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.

Poll quizzes anglers about VHS fish disease

The catch? New insights into angler habits

MADISON – A recent statewide poll reeled in a mixed bag of results after asking anglers about state rules passed in 2008 to stop the spread of VHS fish disease.

The poll revealed good compliance by anglers with the VHS rules, but knowledge of the rules, not so good.

Perhaps most interestingly, the poll yielded new insights into angler habits such as minnow use that will help shape future awareness and information efforts, says Karl Scheidegger, a Department of Natural Resources fish biologist who leads fisheries outreach efforts.

“The good news is that the poll shows that the vast majority of anglers said that preventing the spread of VHS was very important, and that most anglers are taking many of the steps we need them to take to keep Wisconsin fish and lakes healthy,” he says.

“They’re draining water from their boats, live wells and bait buckets. They’re not taking live fish away from a lake with the exception of minnows, as the rules allow, and they’re following the rules for using leftover minnows: they are using them again on the same water or using them elsewhere if they did not add any lake or river water to their bait bucket.”

DNR has been working closely with UW-Extension, the UW-Madison Department of Life Sciences Communication and the UW-Madison Sea Grant on research related to outreach efforts. The UW-Madison's Badger Poll surveyed 507 people randomly chosen within households with working landlines in October and November 2009. Results from this survey have a margin of error of a little more than plus or minus 4 percent. More details on the poll are available on the University of Wisconsin Web site [http://www.news.wisc.edu/17559/]

Fully 53 percent of the people surveyed said they fished, an indication of the popularity of this pastime but also of the potential risk of VHS fish disease being spread in Wisconsin, says Bret Shaw, environmental communication specialist for the University of Wisconsin-Extension and principal investigator on the study.

However, Shaw says, the survey revealed that majority of anglers do not fish with minnows or follow other practices that potentially increase their risk of spreading the fish disease.

Anglers inadvertently moving infected live fish or live bait minnows or water contaminated with VHS are the main ways that VHS and other fish diseases and invasive species can spread to new waters. But the survey results suggest that nearly two-thirds of anglers do not fish with minnows to begin with, that very few anglers move their boats around to multiple waters within a week and thus run the risk of spreading contaminated water.

VHS is not a human health threat but can kill more than three dozen different species of fish, including trout, musky, bass and bluegill, and it caused large fish kills in some Great Lakes waters in 2005 and 2006. The disease was first detected in Wisconsin in 2007 in fish from the Lake Winnebago system and the Lake Michigan system.

Findings on angler habits

• 72.2 percent fish from a boat at least sometimes
• 54.1 percent fish from shore at least sometimes, with 26.6 per cent often or always doing so
• 16.8 percent used the same boat on more than one body of water within a 5 day period
• 39.4 percent never fish with minnows; that climbs to 61.7 percent when people who “rarely” fish with minnows are added in

Findings on angler compliance with VHS rules

• 86 percent said they never or rarely used leftover minnows on multiple waters
• 63.7 percent say they never or rarely add lake or river water to their minnow bucket
• 60.9 percent said they drain water from livewell always or often
• 57.7 percent never or rarely move live fish away
• 65.7 percent say they never or rarely add lake or river water to their minnow bucket
• 30.3 percent use minnows on same water

‘Water guards” will be working ice fishing season to help prevent spread of deadly fish disease

MADISON – Wisconsin’s “Water Guards,” will be working the hard water season to help ensure that anglers know about and are following rules to prevent the spread of VHS fish disease and aquatic invasive species.

This specialized group within the Department of Natural Resources conservation warden service focuses on education and enforcement of VHS and aquatic invasive species rules and laws. As their second open water season draws to a close, they’re turning to the ice fishing season.

“For the first time, through careful planning, we’ve been able to stretch our budget to allow Water Guards to work later in the year,” says Wisconsin’s Chief Warden Randy Stark.

“VHS is most active during the cold water season and our ice fishermen move around, particularly over the holidays,” Stark says. “It’s important to keep up our education and enforcement efforts during this time of year. We must continue to contain the threat to Wisconsin’s lakes, rivers and fishing.”

Wisconsin’s regular field wardens, stationed in local communities around the state, also will be looking for violations of VHS and aquatic invasive species, he says.

According to Greg Stacey, a Water Guard based in Fitchburg and the coordinator of their winter efforts, “we want to concentrate our efforts on where we can get the biggest bang for the biggest buck, so we’ll be working major ice fishing tournaments across the state,” he says. “The rest of the time, we’ll be out there on the ice, talking to individual anglers, reminding them of the rules, and writing citations where we see violations.”

