Connect With Wisconsin Fish, and Their Fishers and Growers

Eatwisconsinfish.org website relaunches 

June 21, 2016

Eatwisconsinfish.org relaunches today. Newly simplified navigation, bright images and plenty of recipes are in evidence. The site is part of a Sea Grant initiative that educates consumers about the health benefits of seafood consumption, and how to evaluate the safety and sustainability of the seafood they buy.

More than 90 percent of the seafood eaten by Americans is imported from other countries. Sea Grant launched the Eat Wisconsin Fish project in 2014 to help consumers learn more about local fish that are available to purchase in Wisconsin, a state rich in both fishing heritage and water resources. Generations of families have commercially harvested Wisconsin waters of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior since the 1830s, and Wisconsin fish farmers are leaders in aquaponics, cultivating fish and plants together to efficiently recycle nutrients said project lead Kathy Schmitt Kline, an education specialist.          

The relaunched website has six major areas: fish, why eating local fish is a healthy and delicious choice that also keeps dollars in local economies, and providing a detailed list of Wisconsin’s commercially caught and farm-raised fish; producers, which introduces Wisconsin’s fishermen and fish farmers; recipes; resources, which offers a seasonal buying guide and a Wisconsin map indicating where to get the most fresh fish; events; and about the Eat Wisconsin Fish initiative.

Funding for Eat Wisconsin Fish has been provided by the Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin grant program from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and by the National Sea Grant College Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. 

Get specific advice for specific waters online and with one search

New search feature debuts with updated 2012 fish consumption advice

MADISON – It’s now easier than ever for anglers fishing Wisconsin waters to make sure their catch is safe to eat: Wisconsin's updated fish consumption advice for 2012 is available online and features a new search tool that delivers anglers simplified consumption advice for fish from specific waters to limit exposure to environmental contaminants that may be in the fish.

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Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources & Public Health Madison & Dane County Blue-Green Algae Blooms Trigger Health Reminder Avoiding Contact is the Safest Approach

Madison, WI – June 30, 2010 - Recent warm weather has fueled the growth of noxious blue-green algae on Lake Kegonsa and this has prompted the Department of Natural Resources and Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC) to remind folks to avoid swimming in areas blanketed with this type of algae.

On the morning of June 29, most of the lake’s surface area was reported to have been supporting heavy blue green algae growth which can have a paint slick or pea soup like appearance,” noted Susan Graham, DNR Lake Management Coordinator based at Fitchburg. She added that such blooms can be a moving target, since wind and wave action can often make a bloom disappear or appear quickly.

Blue-green algae, technically known as Cyanobacteria, are microscopic organisms that are naturally present in Wisconsin lakes, streams and ponds at low levels. When conditions are favorable, massive blooms can appear. According to Kirsti Sorsa, PHMDC’s Public Health Laboratory Manager, “some species produce toxins that, with exposure, can harm the skin (rashes, lip blistering), liver or nervous systems of people, pets, livestock and wildlife. It can also produce sore throats, headaches, muscular and joint pain and gastro-intestinal symptoms.” In rare cases, the toxins can be fatal to animals although not all blue green algae produce toxins. Anyone who is experiencing such symptoms should contact their clinic or physician. They can report this exposure to PHMDC at 266-4821, and to the State Department of Health Services at this link:  http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/eh/bluegreenalgae/#NewProg

With the upcoming July 4th weekend, now is the ideal time to remind people that the presence of blue-green algae in a lake or pond is a marker for a potential hazard,” said Graham.

Health officials advise people to avoid swimming in areas of lakes and ponds where a scum or mat of algae is present on the water. People also should keep their children from playing in the water, and keep their animals from drinking or swimming in the water with visible blue-green algal blooms.

“Heavy rainfall causing nutrient rich runoff coupled with sunny calm days create ideal conditions for the growth of heavy blue green algae blooms,” according to Graham.

Blue-green algae blooms are common in Wisconsin, with its 15,000 lakes; about 44,000 miles of flowing rivers and countless small ponds. The presence of the algae does not mean the water is toxic, but large, unsightly blooms with a blue-green cast serve as a warning that blue-green algae are present and may be producing toxin, potentially at concentrations that could be a health threat.

