WISCONSIN FISHING By The Numbers 15,000 lakes 42,000 miles of streams and rivers 1.4 million anglers 88 million fish caught by anglers $2.75 billion in economic activity $200 million in tax revenues for local and state governments 30,000+ jobs 21 million days that anglers fished 12 million fish stocked Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service, American Sportfishing Association, 2008 A Lake Winnebago success story viding fishing opportunities for local resi- Dear “Cleaner and clearer”, the lake dents, destination fishing for out-of-state WISCONSIN aficionados, and an annual $234 million is becoming a walleye factory. economic boost for the five counties sur- ANGLER rounding Lake Winnebago and the other OSHKOSH. — Twenty years ago wall- lakes in the Winnebago chain -- Butte des Welcome to Wisconsin – home of the best eye fishing on Lake Winnebago stunk. Morts, Winneconne, and Poygan. The Fish are Waiting Literally. The secrets of that success? Arrowood and most diverse fishing in the country. We Wisconsin Anglers --- Plan those special days on the offer more waters than dedicated anglers Scant rain and snow in the late 1980s and state fisheries biologists point to three could fish in several lifetimes…an incred- dried up walleye reproduction and the main factors: water with the 2012 A Year of Fish calendar. ible array of fish to catch…and some rare fishing with it while goosing the growth Calendar includes: ones just to appreciate. Fishing is a corner- of smelly algae blooms, recalls Mike Ar- 1) DNR, local governments and citizen Important fishing dates, moon stone of Wisconsin’s culture and economy. rowood, a 40-year resident of Fond du groups have successfully implement- phases, game fish identifica- We rank second in the country in the number ed the lion’s share of a 1989 compre- tion, monthly forecasts, and of days nonresidents spend fishing here, and hensive management plan aimed at resources to keep you in if we had Florida’s weather and year-round improving fish and wildlife habitat, open water, we’d probably be number one. touch with Wisconsin water quality, and user issues in the fishing. system. The 2012 Wisconsin Fishing Report can only hint at the great fishing opportunities 2) Citizen groups like Walleyes for To- awaiting you in the state. I hope the forecasts morrow, Shadows on the Wolf, and provided by many of our biologists help you a host of others have stepped up in a understand how your favorite fishing spot is big way, most importantly to protect, faring, based on the fish surveys and man- create and restore habitat. They’ve agement actions we’re taking to make your poured in hundreds of thousands of fishing better. hours of labor, donated millions of dollars for equipment and supplies or The fishing licenses and stamps you buy, secured such at a reduced cost, and your vocal and financial support of our pro- jawboned local officials, private prop- gram, and your time and labor are critical Ideal conditions on Lake Winnebago led to erty owners and industry to take mea- to conserving and enhancing Wisconsin fish the 5th largest hatch of walleye on record sures benefitting walleye production. The Ultimate Catch populations and fishing opportunities for in 2011. DNR photo. 3) DNR and partner groups have pursued now and in the future. So sit back, read up, an aggressive research program to un- Wisconsin and then hit the water to enjoy great fishing lock the secrets of walleye in a vast, fishing in and the memories of a lifetime. And while Lac. “My kids used to call it Winnesep- ever-changing system, to apply that the palm you’re at it, save some time to take someone tic,” he says. knowledge, and to be committed to it fishing who’s never been before, or hasn’t over the long-term. of your been in a long time. The memories will last What a difference 20 years makes. To- a lifetime for you and them, and you can feel day, the state’s largest inland lake is signif- hand! good that you’ll be investing in the future of icantly cleaner and clearer and fishing for “One of the things I tell the public is, keep Wisconsin’s fishing. ol’ marble eyes on the Winnebago chain of your eyes on the prize,” Arrowood says. lakes is “superb,” says Arrowood, chair- “The other thing I tell the public is, if See you on the water! man of the board of directors of Walleye you put a quarter-inch fry in the lake, for Tomorrow. “Most anybody can fish it’s going to be a while before it’s in on Winnebago now and catch walleye.” your frying pan.” Natural reproduction of this frying pan favorite in the past decade overall has — Lisa Gaumnitz, public Director, Fisheries Management been the best it’s been in a generation, pro- affairs manager, DNR Find links to fishing licenses, season dates, Find us on Facebook (facebook.com/ SIGN UP for Fisheries