The VHS virus is most active in water temperatures below 60 degrees, and the disease can spread fish to fish, or through water contaminated with VHS.

“In the winter, it’s primarily about the water and the fish,” Stacey says. “We need to stop people from moving both of them around.” Specifically:

1. Don’t move live fish away from the water. Keep the fish you want to take home on the ice until you leave at the end of the day, or carry them away in a dry bucket.
2. Drain all water from your equipment. That includes all buckets and containers of fish. When you’re leaving the ice, you may carry up to 2 gallons of water in which to keep your minnows.
3. Follow bait rules. Buy the bait from Wisconsin bait dealers. If you take minnows home after a day fishing and you’ve added lake water to their container, you can return with them only to that water body the next day.
4. Preserve bait correctly if you catch your own. If you use smelt or other dead bait, preserve it in a way that does not require freezing or refrigeration. Watch the video Preserving Your Bait on the DNR Web site for more information.

Following these rules will protect Wisconsin lakes and rivers and anglers’ pocketbooks: a citation for carrying live fish away from a water runs $343.50, while the penalty for failing to drain the water from fishing equipment is $243, Stacey says.

“VHS is still found in Wisconsin waters, so we need everybody to keep up the good work,” Stacey says. “Together, we can keep the disease from spreading and can continue to keep our lakes and rivers healthy.”

Root for the home team giveaway winners announced

MADISON – A Nekoosa man has won the top prize in a Department of Natural Resources and Wisconsin Association of Lakes (WAL) giveaway aimed at preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species and VHS fish disease.

Steve Scarbury will watch the Sept. 5 Brewers game against the San Francisco Giants from a luxury suite in Miller Park, thanks to his name being drawn in the Root for the Home Team giveaway sponsored by DNR and WAL.

Scarbury, who lives on Lake Camelot in Adams County and is a member of the Tri-Lakes Management District, was among 740 people who took an online pledge committing them to follow key prevention steps. The three-week promotion ended July 5 and winners were selected in a random drawing July 6, 2009.

"We want to thank all the anglers and boaters who help prevent invasive species from getting a foothold in our beautiful lakes by taking these simple prevention steps part of their summer fun,” says Tami Jackson, WAL director of communications.

Four more prizes were given to pledge takers whose names were drawn. Bob Leick of Paddock Lake won a trolling motor; Outdoor writer Kevin Naze of Algoma won a fish locator; Chetek Lakes Protection Association officer Donald Freeman of Chetek won a handheld GPS, and Chris Hayes of Lisle, Ill., snagged a spincasting combo, tacklebox and bait bucket.

Karl Scheidegger, the fish biologist who leads DNR’s fisheries outreach team, said the giveaway promotion was one of several efforts DNR and partners launched before the July 4 holiday – the busiest boating weekend of the year -- to increase awareness of and adherence to the prevention steps.

“We want to thank WAL for helping make this a successful promotion – and we also want to salute each and every boater who took the pledge, they’re lake guardians all,” Scheidegger said.

New video shows how to avoid common VHS rule violation

Keep fish healthy, avoid a ticket

MADISON – A new public service announcement [VIDEO Length 00:41] is now available online to demonstrate to anglers an important but too often overlooked step to prevent the spread of VHS fish disease, zebra mussels and other aquatic invasive species to new lakes and rivers.

The 30-second video can be found on the Department of Natural Resources Web site and it shows how anglers, before they leave their shore fishing spot or boat landing, should put their catch on ice and drain water out of the container that had been holding their catch. VHS rules require the draining of water from boats, containers and fishing equipment and prohibit moving live fish away from a lake or river except for leftover minnows bought from Wisconsin bait dealers and transported away under certain conditions.

DNR Chief Warden Randy Starks directed DNR staffer Mary Farmiloe to create the spot after warden reports that too many anglers were leaving for the day with their live catch in a bucket full of water.

“We're hoping that by demonstrating what it looks like to comply with the law through this video, we'll get better voluntary compliance,” Stark says. “Our experience is that once people understand what it is they need to do, most people voluntarily comply. We intend to step up enforcement efforts with those who choose not to comply.”

A fall 2008 University of Wisconsin Badger Poll: Boaters and anglers taking steps to prevent spread of invasive species (Dec. 9, 2008) showed that while people did a good job overall in taking the steps necessary to prevent the spread of VHS fish disease and aquatic invasive species, only 58.6 percent of respondents said they never move live fish away from the lake or river where they are fishing.