The World Health Organization advises that people who choose to eat fish taken from water where blue-green algae bloom is present to consume such fish in moderation and avoid eating fish guts, where accumulation of toxins may be greatest. Also, anglers should take care to not cut into organs when filleting fish and rinse fillets with clean water to remove any liquids from the guts or organs before freezing or cooking.

Updated fish consumption advice available

MADISON – Fish consumption advice has been updated for 2010 and the few minor changes made are reflected in “Choose Wisely: A Health Guide for Eating Fish in Wisconsin [PUB-FH-824, PDF 1.25MB],” now available online and at Department of Natural Resources service centers, state fish contaminant officials say.

DNR and the Department of Health Services jointly issue the advice to help anglers and their families enjoy eating fish they catch from Wisconsin waters or purchase, while reducing their exposure to environmental contaminants.

“Everybody who eats fish, whether they’re eating what they caught or what they bought at a store or restaurant, should review the updated advice and follow it to reduce their exposure to contaminants like mercury and PCBs,” says Candy Schrank, the toxicologist who coordinates the fish consumption advisory for the Department of Natural Resources.

People who frequently eat fish should choose fish species and sizes with the lowest levels of contaminants. Panfish and younger, smaller fish are best; older, larger predator and fatty fish accumulate the highest levels of contaminants.

“Fish are an inexpensive, low-fat source of protein that offer many other health benefits,” says Dr. Henry Anderson. “People should put their fish consumption habits in context with the advice found in ‘Choose Wisely.’ Most will find they do not have to change their current fish-eating habits.”

Because fish from most waters contain mercury, statewide safe-eating guidelines provide the same advice for most inland waters, but there are special exceptions for 102 lakes where higher levels of mercury have been found in fish, and for 49 river reaches where higher levels of PCBs and other chemicals have been found.

To update the advisory for 2010, DNR and the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission collected new mercury data from 58 sites and new data for PCBs and other chemicals for 31 locations, Schrank says.

These include the following lakes: Spider Lake in Iron County; Bass-Long Lake in Lincoln County; Three Lakes Chain in Oneida County; White Tail Flowage in Jackson County; and lakes Superior and Michigan. The Fox River between Little Lake Buttes des Morts and the De Pere Dam, the Milwaukee River from Grafton to Estabrook and the Estabrook Dam to the estuary on that river, and Pool 4 of the Mississippi River also have special advisories.

The National Academy of Sciences estimates that 60,000 children born each year in the United States may be at risk of neurological and learning problems because their mothers eat large amounts of mercury-contaminated fish and seafood during their pregnancy.

Studies have also found that infants and children of women who frequently ate fish contaminated with PCBs may have lower birth weights and be delayed in physical development and learning. PCBs in adults may affect reproductive function and the immune system, and are associated with cancer risk.

May 1 opener earliest date possible

Warm spring bodes well for anglers

MADISON – The 2010 regular inland season is opening on the first date possible – May 1 -- but the fish and the anglers are already waiting and eager.

“The fishing opener is a great opportunity to take kids fishing and start to build their appreciation of Wisconsin’s great outdoors,” said Department of Natural Resources Secretary Matt Frank. “We are working hard with our partners to deliver great angling opportunities for all, from first-timers to pros.”

With most of the state experiencing an early spring, fisheries biologists say water temperatures are warmer than in the past few years.

“The ice is out statewide, and the fish will be at a later stage of spawning than normal,” says Mike Staggs, director of DNR fisheries management. “Anglers may need to change their tactics to match the warmer conditions, but the fish should be feeding and we expect a good fishing opener and a great season.”

The anglers are ready.

“I am really looking forward to the opener this year. I don't know if it is too any e-mails, too long a winter, or what, but I am ready,” says Scot Stewart, who can be found fishing when he’s not on duty as fish supervisor in the DNR South Central Region.

