wisconsin laws

[wngdamr]

I just read an article in the paper that says you cannot release a fish in order to catch and keep a more desirable-bigger-one.If this is true i have been a lawbreaker and did not know it.Story said DNR will be enforcing this. I hope I am reading this wrong because in the spring below the dams what are we supposed to do,keep those little sauger.That would be worse than it is already with so many fishermen keeping those 12 inchers. The article is at #####://www.jsonline/outdoors/juloo/nobag02070100.asp

[wngdamr]

story is by Jay Reed. I am calling a warden to ask him as soon as possible but am not going to sort any fish if I plan to keep any.

[Jeremy(WI)]

Once a fish is in a livewell or on a stringer it is considered part of the daily bag limit in Wisconsin, no culling is allowed

[jerry]

This is true only if you have established that fish as one of your bag limit. There isn't anything against pure catch and release fishing, as long as the species is in season.

[wngdamr]

The story is titled -There has never been a better time to hunt or fish. I was wondering if he meant that say you catch a few small fish and release them and then decide to keep some.Some times writers don't explain good enough.I hope I'm reading this wrong. Goog luck fshn

[Steve]

The law is plain and simple, you can catch and release all you want, but if you put a fish in your live well, you cannot throught it back. Translation: you absolutely cannot through a fish back in the lake after it has been in your livewell!!

[It's true]

NO CULLING IN WISCONSIN, ONCE IT IS IN YOUR LIVEWELL IT IS PART OF YOUR DAILY BAG LIMIT! This goes for all the tourneys also. I know that they break this law all the time when fishing WI. Although I understand why they do it it is against the law. Am I breaking this law occasionally also when I keep a fish in the livewell then catch no more and release it because I don't want to clean just one. I don't think this is a violation. Just once you reach your limit you can not replace fish in the livewell. Also my kid likes to keep her bluegills for awhile before she lets them go. Maybe a WDNR official could explain. I know when you ask a question like this you usually can get several different answers from them.

[brdklr]

Isn't releasing a different matter than culling. I release fish all the time after being in the livewell for the same reasons as above. Also what are the tourneys supposed to do, keep and kill all the fish they catch? I think they just don't want to have a guy throw back a half dead or stressed fish from a livewell just to replace it with a larger one. The law may need to be broad to stop this but I don't think a warden would give a citation for releasing a walleye because you decided you didn't want just one. Of course that is where the different warden come in, some might. Also I know you can not waste game in WI so if you threw back some fish from your well that were dead or dying you could get it for that also, different matter I know.

[Doc_wi]

It is illegal to put a fish in your livewell and then release it to keep a bigger fish ( culling ). It is not illegal to keep a fish in your livewell and then release it under some of the circumstances mentioned. If you only have 1 and decide to release it, especially if it is is good shape, it perfectly legal to let it go. The following is right out of the rule book: "It is illegal to sort fish. Any fish you take into possession which you do not release immediately is part of your daily bag limit even if released later". So if you catch a big one and put it in your livewell, travel to a better location for pictures and then release it, that fish is STILL part of your daily bag limit. So you CAN release a fish after it has been in your livewell, but not in order to replace it with a bigger one. This applies for tournaments also.

Doc

[wngdamr]

I didn't explain any better than the author did.When fishing below dams in spring sometimes you catch fish real deep 40-50feet.You try to bring them up slowly but still some have their air bladder popping from their mouths.I have had some success putting them in a cooler of water for a while and if they look like they will survive I release them.Not to cull them.Not uncommon to catch 50-75 in a day 12"ers.I don't keep eyes then anyway.Only sauger that I think will die.Usually no problem limiting.Probably illegal.That little pamphlet you get don't have all laws in it so if you ever have doubts ask DNR Sorry for long post. Thanks all and have safe summer!

[releaser]

In cool water situations I will keep my fish for a picture at the end of the day then they all go back ,if alive and well. These are not culled, or over limit. When checked it is all legal. Also, make sure you take all your minnows back home and put them in the flower beds you can't release live unused minnows in Wisonsin.

[wow]

THROW