Effort to prevent spread of VHS fish disease, invasive species to increase over July Fourth weekend

MADISON – At popular shore fishing locations and boat landings this Fourth of July holiday, conservation wardens and paid and volunteer watercraft inspectors will be making sure that people take all of the steps necessary to stop the spread of the VHS fish disease in Wisconsin waters.

“The vast majority of anglers and boaters are doing a great job taking the prevention steps, but some anglers are not and we all need to do our part and make sure we take all of the steps,” says Randy Stark, Wisconsin’s Chief Conservation Warden.

Some anglers are leaving their shore fishing spot or boat landing with a bucketful or cooler full of water and the fish they caught earlier in the day, a violation of VHS rules, Stark says. Such actions are the most common VHS violations reported this year by the DNR’s Water Guards, (Water Guards at Work -- video; 4.55 min.) -- specialized wardens focused on increasing awareness and enforcement of laws to prevent the spread of VHS, zebra mussels and other aquatic invasive species.

And just last week, a DNR conservation warden cited an angler who transferred live fish from Lake Kegonsa in Dane County to Lake Leota in Rock County, in violation of state rules preventing the spread of VHS and longstanding state stocking rules.

“Whether anglers are fishing from a boat or from the shore, state law requires that when you leave, you do not take away the day’s catch in a bucket or cooler full of water,” Stark says. “Drain the water out and keep the fish in the empty bucket or throw the fish in a cooler of ice.”
Stark says that the conservation wardens and the Water Guard will be stepping up education efforts and taking enforcement action over the long holiday, “particularly when we see anglers leaving with a bucketful of water and fish from those Wisconsin lakes and rivers considered to be infected with VHS.”

Watercraft inspectors paid by the state and county, as well as volunteers trained through Wisconsin’s Clean Boats, Clean Waters (exit DNR) education and inspection program, also will be out at boat landings and shore fishing spots, educating anglers and boaters about the rules to prevent the spread of VHS and aquatic invasive species.

Conservation Warden Boyd Richter cited a 29-year-old Evansville man earlier this month after the man said he released five adult bluegills from Lake Kegonsa into Lake Leota despite knowing the action violated VHS rules. Richter, who was responding to a complaint left on DNR’s violation hotline, issued the man a citation for $1,133 for violating stocking rules, which Richter said more accurately reflected the man’s action and carried a higher bond than the VHS violation.

Mike Staggs, DNR’s fisheries director, says that transferring live fish and the water they’re carried in to another lake or river runs a serious risk of spreading VHS fish disease, other fish diseases and invasive species such as zebra mussels and spiny water fleas. It also can hurt stocking efforts and other efforts to manage a fishery.

“We understand the temptation of being a bait bucket biologist, but the risk is huge,” Staggs says.

“We need everybody to take the steps that will prevent VHS and other diseases and invasive species from spreading to new lakes and rivers. That includes not moving live fish, draining water from your boat and equipment, buying bait in Wisconsin and following rules for using leftover bait, and removing all plants, animals and mud your boat and trailer before leaving.”

A fall 2008 University of Wisconsin Badger Poll (exit DNR) shows that more than 90 percent of anglers and boaters were taking steps to inspect boats and remove plants and animals from them, and a slightly lower percentage said they were following the new bait rules. Only 58.6 percent said they never move live fish between different bodies of water.

VHS fish disease found in smallmouth bass from Green Bay

MADISON – Test results returned Thursday show that VHS fish disease has been detected in smallmouth bass from Green Bay, state fisheries officials report.

The deadly fish disease was found in smallmouth bass from the bay in 2007, so this is not a new species nor location with VHS. It does show that the disease is active this year and underscores the need for anglers and boaters to take steps to prevent its spread, says Mike Staggs, Wisconsin’s fisheries director.

“This is an important reminder that VHS is still out there and that we all need to take steps to prevent it from spreading to new lakes and rivers,” Staggs says. “That includes not moving live fish, draining water from your boat and equipment, buying your bait in Wisconsin and following rules for using leftover bait.”

“It’s particularly important that anglers and tournaments that target smallmouth bass in Green Bay diligently take the prevention steps and consider additional measures, like disinfecting live wells that were holding smallmouth bass.”

The three smallmouth bass from Sturgeon Bay were sent to the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Madison earlier this spring for testing after anglers and DNR staff observed a high percentage of smallmouth bass with open skin lesions. DNR received word Thursday that VHS had been isolated from the fish.

DNR biologists in the Peshtigo area are now sending down a smallmouth bass found dead near the mouth of the Oconto River in Green Bay for DNR fish health specialist Sue Marcquenski to assess whether VHS is possible, in which case the fish would be sent on for testing. A citizen had reported seeing many dead small mouth bass in this area within the past couple of weeks.