“Panfish in the Madison lakes should be outstanding. Muskie management has paid off in a number of waters around the region. Bass, walleye, pike are all there. Trout fishing in southern Wisconsin is the best it has ever been. Explore a new river. Get out there and enjoy it and take someone with you to enjoy it with you.”

Other fish managers had equally encouraging predictions for anglers based on the results of the spring surveys they are just conducting and last year’s results. Check out the 2010 Wisconsin Fishing Report for the forecast for dozens of the most popular waters in Wisconsin, and find the up-to-date conditions report filed by fish managers in the last few days.

Northern Wisconsin

The ice went out on lakes in the Woodruff area a full two weeks earlier than usual. Initially we thought the fish would not be ready to spawn and would thus avoid our netting gear for spring surveys. The eggs need time to develop and photo period/day length has some say in that process. We figured the fish would "dribble" in, but were surprised with typical catches each day. But we set nets immediately after ice-out and found the fish were spawning as they would have had it been two weeks later. Currently, walleye are well past the peak of spawning except for the large, deep lakes like Trout (Vilas County) or Tomahawk (Oneida County). I would expect spawning to go on in those for another several days to a week yet, but well before the opening of fishing in a few weeks. In a "normal" year, we still see some active males and post-spawn females hanging shallow and up on the rocky shorelines during the fishing opener. This year I don't know if that will be the case - anglers may have to adjust their tactics to more of a mid-May presentation. Fish might take jigs and minnows yet, but trying leeches would not be out of the question by then either. Our weather has been mild and the long range forecasts are calling for continued above-average temps. – Mike Vogelsang, fisheries supervisor, Woodruff

Northeastern Wisconsin

Spring arrived early this year and the fish should be much more active by opening weekend. Spawning was earlier for northern pike and walleye, so along with warmer water temperatures these species will have moved into their active feeding patterns. – George Boronow, fisheries supervisor, Northeastern Wisconsin

South Central Wisconsin

Panfish in the Madison lakes should be outstanding. Muskie management has paid off in a number of waters around the region. It will be a good year. Bass, walleye, pike are all there. Trout fishing in southern Wisconsin is the best it has ever been. Explore a new river. Get out there and enjoy it and take someone with you to enjoy it with you. – Scot Stewart, fisheries supervisor, South Central Wisconsin

Southeastern Wisconsin

Walleye and northern pike are done spawning and out actively feeding. Musky are just starting their spawn. Pre-spawn, largemouth bass are schooling-up, congregating in shallow bays actively feeding on panfish attracted to warming waters found there. Smallmouth bass are in rocky shallows, searching for emerging crayfish. Having left their egg-skeins draped on submerged shoreline brush, yellow perch are done spawning. Come opening day, musky should be done spawning, and all game fish should be actively feeding as they put-back weight lost over winter or through spawning. Fish shallow along drop-offs early and late for walleyes and northern pike; and in shallow bays mid-day for bass. Smallmouth bass will be near rock, pier pilings and boat-lift tracks; largemouth will be over dark bottom hiding in ambush near emerging aquatic plants. - Randy Schumacher, fisheries supervisor, Southeast Wisconsin

Western Wisconsin

Eau Claire area: Walleyes have completed their spring spawning ritual and anglers should find them on the feed up and down the Chippewa River and it’s impoundments. Shallow flats adjacent to spawning areas are your best bets for larger fish. Panfish have been moving into the warm shallow water on area lakes. Small jigs or worms under a bobber will bring action. Largemouth bass have also been seen moving into the shallows. Small lures and light line will provide the best action. Local trout anglers should find conditions tough with water clarity being the issue. Lighter rains causing some runoff will “dirty” the water making the trout less spooky and easier to catch. – Bob Hujik, fisheries supervisor, Lower Chippewa and Central Wisconsin basins.

