Keepin WI walleye banned?

[Lee Borgersen]

 

 



 













 
 
Catching and keeping walleye might be banned in some Northwoods lakes

 
 
ONEIDA COUNTY (WAOW) -- Wisconsin anglers might have to find a new place to catch walleye.

Oneida County Department of Natural Resources officials and several Native American tribes want to ban walleye fishing on some Minocqua area lakes. They say a ban might improve the walleye population.

Officials with the Department of Natural Resources say the walleye population has been down in the six Minocqua chain lakes for nearly a decade. They say they've made several attempts to revive it.

"The minimum length of walleye that can be kept went from the state-wide 15 inch minimum to an 18 inch minimum," explained John Kubisiak, the Oneida County fisheries biologist.

Kubisiak says they've also been stocking the lakes with walleye, but they aren't seeing the results they'd like to.

Over the past few weeks, the DNR has been working with tribal officials and state fishing clubs. They decided that in order to get the lakes back into good fishing condition they might have to ban walleye fishing for up to five years.

"It would be to our benefit to use some restraint for a few years and let it recover," said Kubisiak.

Kurt Justice owns Kurt's Island Sports Shop in Minocqua and works as a fishing guide. Justice says he and his customers know the walleye fishery is suffering.

"I see a lot of people who say they want to fish Lake Minocqua or Lake Tomahawk," said Justice. "But I say, let's go somewhere else if you want walleye."

He says the walleye ban might cut down on his business, but something needs to be done.

"It might hurt for a little while," explained Justice. "I've always been in for what's best long term."

While the proposal would put a hold on some Northwoods fishing for a while, officials say the end results will be worth it.

"It's a unique exciting development," said Kubisiak. "We still have to hammer out the details but I think we're on the right path."

Officials say the ban would only stop people from catching and keeping walleye in the Minocqua chain of lakes. They say area tribes have also agreed not to spear fish.

The DNR hopes the proposal will be passed by opening day of fishing season in May.

[snow1]

Ha! nothing said about "gill netting" killing the lakes up there! Hand writing has been on the wall for that area since the late 80's when the tribes started this debockel.

[DDSBYDAY]

   Interesting they did not mention the nets.  Also the tribe can agree not to spear but there is no court that would do a darn thing if they go ahead and do it anyway.   

[dew2]

   Interesting they did not mention the nets.  Also the tribe can agree not to spear but there is no court that would do a darn thing if they go ahead and do it anyway.   

The lakes problem is no spawning,Linked attached.These lakes get speared but no netting thats why it's not mentioned again a link attached

Spawning or no natural reproduction>>http://www.lakelandtimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=13&SubSectionID=13&ArticleID=23204

 Spearing>http://www.lakelandtimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=13&SubSectionID=13&ArticleID=23204

 My question is why so many lakes that did have natural reproduction are now not reproducing?? Invasives? climate? or like our own state lake with lack of eyes within a slot, that took all certain year classes and adult fish canablizing fry.

[snow1]

I don't by it,these lakes in the tribal ceded territory of wisc has been on the ropes since the tribes started spearing and netting,the non native folks have a 1 or 2 fish daily limit all through this area for many years,how can the walleyes reproduce when the brood stock is systematically taken out before they spawn...no nets? yeah right,pigs can fly too.

[snow1]

Hopefully one day our states will make a stand which they have the authority to do when it comes down to conservation of said states resource,in the mean time our non tribal members are taking it the shorts paying our taxes that help fund the tribes and pay for stocking so they can keep pilaging the lakes,selling walleyes for profit and gaines while collecting federal monies and in some cases collecting casino's gains in huge dollar amounts~

And now our federal judge threw out the Lacey Act against a clutch of irresponsible native members(operation square hook) but threw the book@ the non natives for buying the fish from the natives.