So far, preliminary results from VHS tests on several waters statewide have not found the disease, meaning VHS has not been detected elsewhere in the state beyond the Lake Winnebago and Lake Michigan systems.

VHS fish disease is not a human health threat but can kill 37 different species of fish, including trout, musky, bass and bluegill, and it caused large fish kills in some Great Lakes waters in 2005 and 2006. The disease was first detected in Wisconsin in 2007 in fish from the Lake Winnebago system and the Lake Michigan system; tests since then suggest the disease hasn’t spread beyond those waters.

Anglers inadvertently moving infected live bait is a main way that VHS fish disease can spread; VHS can also be spread through VHS-contaminated water.

More information about VHS and steps to prevent it can be found online: VHS and You: Keeping Wisconsin's Waters Healthy.

Root for the home team and get entered to win!

MADISON – Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Wisconsin Association of Lakes (WAL) have teamed up in the fight against aquatic invasive species and announced today the start of the “Root for the Home Team” giveaway – a promotion to encourage anglers and boater to take steps to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasives and VHS fish disease.

WAL will be giving one lucky winner, two luxury-suite tickets to the Brewers versus the San Francisco Giants game on Saturday, September 5. Additional fishing-related prizes will also be awarded. To enter, contestants must take an online pledge to follow these simple steps:

• INSPECT boats, trailers and equipment.
• REMOVE plants, animals and mud.
• DRAIN water from boats and all equipment.
• DON'T MOVE live fish away from a waterbody.
• BUY minnows from a Wisconsin bait dealer. Use leftover minnows only under certain conditions.

Wisconsin has a marvelous and globally significant collection of lakes that ranges from the very largest in the world--Lake Superior--to more than 15,000 smaller lakes,” says Tami Jackson, WAL director of communications. “Some of our lakes are small and remote, others are busy with boaters and anglers, but all of our lakes need help from all of us to prevent aquatic invasive species from damaging our shared public waters.”

Thanks to Wisconsin’s water users following preventive steps, efforts to fight the spread of aquatic invasive species are paying off. A new aquatic invasive species report shows that the spread of key aquatic invasive species has slowed in recent years and VHS fish disease has not been discovered in any new waters since 2007.

“Wisconsin has made great strides in the fight against aquatic invasive species,” says DNR Secretary Matt Frank, “and we want to continue down this path.”

“We encourage everyone to keep up the good work. By taking the pledge, you have a chance to win some great prizes, but the real reward will come from your commitment to protecting Wisconsin’s waters.”

Anglers and boaters can continue to do their part by rooting for the home team and striking out the visitors. Simply take the online pledge and get entered to win.

The deadline to enter is July 5, 2009 and winners will be announced July 6, 2009. Contestants must be at least 16 years of age.

Spread of key aquatic invasive species slowed in 2007-2008

Anglers’, boaters’ compliance with rules help efforts

MADISON – Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Secretary Matt Frank today announced a new report shows the spread of key aquatic invasive species has slowed in recent years and, thus far, VHS fish disease hasn’t spread. June is designated as Invasive Species Awareness Month in Wisconsin (exit DNR) and the report indicates efforts to raise awareness about invasive species, and increase efforts to fight their spread, is paying off. The 2007-2008 Aquatic Invasive Species Report is available on the DNR Web site.

“This is great news in the fight against aquatic invasive species,” Frank said. “Under Governor Doyle’s leadership, Wisconsin has made strong efforts to slow the spread of aquatic invasive species. While our work is paying off by slowing their spread, there is much more work to be done.”

Doyle tripled the funding to fight aquatic invasive species in his last budget, stepping up Wisconsin efforts to address one of the state’s top two water quality challenges.

“There is reason for optimism. The report shows the vast majority of Wisconsin waters are still free from the most problematic species, and we had no new waters with VHS,” Secretary Frank said. “A key reason for our optimism is the willingness of anglers and boaters to take simple step to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.”

In 2007-2008, the years the report covers, there were half as many waters reported with new infestations of zebra mussels and Eurasian water milfoil as had been reported in the previous two years. Anglers and boaters have taken steps to keep lakes, rivers and fish healthy. Local and state partners have worked to increase awareness of prevention steps to fight the spread of invasive species.

The state is acting on other fronts to curb the flow of invasive species to Wisconsin. The state Natural Resources Board recently approved a new framework for classifying invasive species and providing preventive measures to control their spread. The DNR is currently reviewing public comments to its proposed ballast water discharge permit aimed at reducing the invasive plants, animals and pathogens that arrive in Wisconsin waters.