Updates. Go Follow “fishwisconsin” F WIDNR) regulations, where to fish and more at: to fishingwisconsin. org to sign on Twitter. Subscribe at Y Watch us on YouTube (youtube.com/ fishingwisconsin.org up and stay informed on fisheries issues. fishingwisconsin.org I user/ WIDNRTV) Fabulous Fisheries Projects 2012 SEASON DATES Many hands create pride of a community Early Inland Trout Fish gotta swim March 3 (5 a.m.) to April 29 PARK FALLS — The culmination of many FITCHBURG — Lake Belleview, a wid- years of negotiations between Flambeau ening of the Sugar River in southern Dane General Hook and Line Inland Hydro, DNR, and USDA Forest Service County was restored in fall, 2010 through May 5 to March 3, 2013 has led to the construction of a nature-like summer 2011. The lake underwent a gambit fishway at the Winter Hydroelectric Project. of dredging, re-introduction of native fishes, The fishway will eliminate the only obsta- native plant reseeding, and installation of General Inland Trout cle to free fish movement in the East Fork water control devices to recreate an off- May 5 (5 a.m.) to Sept. 30 Chippewa River and opens up 85 miles of channel ‘oxbow” environment character- high-quality habitat in a wild and undevel- ized by clear water, a healthy littoral zone Large and Smallmouth Bass oped river corridor. It will reconnect frag- and a diverse fishery. Northern Zone Catch-and-Release mented habitat and populations and provide upstream and downstream passage for the May 5 to June 15 entire fish community and other aquatic spe- cies. Existing concrete lined channel on the Large and Smallmouth Bass Menomonee River, Milwaukee County. Pho- Northern Zone Harvest to: Will Wawrzyn June 16 to March 3, 2013 Large and Smallmouth Bass Southern Zone May 5 to March 3, 2013 Musky – Northern Zone Newly filled Lake Belleview from the air, May 26 to Nov. 30 Summer 2011. Photo: Kurt Welke Musky – Southern Zone Early stages of fishway construction at Win- May 5 to Dec. 31 ter Hydroelectric Project, East Fork Chip- This project illustrates an integrated approach pewa River, September 2011. Photo:Kendal to re-establishing all elements of a healthy Liebzeit lake including its’ shorelines, plants, fishery Northern Pike and aesthetics. This was a cooperative effort May 5 to March 3, 2013 between The Village of Belleville, Town of The fishway is a careful placement of boul- Montrose, the Upper Sugar river Watershed Artist rendering of proposed channel design Walleye ders, rock, and stone to create a stair-step association, Dane County, NRCS, private of the same section of the Menomonee River. May 5 to March 3, 2013 series of 14 pools and v-shaped weirs (each consultants Underwater Habitat Investiga- Tom Sear, SEH Consultants for Milwaukee gaining ~ 6 inches elevation). It was com- tions LLC and Agrecol, and DNR. We ex- Metropolitan Sewerage District. pleted under bitter, snow-covered conditions pect a ecologically balanced and healthy Lake Sturgeon (hook and line) in December 2011. Migrating sturgeon, oxbow lake as a community asset. The lake Sept. 1 to Sept. 30 suckers, walleye, and four redhorse species, will provide opportunities for water based should ascend the fishway next spring to recreation and enjoyment of natural scenic spawn. We expect young-of-the-year fish to beauty. Barriers down, fishing up Free Fishing Weekend move downstream in summer and fall. Min- June 2 - 3, 2012 nows, darters, smallmouth bass, sunfishes, MILWAUKEE — Both fish from Lake and other riverine species should use the Michigan and anglers will benefit from re- fishway throughout the year. moval of a barrier to fish passage along the New fishing opportunity for Marathon Menomonee River in Milwaukee County. A County 1000-foot section of a concrete lined stream reach, constructed in 1964 for flood control WAUSAU — Over the past two years, purposes, will be removed and replaced with Marathon County Parks has been working an enhanced channel in 2013 enabling fish in partnership with the DNR to develop an to move over 20-miles upstream to the Lep- accessible access for a popular fishing and per Dam in Menomonee Falls, Waukesha swimming lake. The site is at the Sunny- County. The enhancement will enable fish to vale Park Lake in Marathon County. When access historical spawning habitat and pro- completed, the project will have an acces- vide unique fishing opportunities and elimi- sible parking area with an asphalt walkway nate a navigation and safety hazard. leading to a new fishing pier. The new pier will provide access to a newly renovated The $4-million.project is being managed by McGee Lake brook trout captured during an fishing location that has been dredged and the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage Dis- Eighth Annual Kids’ Fishing Day - Third October 2008 survey.