Size limits are a common tool used in fisheries management, but they create an interesting question for anglers: Can a legal fish shrink after harvest, making it no longer legal size?
Ask a fisheries biologist: What’s the deal with fish shrinkage? Read More »
As is often the case, we saw a mixed bag of results in the fall surveys in Wisconsin.
Juvenile walleye are the main target. We found small to medium walleye year classes on the usual producers, including Chippewa Flowage, Round, Sand and Windigo lakes. We also assessed stocking survival on a few lakes, with moderately positive results on Chetac, the Spider chain and Sissabagama.
Ask a fisheries biologist: A roundup of Wisconsin’s fall fish surveys Read More »
Anglers have lively debates about what they consider a trophy fish, but fish biologists do not. This is because the American Fisheries Society has standard cutoffs for trophy fish for most species in North America.
Ask a fisheries biologist: What represents a trophy fish in Wisconsin? Read More »
As a young angler, I had a curiosity about why fish behave the way they do. I guess that is how one becomes a fish biologist. A fun part of this job is that I still get to wonder about those things. Sometimes we find the answers; sometimes we do not.
Ask a fisheries biologist: Wisconsin fish mysteries that still exist Read More »
In July, the Hayward and Brule DNR fish teams, the National Park Service and Wild Rivers Conservancy ran an electrofishing survey on the Namekagon River near Tag Alder Road.
The 2025 numbers were record breaking in many respects.
Ask a fisheries biologist: Wisconsin’s Namekagon River trout fishery is strong Read More »
If you have paddled down a northern river and peered into the water to watch fish you have probably seen a hog sucker, but perhaps only once it moved. Hog suckers are one of the best-camouflaged species of fish in Wisconsin, blending in perfectly with the scattered gravel and sand of the riverbed.
Ask a fisheries biologist: Has anyone seen a northern hog sucker? Read More »
We have always known that fish leave reservoirs by going over dams, which is a big reason why fishing below dams is so popular. Losing those fish from the reservoir, which biologists call ‘escapement,’ can be a drain on the population and a challenge for managing that fishery.
This is especially true when expensive stocked fish are leaving the lake instead of staying put and available to anglers.
Ask a fisheries biologist: Advancing our understanding of fish “escapement” at dams Read More »
“The spring spawn gets a lot of attention. Spring is when some of our most popular species, including sturgeon, muskellunge, and walleye, go through their reproductive acts. Bass and panfish are also spring spawners, but their time comes a little later in the warmer months.
Ask a fisheries biologist: Wisconsin’s fish that spawn in the fall Read More »
Weather and climate, which are different, play a big role in the life of field biologists. Weather, including the temperature, wind, and rain chances, etc., might dictate if we are able to get in the field to complete a survey or other planned work.
For example, we cannot conduct electrofishing surveys in heavy rain for safety reasons, and netting fish becomes more challenging and can become dangerous under high winds. Temperature, however, plays an extremely important role in everything we do.
Ask a Fisheries Biologist: How do hot temperatures impact fall electrofishing? Read More »
Sign up for the Outdoor News Weekly Newsletter and get 2 months of FREE access to OutdoorNews.com – packed with hunting, fishing, and conservation news. No Catch.
This offer includes digital access only (not the printed edition)
We’ve simplified things. Now you only need one password to access all your Outdoor News digital content.
If you hit the help page, follow the directions so you don’t miss out on any of our great content.
Let’s get you reading!
We’ve simplified things. Now you only need one password to access all your Outdoor News digital content.
• Click Continue below.
• You’ll be taken to the OutdoorNews.com sign-in screen.
• Don’t have an account yet? Create one—it’s quick!
• After signing in, click the E-Edition Login button again. When the pop-up appears, just click Continue. You’ll either:
If you hit the help page, follow the directions so you don’t miss out on any of our great content.
We know you love the outdoors—now we want to make OutdoorNews.com the ultimate destination for all things hunting, fishing, and conservation.
Take our brief 3 minute survey to share your thoughts, and help us build the best outdoor website on the planet. As a thank you, we’ll send you a special offer!
Together, we can make OutdoorNews.com even better.
For a limited time, you can get full access to breaking news, all original Outdoor News stories and updates from the entire Great Lakes Region and beyond, the most up-to-date fishing & hunting reports, lake maps, photo & video galleries, the latest gear, wild game cooking tips and recipes, fishing & hunting tips from pros and experts, bonus web content and much, much more, all on your smartphone, tablet or desktop For just a buck per month!
Some restrictions apply. Not valid with other promotions. $1 per month for 6 months (you will be billed $6) and then your subscription will renew at standard subscription rates. For more information see Terms and Conditions. This offer only applies to OutdoorNews.com and not for any Outdoor News print subscriptions. Offer valid thru 3/31/23.
Already a subscriber to OutdoorNews.com? Click here to login.