More than 180 nonnative fish, plants, insects and organisms have entered the Great Lakes since the early 1800s, disrupting the food chain, fouling beaches, clogging infrastructure and costing citizens, industry and businesses more than $200 million a year.

New fishing tournament rule effective May 1

MADISON – A new Wisconsin fishing tournament rule goes into effect May 1, 2009.
The rule aims to reduce user conflicts and complaints about crowding by spreading out tournaments that exceed size limits, according to Mike Staggs, Wisconsin’s fisheries director.

The rule will also help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species and Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia or VHS disease.

“This rule allows fisheries biologists to work with tournament organizers to help make sure that tournament participants don’t accidentally introduce these invaders into new waters via their bait, fishing equipment, or boats,” Staggs says.

Fishing tournaments with more than 20 boats or 100 participants will need a permit under the new rule. Those tournament organizers needing a permit would have to pay an application fee to cover some of the cost of the fishing tournament program.

“For those tournaments that actually need a permit, we’ve kept the fee affordable,” Staggs says. “The vast majority of tournaments that need to get a permit will pay a $25 fee, and tournaments aimed at providing fishing opportunities for kids and disabled people are free.”

“We don’t expect many events to be affected by the size limits, and if they are, we’re confident we can find agreeable solutions to most scheduling conflicts,” Staggs says. “And in the coming years, we’ll be evaluating the effect of the rule and how it may influence tournament activity.”

Tournament organizers who already have their permits for future tournaments or those who apply before the May 1 deadline will not be affected by the new tournament rule. Organizers can now easily plan and apply for a fishing tournament permit online. A new, searchable calendar is available that allows organizers, participants, anglers, and all water users to see which waters already have fishing tournaments scheduled. For more details on the new rule, visit the DNR fishing tournament Web site.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Joanna Griffin (608) 264-8953 or Jon Hansen -(608) 266-6883

Up to 70 waters to be tested for VHS fish disease: 2008 results good but expansion in Lake Michigan concerning

MADISON – Three years after VHS fish disease was first detected in Wisconsin waters, state fisheries officials are confident that good compliance with new rules and procedures can continue to contain the fish disease.

But they are keeping a close watch on lakes and rivers, particularly the Lake Winnebago and Lake Michigan systems where VHS has been found. Viral hemorrhagic septicemia, or VHS, is not a human health threat but it can infect 37 different fish species and has caused big fish kills in other Great Lakes waters.

Testing is underway for VHS on up to 70 lakes and rivers across the state, and Department of Natural Resources fisheries staff are expanding efforts to look at susceptible species in the Winnebago System.

“We’re entering our third year with VHS in pretty good shape due to the efforts we’ve taken to contain the disease and the cooperation we’ve had from people who can potentially spread the disease: boaters, anglers, bait harvesters, fish farmers and our own fisheries management staff,” says Mike Staggs, who leads the Department of Natural Resources’ fisheries management program. “We didn't find VHS in any new waters in 2008 testing and that’s a credit to everybody who followed the new rules and procedures.”

Staggs is concerned, however, that 2008 saw VHS expand its range much farther south in Lake Michigan, killing round gobies and yellow perch near Milwaukee.

The disease poses a threat to southern Lake Michigan fish as well as increases the chance that VHS will inadvertently be spread by boaters and anglers moving infected live fish and contaminated water back and forth between Lake Michigan and inland waters. Lake Michigan is the state’s most popular water and the one that people most often trailer their boat to and from, according to a 2007 DNR study of recreational boaters.

Sue Marcquenski, the DNR’s fish health specialist, is also closely watching what happens on Lake Winnebago and Lake Michigan to see if they exhibit the same pattern seen on some other Great Lakes waters where VHS has been detected.

“My hunch is that there may be a lag time of at least two years after VHS causes an initial outbreak before we see fish kills in new locations, or in new species from the same location,” she says.

Staggs says that DNR will be carefully monitoring state waters for VHS this year and working closely with the public to prevent the spread of the deadly fish disease.

Testing underway to learn where VHS is found

This spring, the DNR will conduct “surveillance” testing on 27 waters to continue to assess the prevalence of VHS. In addition, four hatchery water supplies and all wild fish DNR uses for broodstock for its hatcheries will be tested for VHS to make sure fish stocked from state fish hatcheries are VHS-free.

The DNR also will test fish from suspicious fish kills. All told, more than 50 waters and as many as 70 will be tested, says Tim Simonson, who coordinates VHS surveillance testing.

