The pursuit of trout is a popular warm weather activity in Wisconsin and there's now a long range plan to keep the fishery sustainable.
The Natural Resources Board recently approved its first statewide trout management plan. The plan provides direction for inland trout management in Wisconsin and will be in effect from 2020 to 2029.
DNR Fisheries biologist Justin Haglund says there are four goals of the plan including protecting, enhancing and restoring sustainable cold-water aquatic habitats and ecosystems; restoring trout populations, using best science to guide decisions and to keep open communication with fishers of all types.
Haglund says one principal concern emerged from the public...
"The major concern was water quality and threats to our cold-water ecosystems. That was something we also felt was important. It's something that came out in the plan and hopefully we can collaborate with other programs, not just fish management but on the water quality side of things, so we can help ourselves when it comes to water quality..."
He says anglers often talk about the regulations on specific water bodies, but he says they leave that to the local fisheries experts. Haglund says trout fishing also brings anglers from out-of-state, especially in the Driftless Area of southwestern Wisconsin.
We have a link to the plan here.
