Great news! The whole river is fishable.

From the FLW website:

Attention walleye anglers: Minnesota and Wisconsin border waters ruled fishable

Both sides of Mississippi River in play for upcoming tournaments

20.Apr.2007

After lengthy discussions with both the Minnesota and Wisconsin DNR, FLW Outdoors is pleased to announce that both the Minnesota and Wisconsin side of the Mississippi River are fishable tournament waters. This announcement specifically impacts the Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour event held out of Red Wing, Minn., May 2-5 and the Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League event held out of Bay City, Wis., April 28.

Pools 3, 4 and 5 of the Mississippi River will be in play for both events with locking permitted. Furthermore, fish in livewells can be transported back and forth between the two sates.

Both conservation agencies and FLW Outdoors would like to stress the importance of following baitfish guidelines. Live bait, specifically minnows, crayfish and frogs, cannot be transported inland from one state to another. Leeches are not an issue.

For the FLW Walleye League event held in Bay City, Wis., before anglers exit the Bay City Park and Campground, they are to drain their livewells, baitwells and bilge pumps. Additionally, all excess live bait must be killed at this time.

For more information contact Director of Walleye Operations Sonny Reynolds at (270) 252-1591.

Is that just for FLW or any tournament down to the club level?

The MTT is fishing both sides this weekend. It basically comes down to the ones that enforce the laws and it sounds as though the DNR from both Wisconsin and MN are onboard with it being open so that mean all tournaments.

OK so that’s great news for the tournament anglers but what about us average Joe’s that fish for recreation? Will the same latitude be given to the weekend warriors? How about the Croix?

I plan on calling my local DNR office to see if they’ll issue some sort of statement regarding border waters for the rest of us

That is GREAT news gentlemen!!!! Thanks for the update!!

They already did issue a statement, and we had them here. Both States are allowing fishing on both sides.

I read on an earlier post about this subject that we are now also allowed to fish up until the rules meeting at 5 o’clock on friday for the league event. Does anybody have any definite news on this? Thanks

Tony

You have to be off the water before NOON. [read 2nd sentence below]
Thanks, Bill

4. Pretournament practice

There will be no official practice period or off-limits period prior to the pretournament meeting. However, no contestant may be on tournament waters for the purpose of locating fish or potential fishing waters after 12 p.m. (noon) on the Tuesday (Wednesday of Championship) of registration and pretournament meeting except during tournament hours. The purchasing of information or the hiring of services will not be permitted after the balance deadline date for each tournament (September 9, 2007, for the FLW Walleye Tour Championship).

Link to the Rules

That is the Tour rule Bill, I believe he was asking about the League.

Yes Tony was asking about the league event…. 2007 Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League rules

4. Pretournament practice

There will be no official practice period or off-limits period prior to the pretournament meeting.

Quote:

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I read on an earlier post about this subject that we are now also allowed to fish up until the rules meeting at 5 o’clock on friday for the league event. Does anybody have any definite news on this? Thanks

Tony

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OOPS. Sorry. Thanks Steve.
Thanks, Bill

Yes you can prefish up too the tournament rules meeting. I asked Sonny and he said the noon rule only applies too the tour. If you have questions give Sonny a call at FLW Outdoors or Email him. He will get back too you and answer your question in a timely mattter.