Those waters planned for surveillance testing are popular and highly trafficked waters by anglers and boaters, increasing the chances of VHS being spread by the movement of water and live fish, Simonson says. Mendota Lake in Dane County, Geneva Lake in Walworth County, Castle Rock Lake in Juneau and Adams counties, and Butternut Lake in Price County are among those on the list.

Sampling occurs while the water temperatures are below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, the period when the virus is most active. DNR fish crews will collect tissue samples from 170 individual fish from each of the 27 waters for surveillance testing, focusing on susceptible species. The Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Madison, the La Crosse Fish Health Center and Microtechnologies, a private lab in Maine, will do the testing.

Working with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the La Crosse Fish Health Center, sampling for VHS will also take place on Pools 9 and 10 of the Mississippi River, and the St. Louis Estuary on the St. Louis River.

The costs associated with the VHS testing is paid for with a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Inspection Service as well as a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration (SFR) and fishing license sales.
People finding fish with symptoms of VHS are encouraged to contact their local fish biologist. More information is available on the VHS Web site.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Staggs (608) 267-0796; Tim Simonson (608) 266-5222.

Watch for Great Lakes invaders moving inland, group told

Green Bay - University of Notre Dame professor David Lodge has some advice for inland lakefront property owners worried about unwanted organisms invading their seemingly isolated waters: Keep an eye on the Great Lakes.

"The Great Lakes are a beachhead - just the first stopping point for species arriving in North America," Lodge told a group of about 400 people who are gathered in Green Bay this week for the 31st annual Wisconsin Lakes Convention.

"If you want to know what's coming next," he said Thursday, "look at what's already in the Great Lakes." [Full Story]

Source: JSOnline

VHS and You: Keeping Wisconsin's Waters Healthy

It´s time for hard-water fishing, but we still need your help to keep Wisconsin´s waters healthy for future generations. Please take steps to help prevent the spread.

Preserving your bait [VIDEO Length 2:48]
Ice fishing and VHS[VIDEO Length 1:15]

For more VHS info - Go to the WDNR site - Click Here

Video show ice anglers how to preserve bait

MADISON – Ice fishermen and women, particularly those who target pike, will want to watch a new video online to learn how to properly preserve dead bait to meet state rules to prevent the spread of VHS fish disease.

"Preserving Your Bait " [VIDEO opens in a new window;Length 2:43] "Preserving Your Bait" shows Ted Treska, a Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist and VHS rules specialist, demonstrating two different bait preservation techniques.

VHS, or viral hemorrhagic septicemia, was detected in fish from the Lake Winnebago and Lake Michigan systems in 2007, and in Lake Michigan in 2008, but DNR monitoring has not found it elsewhere. While state fisheries officials are encouraged by those results, they say that VHS remains a serious health threat for Wisconsin fish that can be spread at any time of the year and is most active when water temperatures are below 60 degrees.

VHS, or viral hemorrhagic septicemia, does not affect humans but it can infect dozens of species of game fish, panfish and bait fish, instead of a single species or related species, which is more typical of most fish diseases. VHS can spread rapidly, fish-to-fish and through the water, and it caused large fish kills in 2005 and 2006 in the lower Great Lakes.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Ted Treska (608) 267-7659

Name of the condition: Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS)

Cause of disease: Virus - extremely serious viral disease of fresh and saltwater fish

What does it look like? At a low level of infection, fish might not display any symptoms. As the infection becomes greater, however, fish will display widespread hemorrhages (bleeding) throughout body surface (eye, skin and fins) and within the internal organs (swim bladder, intestine, kidney etc). Because of the bleeding, gills and liver might appear pale. Sick fish will often be listless, swim in circles, and are frequently observed at the surface of the water.

NOTE: Confirming VHS infection requires sophisticated laboratory testing. A diagnosis cannot be made based solely on observation because many different diseases of fish have very similar symptoms. [Full Story]

For more information, download the VHS flyer

Lake Erie Management Unit Newsletter

(Michigan) Hello anglers! This is our annual newsletter covering major field activities of the Lake Erie Management Unit (LEMU). This unit covers all waters that lie within the watersheds which drain into the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, Detroit River, and Lake Erie. Fisheries Management personnel in this unit include two biologists and a unit supervisor located at the Southfield Operations Service Center and two technicians and a technician supervisor located at the Waterford Fisheries Station. This newsletter highlights some of the field activities conducted by our field staff during 2008.

Click Here!

NRC revises order to prevent spread of fish disease

Brooke Meier

December 17, 2008 - The Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) has approved updates to a fish disease control order aimed at preventing the spread of viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) and other diseases in Michigan's inland lakes fisheries.

