agency to establish a bass fishing tournament pilot program.

Under the pilot program, DNR is required to issue four permits per year to bass tournaments to evaluate the impact of culling. The Wisconsin BASS Federation and participating tournaments will share the cost of the evaluation, and DNR is required to report back to the Legislature before the pilot program expires Dec. 31, 2006.

“The advisory group will help us develop the process for deciding which bass tournaments will be in the pilot program, and they’ll set the standards for livewells that we think are critical to allow the culling to occur safely,” Staggs says.

Under Wisconsin’s rules, anglers can only have five bass in their livewells at one time, and when they reach five, they’re done bass fishing for the day. In many other states, anglers can keep fishing and replace smaller fish in their livewell with bigger fish, according to Patrick Schmalz, the warm water lakes and regulations specialist leading DNR efforts to develop the new tournament rules.

Some bass anglers and tournament sponsors contend that big-time bass tournaments skip Wisconsin because of the state’s culling rules. Under Act 249, participants in tournaments selected to participate in the pilot study can continue to fish once they reach their daily limit and replace smaller fish with bigger fish, Schmalz says.

Hundreds of fishing tournaments occur in Wisconsin every year, with bass tournaments among the most popular. DNR now issues free permits to tournaments that meet certain criteria, including if competition is the primary intent, if prizes valued at $500 or more are awarded for competition, if participants number more than 40 individuals or 20 boats and if the participants are required to fish the same dates. Tournaments that don’t meet all of the criteria do not need a permit, Schmalz says.

In recent years, DNR has issued about 400 total permits annually, with about 250 of them for bass tournaments. The permits set general conditions for all permitted tournaments, and then can set conditions specific to an individual tournament. For example, a permit may identify areas where competitive fishing is prohibited to protect critical habitat, or to protect public rights, interests or safety, including designated swimming areas, mooring areas, and navigational channels.

The advisory committee will examine that current permit system and consider changing it. But that process will take many months. The first task on the advisory group’s agenda, and on the group’s Aug. 28 agenda, is helping DNR draft proposed rules setting standards for the livewells that participants will need to have in the four pilot program tournaments next year, Schmalz says.

“If bass are held in a good livewell that’s aerated all of the time, their chances of survival after being carried around all day will be better,” Schmalz says.

The Fishing Tournament Advisory Committee meets from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Royal and River rooms of the Best Western Royale in Stevens Point, 5110 Main St. (HWY 10 and I-39) in Stevens Point. For more information, contact Patrick Schmalz, warmwater lakes and regulations specialist, at (608) 266-8170, or e-mail [email protected].

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick Schmalz - (608) 266-8170

tyee

Posted 8/24/2004 10:46 PM (#22016 - in reply to #21982)
Subject: RE: Culling forum is set

Member

Posts: 1406

FYI....This isn't just about culling it is about ALL tournament anglers and regulations surrounding them in WI. It just happens to be formed around Bass and culling right now. WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS AND WHAT IS HAPPENING. Zach, or Troy, Steve? can one of you contact the WDNR and get on their press release list? This should be on the Trawler.
Good Luck
Tyee

Jump to page : 1
Now viewing page 1 [25 messages per page]

Search this forum
Printer friendly version
E-mail a link to this thread