Wisconsin Mixed Bag: April trout season opener kicks in this year

Madison — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds anglers that the 2026-27 inland trout season will open on Saturday, April 4 and run through Oct. 15, increasing harvest opportunities throughout the state’s inland streams, springs and spring ponds.

This year’s trout harvest season opens a month earlier than prior seasons. Trout populations are strong across most Wisconsin waters and this additional month of harvest will provide anglers more fishing opportunities during a time of the year when other fishing seasons are generally closed. This season change was strongly supported by the public during the DNR and Conservation Congress 2025 spring hearings.

Anyone wishing to participate in this season will need a 2026-27 general fishing license and inland trout stamp, which are valid until March 31, 2027, and can be purchased through GoWild or at one of many in-person license sales locations.

There have been some changes to the trout daily bag and length limits this year, providing additional harvest opportunity on waters where trout populations are abundant and additional harvest is encouraged to meet management goals. Consult the Guide to Wisconsin’s 2026-2027 Trout Fishing Regulations for specifics.

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State Park System Friends Group of the Year and Volunteer Awards Winners Announced

Madison — The winners of the 2025 Wisconsin State Park System Friends Group of the Year and Volunteer Awards have been announced, with the Friends of Interstate and Straight Lake State Parks winning the group award, and John Davies, of the Bong Naturalist Association, winning the volunteer award.

The annual awards recognize friends groups and volunteers who provide service and demonstrate dedication to protecting the natural resources and enhancing the visitor experience at a Wisconsin State Park System property or work unit.

“It’s important for us to celebrate the many accomplishments achieved over the last year thanks to the hard work of our volunteers and friends groups,” said Steve Schmelzer, DNR parks and recreation director. “This year’s nominees all demonstrated a commitment to ensuring our public lands are enjoyed for generations to come.”

Award recipients are nominated by Wisconsin State Park System staff. A panel of judges then reviews the nomination materials and selects the award winners. All winners receive a wooden plaque in recognition of the honor.

The Friends of Interstate and Straight Lake State Parks were instrumental to the success of the Interstate Park 125th anniversary celebration on Sept. 20, 2025. In addition to continuing to keep the property’s Ice Age Center open year-round and selling merchandise to generate funds to support projects and services, the volunteers also made numerous contributions to the event.

During Davies’ first year of volunteering at the Richard Bong State Recreation Area, he stood out as someone who took initiative to complete any project he felt he could handle. He quickly became recognized as a jack-of-all-trades, accomplishing any and all maintenance projects. Davies is also a Wisconsin Master Naturalist and Wisconsin Bat Ambassador and has piloted bat conservation initiatives at the property, including installing and maintaining several bat houses and starting a bat monitoring program. At the beginning of 2025, Davies stepped into the role of president for the Bong Naturalist Association (BNA).

Over the course of the year, he has proven to be an exceptional president for the group. In 2025, he gave more than 550 hours of volunteer time to the property.

Natural Resources Foundation Celebrating 40 Years with 280 Adventures This Summer

Madison — The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin (NRF) has announced 280 field trips for this summer in celebration of its 40th anniversary. The NRF has been protecting Wisconsin’s lands, waters and wildlife and connecting all people with nature since 1986 and has been leading field trips since 1993.

Registration is first-come, first-served, and opens at noon on April 8. Those interested in the field trips may renew their NRF memberships in advance of the registration date. Trips take place from the Northwoods to the Driftless Area, from the Mississippi to Lake Michigan, and everywhere in between. Some trips take visit favorites like Devils Lake, Door County, and the Apostle Islands. Others are in more off-the-beaten-path locations. Thirty-three trips include chances to get involved in citizen science, such as helping biologists search ponds for fairy shrimp or tag monarch butterflies.

The field trips are listed and described on the NRF’s website.

Volunteers Needed to Survey Frogs, Toads

Madison — The DNR is seeking volunteers for the annual frog and toad survey to help document frog and toad breeding calls throughout the state this spring and summer. This survey helps the DNR follow trends in Wisconsin frog and toad populations. For more than 40 years, volunteers have helped biologists better define the distribution, status and population trends of all 12 frog and toad species found in Wisconsin.

“Our volunteers, lovingly known as ‘froggers,’ are important advocates for frogs and toads in Wisconsin,” said Andrew Badje, DNR biologist and survey coordinator. “They are the beating heart of frog monitoring and conservation in Wisconsin.”

Volunteers can help in several ways, but generally drive a survey route on three nights – once each in early spring, late spring and early summer – and make 10 stops per night, listening for five minutes at each site while documenting the species heard calling and the relative abundance of each species.

Volunteer by visiting the DNR website and going to the survey page.