La Crosse area: Anglers fishing for trout in the La Crosse Area will find streams in the best shape they have been in my 30 years here. Anglers fishing the early catch and release season have found good numbers brown trout in the 14-18 inch range and occasinal brook trout over 12 inches. Many anglers have personally told me they have had days where they caught and released more that 20 trout. One angler released a brown that was 26+ inches (but I forgot where he said he caught it). Water levels in the streams are good and should remain that way well into the summer. This is a good time to explore some new water that you haven't fished before. (Fact: There are more than 220 classified trout streams (1,000 miles0 in the four-county area. Creel surveys have shown that average angler fishes for about 2.5 hours before quitting or moving to another stream. With our season being about 210 days long, an angler could fish a different stream every single day and he/she would still not be able to fish all the water available). Just be sure to ask permission when wanting to access private land. - Dave Vetrano, fisheries supervisor, La Crosse

Wausau area: Fishing in central Wisconsin is expected to be good even with the early spring. The walleye in the Wisconsin River should be feeding very well by now; they have been done spawning for two weeks, well ahead of schedule. With the very warm weather, I expect the panfish to be biting better than on a normal opener, since the water has been above 60 in many of the bays and backwaters of the Wisconsin River for a week or more. Also, musky anglers in Central Wisconsin can now start fishing the Stevens Point Flowage South of the new Hwy 10 bridge on the opener, instead of when the Northern Season opens. – Tom Meronek, fisheries biologist, Wausau

Season dates and regulations
The hook-and-line game fish season opens May 1 on inland waters for walleye, sauger, and northern pike statewide.

The largemouth and smallmouth bass southern zone opens May 1, while the northern bass zone opens for catch and release only from May 1 through June 18. Anglers are reminded that artificial lures and barbless hooks must be used if fishing for bass during the catch-and-release bass fishing season in the northern zone and any other water body that has bass catch-and-release regulations. From June 19 to March 6, 2011, there’s a minimum length limit of 14 inches with a daily bag limit of five fish in total.

Musky season opens May 1 in the southern zone and May 29 in the northern zone.

The northern zone is the area north of highways 77, 64 and 29, with Highway 10 as the dividing line.

The seasons for rock, yellow and white bass, panfish, bullheads and rough fish, catfish, cisco and whitefish are open all year. Check the “2010-2011 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations" for special regulations listed by county, for regulations on the Great Lakes and boundary waters, and for tributary streams to Green Bay and Lake Michigan. The complete guide is also available at DNR offices and license agents.

Fishing licenses
It’s easy to buy a fishing license. You can purchase online; at DNR license vendors; or by calling toll-free 1-877-WI LICENSE (1-877-945-4236).

Wisconsin residents and nonresidents 16 years old or older need a fishing license to fish in any waters of the state. Residents born before Jan. 1, 1927, do not need a license, nor do people who exhibit proof they are in active service with the U.S. armed forces and are a resident on furlough or leave.

About 1.4 million licenses are sold each year to adult anglers in the state and Wisconsin trails only to Florida in the number of days nonresident anglers spend fishing here. Anglers have 15,000 inland lakes, 42,000 miles of streams and rivers plus the Great Lakes shoreline and 260 miles of the Mississippi River to fish. Sportfishing generates $2.75 billion in economic benefits, supports 30,164 jobs, and generates $200 million in state and local tax revenues.

Governor’s Fishing Opener in Polk County
The 45th Governor’s Fishing Opener, officially kicking off Wisconsin’s big game fishing season, takes place at Lake Arbutus in Jackson County on Saturday, May 1. Joining Gov. Jim Doyle at the event this year will be DNR Secretary Matt Frank, DNR Fisheries Director Mike Staggs, local legislators and officials, and media from in and outside of the state.

Former Governor Warren Knowles started the tradition in 1965 to officially open the state's fishing season. The angling event is held at various locations in western and northern Wisconsin each year and is sponsored by the Wisconsin Indianhead Country Tourism group. This event is also by invitation only to key people in the media and state and local government officials.

Anglers are reminded of rules to help stop the spread of VHS
Anglers are reminded to follow rules that help prevent the spread of the deadly fish disease viral hemorrhagic septicemia, or VHS. Earlier this year, evidence of viral hemorrhagic septicemia was detected in fish from Lake Superior by Cornell University scientists using sensitive new molecular methods. And just last week, the DNR learned from Michigan that the virus had been detected in lake herring from Wisconsin waters of the Apostle Island. In both cases, the testing was done on fish that had not died of VHS nor showed any symptoms of the actual disease.

