Rules allow events to increase while aiming to reduce problems

MADISON — The state Natural Resources Board on Wednesday adopted rules that will allow fishing tournaments to grow in Wisconsin while reducing crowding at boat landings and reducing the potential that fish die, or invasive species are spread, in conjunction with the events.

While geared to the same goals, the adopted rules differ significantly from earlier draft versions taken to public hearings in 2006, according to Mike Staggs, Department of Natural Resources fisheries director. They still establish a permit system to help that state better track where and when tournaments occur, and to enable scheduling of events to make sure they are less likely to cause problems for other boaters and anglers.

But gone is the ban on July and August tournaments where fish are held in livewells and weighed later at a central location. It has been replaced by a provision that allows the DNR to write conditions into the permits that such events must meet to reduce fish mortality, including reducing bag limits, if predetermined temperature limits are reached.

The fees tournament organizers pay for a permit program have been reduced from proposed levels, and board members dropped a $2 fee for bass tournament participants.

Tags: fishing, tournaments, dnr, invasive, species