VHS is a highly-contagious disease that affects some fresh water and saltwater fishes. The disease causes fish to bleed to death internally and, according to the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR), has been reported in all of the Great Lakes except Lake Superior. Several inland waters have fish infected with VHS, as well, including the St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair in Macomb County. The disease is not harmful to people. (Full Story)

Source: SPINAL COLUMN ON LINE

Partnerships yield successes in fight against aquatic invaders

But new introductions still a problem for state

MADISON – State environmental officials credit strengthened state and local partnerships aimed at fighting the spread of aquatic invasive species with helping to contain several worrisome new invaders: VHS fish disease, a tiny water flea with an over-sized ability to disrupt lake ecosystems, and an invasive plant that has wreaked havoc in southern U.S. water bodies.

“Wisconsin is defined by water,” said Department of Natural Resources Secretary Matt Frank. “The state cannot stop invasive species from entering our waters by itself. Our partners know their lakes, and also understand how lakes support Wisconsin’s tourism industry and the local and state economy. Their community-based efforts prevent species such as Eurasian water milfoil and zebra mussels from choking our waterways or crowding out our native species.”

Gov. Jim Doyle’s last budget added $1.8 million to DNR’s $1.5 million aquatic invasive species grant program, more than doubling the available grant money to support local efforts. He also added nine positions to the DNR conservation warden force to serve as water guards. [EDITOR’S NOTE: See related story in this week’s DNR Weekly News on Water Guards.]

“In 2008 we found no new lakes with VHS, no new waters with spiny water fleas, and the invasive plant hydrilla has apparently been eliminated from the Marinette County pond where it was growing,” Frank said. “We think that reflects the efforts of growing partnerships among counties, tribes, local communities, citizen volunteers and the state to keep Wisconsin lakes and streams healthy and free of invasive species.”

Paid and volunteer watercraft inspectors logged a record number of hours at boat landings this year, inspecting more than 50,000 boats and educating more than 100,000 people. This year also saw a dramatic increase in the grant funds available from the DNR to help local communities fight aquatic invasive species. And a new DNR program, the Water Guards, brought on board nine deputy conservation wardens to work exclusively on education and enforcement of laws to prevent the spread of invasive species and VHS.

While aquatic invasive species cause more damage in some places than in others, everywhere they spread they can crowd out native species, which in turn can have an impact on fish and other aquatic life that depend on them for food and habitat. They can also interfere with recreation, as Eurasian water-milfoil and Hydrilla can when thick mats of these plants tangle in boat propellers. The most common way these invaders spread from lake to lake is in a live well, bilge water, or by clinging to a boat or trailer bound for another water.

Julia Solomon, who coordinates aquatic invasive species outreach for the DNR and UW-Extension, says that boaters and anglers deserve much of the credit for slowing the spread of key aquatic invaders in 2008.

“Over 90 percent of boaters report that they clean their boats and drain water from their equipment when they leave a lake. That’s great news, since the main way that that aquatic invasive species spread from lake to lake is by hitching a ride on boats, boat trailers and gear,” she says.

A recent statewide UW-Badger poll (exit DNR) revealed similar statistics, and indicated that boaters and anglers are also doing a good job in taking some of the steps required to stop the spread of VHS fish disease, but could improve on some of those steps.

The news for 2008 wasn’t all good. The invasive plant Eurasian water-milfoil, which forms thick mats at the water’s surface that interfere with boating and fishing, was found in 13 new waters and zebra mussels were found in five.

“Every new lake with an invasive species is one lake too many, but we’re holding the line against these invaders,” Bode says. “The number of new Eurasian water-milfoil findings is down again this year, even though there are more source waters. For zebra mussels, research shows that more than 400 of our lakes are vulnerable to their invasion, so finding them in only five new waters is promising.”

Other bad news, however, was the discovery earlier this month of invasive Asian carp were confirmed in Wisconsin waters of the Mississippi River—further upstream than they have previously been documented.

Several species of potentially invasive plants -- yellow floating heart, water lettuce, and water hyacinth -- also were found this summer in isolated ponds in southeastern Wisconsin. Solomon says the discovery of these new invasive plants points out the need for people who have backyard ponds and water gardens to landscape with care, choosing native species when possible and never releasing water garden specimens into natural waterbodies.

The bottom line, says Solomon, is that the growing partnership to fight invasive species is making progress but individual actions make the big difference. “Whether it’s cleaning your boat after a day on the water, properly handling leftover bait, or using native water plants in your pond, there are things we all must do to keep our lakes and rivers healthy.”

