Next month I will be attending the Wisconsin Conservation Congress’ Warm Water Study Committee meeting. As a delegate representing Chippewa County, I have served a number of years on this committee.

As part of spring hearings process this past April, the committee will review and forward or reject approximately 30 citizen resolutions written and passed from various Wisconsin Counties. Proposals were forwarded to the Conservation Congress Rules and Resolutions Committee for review and forwarded to the Warm Water Study Committee.

Citizen resolutions may deal with a number of topics such as fish size and bag limit regulations on various lakes, limited fish tournaments and restricting use of fish locators (sonar products).

This year’s resolutions generate some items of local interest. A number of Chippewa County residents proclaim the Chippewa County River/Lake Wissota daily pan fish/crappie bag limits should be decreased. A resolution presented by Bradley Blake of Chippewa Falls asks “Would you support a decrease daily bag limit implementation of minimum length limits for the Lake Wissota section of the Chippewa River and its tributaries?” The resolution passed Chippewa County voters by a total of 168 in favor to 114 not in favor.

Another citizen resolution from Chippewa County authored by Nicholas John Sprague of Chippewa Falls, discusses the state of Wisconsin setting stricter total harvest pan fish limits as well as examining the advantages of size limits to protect the few trophy opportunities left. The resolution asks “Would you support the Wisconsin Conservation Congress to work with DNR fish biologists to study the feasibility of stricter pan fish regulations state wide?” The resolution passed Chippewa County voters by 186 in favor to 100 not in favor.

A citizen resolution from Clark County indicates a concern about Mead Lake pan fish populations. An explanation to the resolution authored by Dave Nowak of Willard indicates fishing pressure on Mead Lake in Clark County is extensive year round with the bulk of fishing pressure occurring during the ice fishing season. Clark County has only a few lakes for fishing all receiving a lot of pressure. Similar to surrounding lakes in Clark County and lakes in adjoining counties we feel it is time for restricting the pan fish bag limit on Mead Lake. We recommend the pan fish daily bag limit remain at 25 with no more than 10 pan fish of the same species per day. Pan fish on Mead Lake are fished so heavily they do not get the age structure needed to increase their average size. Mead Lake has a healthy food supply of aquatic plants and larvae for fish to choose from. With restricting the amount of fish being removed each day from the lake it is our plan that the pan fish size will increase creating a better quality of fish. This would benefit the general public as a whole. The citizen resolution asks the following question, “Would you support a year round daily pan fish limit of 25 fish with only 10 of any one species per day on Mead Lake in Clark County.”

Another resolution from Clark County authored by Greg Kallberg of Owen requests a statewide year round limit of 10 pan fish per angler per day. The resolution passed with 83 in favor to 45 not in favor.

An interesting citizen resolution from Marathon County requesting a reduction in daily fish bag limits due to an increase in fishing pressure and use of technological advancement such as electronic fish locators asks “As a result of increased technological advancements (sonar) and fishing pressure, do you support reducing the pan fish bag limit on most Wisconsin waters to 10 fish per species. The resolution passed 494 in favor to 123 not in favor.

Many resolutions forwarded to the study committee are reviewed for input with DNR fisheries stau. Resolutions requesting lower pan fish limits on various lakes encourages the committee to investigate if and when the lake requested, has had a comprehensive fish survey. Please keep in mind, many citizen resolutions are based on personal public opinion, not based on scientific studies or evidence.

Resolutions reviewed and voted upon, which are passed by the Warm Water Study Committee, are forwarded to the Conservation Congress District Council for approval. If approved by the Council, the questions will appear and be voted upon at the 2023 Spring Rules and Resolutions Hearings held statewide in all counties the second Monday in April.

with Al Brown