For more information on VHS and steps that all water users can take, visit VHS Prevention.

Eat smaller, younger fish
With walleye spawning done in much of the state, many anglers will be hoping to reel in their limit of this tasty fish. It’s a good, low cost source of nutrition and a brain booster to boot, but make sure that those who eat the fish are following Wisconsin’s fish consumption advisory. A 2009 video (avaialble on the linked page) shows how you can eat your catch and reduce your levels of environmental contaminants such as PCBs and mercury. Inland waters are covered by the same general advice with the exception of about 100 waters where more stringent advice applies.

Fishing in Wisconsin by the numbers
Fifty-three percent of the adults responding to an October 2009 statewide UW-Madison Badger poll say they fish.

The latest statewide mail survey shows that anglers in Wisconsin catch an estimated 88 million fish and keep about 33 million of them, or a little more than one-third. While walleye is the top target, panfish are the most frequently caught and consumed. Learn more online about fishing in Wisconsin.

Connect with fish
Be the first to hear where fish are biting and more by subscribing to fisheries email updates or following [fishwisconsin] on Twitter [Exit DNR].

Correction on two popular Vilas County waters
The 2010-2011 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations incorrectly lists a slot size limit on walleye for North and South Twin lakes, which are connected. There is no slot size limit; the lakes are under the statewide 15-inch minimum size regulation.

Also, Kentuck Lake has a minimum length limit on musky of 40 inches. The size limit was incorrectly listed in the pamphlet.

Updated fish consumption advice available for 2009

New video, and Hmong, Spanish language guides available

MADISON – Updated fish consumption advice, new materials in Hmong and Spanish, and a new video are now available online to help anglers enjoy eating their catch while limiting their exposure to environmental contaminants.

“Fish are a low-cost meal and are rich in vitamins and minerals, but you need to be aware of the kinds and sizes of fish you eat and where they come from,” says Candy Schrank, the Department of Natural Resources toxicologist who coordinates the fish consumption advisories that DNR and the Department of Health Services update and issue every year.

“Choose wisely: A health guide for eating fish in Wisconsin” will help anglers balance their consumption of store bought and locally caught fish with guidelines on intake of mercury and PCBs, two environmental contaminants that accumulate in fish across the country and can cause health problems for people who eat too many fish with high contaminant levels.

“People who aren’t familiar with the advice should read our “Choose wisely” pamphlet carefully, and those who are should see if their favorite fishing spot is on a list of waters with higher contaminant levels or if there have been any changes in consumption advice.”

Printed copies of the fish consumption advisory are available at DNR offices as well.

All state waters are covered by the same general consumption advice. On 148 waters, people are advised to further limit their consumption of fish because higher levels of mercury and PCBs have been found in fish from those waters, Schrank says.

More materials available for non-English speaking anglers

Brochures describing the general consumption advice that applies to all waters are now available online on the DHS web pages and also on DNR fish consumption advisory web pages.

Dr. Henry Anderson, chief medical office of the Department of Health Services, said the new materials aim to reach out to Hmong and Spanish (both links exit DNR; PDFs) speaking residents who eat sport fish. Surveys have shown a lower awareness of the fish consumption advisory among those groups.

“We’ve added two new guides in Hmong and Spanish to better reach their anglers and their families with important information about eating the fish they catch,” he says.

Find more information on the Department of Health Services Eating Safe Fish web pages. [dhs.wisconsin.gov/eh/fish]

Mostly minor changes in advice for 2009, but four lakes added to special advice list

The 2009 updated fish consumption advisory reflects results from recent fish sampling from 96 waterbodies conducted by the DNR and the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, and analysis of those results by DNR and DHS toxicologists. Most of the results resulted in minor changes to consumption advice, but four new lakes were added to the list of those with specific consumption advice because of higher levels of mercury. Those lakes are Tug Lake in Lincoln County and Big Fork, Island, and Planting Ground lakes of the Three Lakes Chain in Oneida County.