Prevention Steps for Boaters and Anglers

• Inspect boat, trailer and equipment and remove plants, animals and mud;
• Drain water from boat, motor, bilge, live wells, and bait containers;
• Don’t move live fish away from a waterbody, and
• Use leftover minnows only under certain conditions.

Prevention Steps for Water Gardeners

• Landscape with native plants when possible;
• Buy your plants from a reputable supplier whose stock you trust;
• Inspect plant orders for unwanted “hitchhikers,” and;
• Never release plants, fish or exotic pets into natural waters.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Bode (608) Julia Solomon (608)

Ice anglers urged to follow VHS rules

MADISON – With a new statewide poll showing that some anglers aren’t taking all needed steps to prevent spreading VHS fish disease, state fisheries officials are asking angler to redouble efforts year-round, including during winter when water temperatures are the coldest and the disease is most active in fish. Information on the poll (exit DNR) is available on the University of Wisconsin-Madison Web site.

“The good news from the Badger Poll results is that the vast majority of anglers and boaters took some steps to prevent the spread of VHS,” says Mike Staggs, Wisconsin’s fisheries director. “Our sampling in 2008 showed that VHS hadn’t spread beyond Lake Winnebago and Lake Michigan, and that’s a great credit to everybody who followed the VHS rules. But the problem hasn’t gone away, and the survey results suggest that we can do better and we must do better if we want to protect Wisconsin’s great fishing.”

Additional analysis of the Badger Poll data by DNR fisheries scientists Andy Fayram and Joanna Griffin revealed that anglers and boaters in the Lake Winnebago area where VHS was first detected in Wisconsin fish did a better job complying with prevention steps than anglers and boaters anywhere else in the state.

Two-thirds of boaters and anglers polled in the 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Lake Winnebago, said they never moved live fish away from a lake or river, compared to 58.6 percent statewide. Eighty percent of respondents from this district said they rinsed off their boat and trailer compared to 56.8 percent statewide.

VHS was first detected in Wisconsin in fish from the Lake Winnebago System in early May 2007. Since then, it has not been detected beyond the Lake Winnebago and Lake Michigan systems.

VHS, or viral hemorrhagic septicemia, is not a threat to people or pets but it’s a significant health fish health disease and can cause fish to bleed to death. VHS can infect 37 different species of fish, including game fish and panfish favorites including walleye, bluegill, trout and muskellunge.

The disease has demonstrated in other countries and Great Lakes states the potential to cause large fish kills, long-term reductions in wild fish populations, and severe economic impacts.

Key VHS rules aimed at protecting fish and fishing in Wisconsin include:

• Anglers may not transport any live fish or live fish eggs away from any state waters. There is an exception for minnows purchased from a Wisconsin bait dealer. These minnows may be transported away live and used again on the same water OR any other waters if no lake or river water, or other fish, were added to the container carrying the minnows.
  
• Anglers may not use dead fish, fish eggs, or fish parts as bait. There are three exceptions:
  

1. You may use dead fish, fish eggs, or fish parts as bait on any waters if they were preserved by a method that does not require freezing or refrigeration;
   
2. You may use unpreserved or just frozen dead fish, fish eggs or fish parts as bait on the water from which they were collected or on Lake Michigan or Green Bay (and connecting waters upstream to the first barrier impassible to fish);
   
3. Live minnows that die during a fishing trip may be used during that fishing trip (they may not be used on later trips unless you meet the two conditions above).

A full listing of permanent VHS rules approved earlier this year can be found online. Printed copies of “Minnows as Bait,” (pdf) a brochure explaining the rules are available in DNR service centers and regional offices, and DNR customer service representatives are available to answer questions about VHS rules in English, Hmong and Spanish seven days a week from 7 a.m. -10 p.m. Call Toll Free 1-888-WDNRINFo (1-888-936-7463) or open a chat session via the DNR Web site.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Staggs (608) 267-0796 or Tim Simonson (608) 266-5222

Editorial: Find compromise on fish virus testing

The decision to delay the implementation of proposed rules to contain a deadly fish virus is the right one.

The Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's rules require testing and inspections of farm-raised and bait species susceptible to viral hemorrhagic septicemia, or VHS. The virus has caused a number of large fish kills in the Great Lakes region.

VHS is a highly contagious virus that literally causes fish to bleed to death, but cannot be transmitted to humans even if they eat the flesh of an infected fish. Scientists believe it is among many invasive species ferried into the Great Lakes in ballast tanks of oceangoing freighters. (More)

Source: SheboyganPress.com