Culling Discussion

Wanted to start a new post, one that began with a different angle…

Typically, culling is defined as releasing fish previously caught that were placed on a stringer, in a live well, or otherwise held in possession, to replace the fish with a larger one.

However, from The W.D.N.R.: “You may not cull or sort fish in Wisconsin. No person may fish for, possess or control fish in excess of the daily bag limit, for that angler. Possession and control of fish is determined, once that angler reduces that fish from it’s natural environment. Once an individual has the 5 fish limit or the legal limit of fish for that lake in their live well, the angler must stop fishing for that species, immediately! An angler must also make a determination immediately, whether they will reduce THAT fish to that angler’s bag limit and therefore count THAT fish as part of their bag limit. Once that determination has been made, THAT fish counts as part of your bag limit and CAN NOT at later time be removed and substituted for a larger fish”. (Source: http://www.bigbucksbass.com/Rules.htm)

On the WDNR website, there is also an article discussing culling and tournaments and the potential future… please read, guys… Then, make some comments… It doesn’t appear that the DNR is AGAINST tournaments, but perhaps frustrated by them and the enforcement. http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/news/on/2000/ON000926.htm#art5

Thoughts on this?

Sounds interesting. I would like to know what that bill that was introduced reads like. From the sound of the article, it doesn’t sound like the problem is from culling. It sounds like the problem is from the number of tourneys that occur each and every weekend. I guess I would be concerned if the lake my cabin was on held a tourney each week. Having said that, as a tourney fisherman, I do think that I work harder to keep the fish alive when I put them in the livewell during a tourney vs. when I am just going to have dinner. Obviously.
I guess I would be interested in seeing some more weigh-in options on hot summer days. I know my live well isn’t the greatest, but I pay real close attention to the fish when I’m going to weigh them in.
I would hate to see the WDNR close tourneys, but I could possibly agree to some limits during some of the hotter months.
Steve

Look closely at the date of this article. It was posted
in September of 2000. We still don’t have a new set of
tournament management regs. I believe there has been
a bit of deterioration of the working relationship between
the BASS Federation and the DNR. At least on one issue
there has been some bargaining in bad faith, by the DNR,
at least it is seen that way to some members. Also,
from one letter, regarding culling changes, from one
nice man at the DNR, it came off as condescending,
at least to my eyes. All of this history aside, there
is an effort to mobilize the troops to support some
new proposals, for culling law changes. Get to the
Conservation Congress hearings, and make your voice
heard, what ever your position on the upcoming proposals
for regulation changes.

More directly, on the topic of culling, as stated in the
article, they want to use other states, and other
research, to model Wisconsin tournament regulations
after. Well then one should be able to use that same
method to fix Wiscosnin’s dated culling law. Here
is a bit of logic. If Wisconsin’s tournament anglers,
are seen as having a lesser impact on the fishery,
by biologists, than harvest fishers have, and it is
accepted that many of these tournament anglers cull,
then don’t we already know the impact of culling,
by tournament anglers? I think it is time for a review
of this law, since it does have an economic impact,
and much research suggesting only a small impact on
fisheries. Livewell quality, and water temps, should
be a much bigger issue, if we are talking impact, but
somehow culling gets the emotions stirring.

Big Bass Bane

Here is the link to the PDF of the bill referred to, I think:
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/rsb/code/register/reg565b.pdf

This is the whole truth, and nothing but the truth:

“DNR biologists don’t believe fishing tournaments are now hurting fish populations. The number of fish taken in tournaments that allow harvests and those that die after being released because of the stress of being hooked and handled is still far less than the number of fish harvested by other anglers.” DNR Quote

Hey man, you stole my name!!!!!

My bad…I’ll change it.

MossBoss

I wanted your name when i first joined, but you beat me too it…lol.

I’m just kidding, I really don’t care.

Just don’t steal my pic. Two of us this good looking here and we will be flooded with women posters all of a sudden!!!

Are you saying i’m not good looking too ?? lol jk…

back to fishing topics

Great job finding that quote….
jc

I quoted this on the other post as well.

“This contribution, FLW Outdoors’ seventh $5,000 donation this tournament season, further establishes FLW Outdoors as an organization devoted to giving something back to the communities that host its tournaments. The money will be used for projects in the James River watershed that enhance fish habitats, increase fish stocks and improve water quality.

“’Maintaining the fisheries that host our tournaments is critical to our livelihood. We are so grateful to the communities that welcome us and our anglers,’ said Charlie Hoover, president and CEO of FLW Outdoors. ‘The FLW Tour Championship presented by Castrol is our most prestigious event, and the James River is an excellent fishery. FLW Outdoors is pleased to give back to the river for future generations to be able to enjoy its great fishing.’”

Again, just additional food for thought.

Thanks,

OTW

OTW… nice addition. Would like to see what those that don’t fish organized tournies have given to the DNR, etc…

No negative feelings in that comment, only a pragmatic one.

Enjoy! So, how is the fishing lately???

Here is some real info on the Wisconsin Culling issue.

As of now, we are the only state in the country that does not allow you to cull in bass tournaments. Many states have rules against walleye culling, but only Wisconsin does not allow you to cull bass.

Today, a bill came out in the Wisconsin Legislature to legalize culling in DNR permitted bass tournaments.

Please do not confuse this bill with the Tournament Legislation that Rep. Johnsrud has been trying to pass for three years. His main concern is there is no parking at the ramp for grandpa to take grandson fishing….he wants the DNR to have the power to legislate who can have a tournament when and where. Right now, they can’t.

The culling issue is silly. I have a committment from the people at FLW Outdoors to bring their Everstart and their FLW tour to Wisconsin if we eliminate the culling law. That’s about an 8 million dollar economic impact to the state if that indeed happens.

If you are a resident of the state of Wisconsin, please contact your state senator and your state representative and ask them to support the culling legislation being introduced by Representative Petrowski.

Thanks ~

Steve Simer
President
Madison BASS Club