New SLOT limit on Wisconsin River ??

[MarkG]

This may be old news to some but saw a sign now posted at the boat launch at Whalens Grade on Lake Wisconsin ,that stated as of
April 2002 there would be a new Walleye and Sauger slot limit from the Prarie Du Sac dam upstream.It didnt say "upstream to..." Just
upstream,so I would assume it goes all the way north to the headwaters,(not sure where thats at ..possibly Big St Germain?) I cant
exactly remember the slot I think the prohibition will be 20-28,and only 1 over 28. But what seemed odd to me,is the 15 inch minumum
will still be enforced also. Is this typical to have a slot AND a minumum at the same time?? Anywhere I have fished with a slot,it was
anything under,and 1 over. It always seemed fishing was better than anywhere with a minumum size. Opinions??

[Brad Bahls]

Slot starts April 1 2002....From Prairie Du Sac dam north to Lincoln Co. 15" min-bag is still 5 no fish kept 20"-28" 1 over 28". South of Prairie Du Sac dam the new regs will be 3 fish limit with an 18 inch size limit. I have fished both of these areas a fair amount and I am glad the DNR has implemented some changes. The pressure on these areas prior to the May opener is tremendous, and seems to be getting worse every year. If you would like to hear some of the rational as to why DNR wanted to make these changes, try reading some of the information that was proposed on the CC April ballot.

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/nrboard/springhearings/fish/

[Split_Shot Wi]

I wish the DNR would try something like that on the Winnebago system.

[Adman]

Howdy,

I have fished several areas with slots structured in tis overall fashion.

The reasoning has to do with what happens with "standard" slot limits.

If the slot was no 15 to 23 (just a size tossed out for conversation), but you can keep everything above and below, the slot size ends up being the predominant size fish in the lake or river system, and a lot of them. Trophy fish are non existant and younger fish suffer more mortality as they are generally easier to catch.

What can eventually happen is a collapse of that fish population as there are no trophy size fish available to spawn more trophies and the high numbers of eggs that large fish offer, and the younger fish are removed more quickly.

The minimum size alone tends to allow the very high end of the minimum, 14 1/2 inches or so, to be the predominant fish size. There may be fishable populations of legal fish, but the biggest numbers tend to be sub legal.

In scenario A, there are lots of decent size fish to catch, but that can be only for a relatively short time based on the lifespan of the lake, or your lifespan.

I scenario B, the population tends to bunch up with lots of little nippers and there are not many trophy fish, and keepers can be harder to catch.

In the slot like the DNR is using, the goal is to maintain a trophy population, and even grow their numbers. As well as maintaining the prime age spawners and still decent sized fish. The minimum is to ensure higher numbers of sub legal, and low end legal fish to make it into the slot size.

Slots are not, and generally not used as a forever tactic.

I for one would like to see how this helps bring back soem better fish.

Have fun.........R