WI Catfish Killing Bill

Found this on a different site. This needs to be stopped!

http://legis.wisconsin.gov/assembly/92/Pronschinske/news-updates/press-releases/pronschinske-introduces-legislation-to-legalize-noodling/

Clearly the 14 legislators are uninformed.

I sent off an email earlier today that will rattle some cages and have an interview with a reporter later today.

Wonder if they would have a problem spearing Muskies?

I read that this morning. Not a good move for WI…

“fishing for trophy catfish continues to grow in popularity in Wisconsin” Then why try to kill a good thing?…

“Many people already enjoy the sport of harvesting catfish by hand (commonly known as noodling) in southern states along the Mississippi River,” said Pronschinske.”

Hmm, I didn’t think the deep south could enspire midwesterners. They also marry cousins, is that cool too?

Why are you against noodling? I’m just curious…I can see why you disagree with the other portions.

Where does it talk about killing catfish?

Mike W wrote:

Where does it talk about killing catfish?

I’d assume any cat shot with a bow or crossbow would have to be kept or killed so that’s where the killing came into play.

mplspug wrote:

“Many people already enjoy the sport of harvesting <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>catfish by hand (commonly known as noodling) in southern states along the Mississippi River,” said Pronschinske.”

Hmm, I didn’t think the deep south could enspire midwesterners. They also marry cousins, is that cool too?

It is Wisconsin Pug

Think of it this way. What would people say if they allowed Walleye to be harvested by bow and arrow? People would have an absolute fit! Then why allow bow and arrow harvesting for another popular game fish, the catfish?…

Responsible anglers have worked very hard to drop the “rough fish” stigma that some people believe the catfish falls under. Legislation like this is a complete and 100% step backwards in the fight for trophy catfish waters. They can say all day long that they don’t think a catfish is a “rough fish”, but then why allow them for bow and arrow harvest when it’s currently only legal for rough fish? It’s a bad move. There is also research PROVING that noodling hurts not only the angler, but the catfish population.

Is there really the culture (or locations) in widespread areas throughout this region where these methods of harvesting would even be possible? I’ve caught a lot of flathead cats by mistake on P4, and every place I’ve caught them the water clarity was about 18″, and the depth would’ve required scuba gear to get to them. When was the last time you could’ve successfully harvested a catfish with a bow and arrow where you fish in MN or WI? We also don’t have 85 degree water for 4+ months of the year where the noodling thing would really take off.

I do not agree with the legislation, but I also do not think catfish populations will be decimated around here with the change.

Probably do about as much damage as spearing is to the sturgeon population in WI. We should probably tell them how to run that too.

buckybadger wrote:

Is there really the culture (or locations) in widespread areas throughout this region where these methods of harvesting would even be possible? I’ve caught a lot of flathead cats by mistake on P4, and every place I’ve caught them the water clarity was about 18″, and the depth would’ve required scuba gear to get to them. When was the last time you could’ve successfully harvested a catfish with a bow and arrow where you fish in MN or WI? We also don’t have 85 degree water for 4+ months of the year where the noodling thing would really take off.

I do not agree with the legislation, but I also do not think catfish populations will be decimated around here with the change.

Mike W wrote:

Where does it talk about killing catfish?

The link he posted says not 1 word about bowfishing or spearing?….

What proposal is being commenting about??

If there’s an email a MN guy can send off to help anyway in the cause please list.

If you have the urge to stick your hand in a kitty go find a hooker, leave the fish alone!

People might fish for trophy catfish but the DNR manages catfish for sustainable harvest… Not trophy fishery.

Sturgeon spearing is doing just fine… In maintaining a sustainable harvest of Sturgeon. It is not contributing to a trophy fishery… Which is not the dnrs goal anyway. Harvesting sturgeon is deeply engrained in Wisconsin heritage. Trophy fishing sturgeon is NOT. BUMMER.

Spearing sturgeon is not damaging the fishery if all you want is sustainable harvest fishery…. But it sure as heck is damaging to a trophy managed fishery… WHICH IT ISN’T.

We have to wait until harvest quotas are unattainable until we do anything conservative to bring fishery back to sustainable harvest levels… Some people confuse that with trophy fishery.

DNR cares only about filling buckets of fish for fillets.

In our history there are many examples of trophy fisheries ruined by sustainable harvest managing strategies.

I disagree with bow catfish fishing… But what the heck to I care. I’m not fooling myself into thinking we are even remotely considering managing catfish for trophy waters bow or not.

Mudshark wrote:

What proposal is being commenting about??

Section 1. 29.314 (4) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
129.314 (4) (b) 3. To a person who possesses or uses a light while using a bow
and arrow or crossbow for taking rough fish or catfish.

Section 2. 29.314 (5) (b) 2m. of the statutes is amended to read:
29.314 (5) (b) 2m. To a person who possesses or uses a light while using a bow
and arrow or crossbow for taking rough fish or catfish.

Section 3. 29.405 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
29.405 (1) (a) Take rough fish or catfish with a bow and arrow or take rough
fish or catfish with a bolt from a crossbow unless the arrow or bolt is equipped with a metal barbed tip and is attached to the bow or crossbow with a tethered line that allows for the retrieval of the arrow or bolt and the fish.

Section 10. 29.406 of the statutes is created to read:
29.406 Fishing by hand. The department may not promulgate or enforce a
rule that prohibits a person from taking rough fish or catfish by hand. This section does not prohibit the department from promulgating or enforcing a rule that establishes bag or length limits, season dates, zones, or any other limitations applicable to rough fish or catfish if the rule is consistent with the purposes of this chapter.

And they are using 3 fishing lines per person already! Damn savages! How are there ANY fish left over there? They need to go to one!

I have seen the ‘night archers’ on Mendota take an occasional TROPHY CHANNEL CAT while shooting carp. I happens now and it will happen with more regularity if allowed.

L8R…Ken

I am going to introduce a resolution at the Conservation Congress to advise against allowing catfish to be harvested with bows or ‘noodled.’

I live in Vernon County, anybody going to the CC in their county should do it too.

wildbeaver wrote:

I would love to go noodle up some catfish. I think it’s a great idea. I also wouldn’t mind being able to spear musky. They are good eating in the winter.

My main issue with noodling is you are literally climbing into a ‘nest’ and disrupting the catfish from protecting eggs. It’s just not a good idea.

Cats are easy enough to catch with hook and line, why disrupt them from reproducing? I recently read Missouri allowed it for a while, but then made it illegal again, after concerns grew about how the practice affects the fish population.

Catfishing, and flathead fishing in particular are gaining in popularity… why screw it up? Unfortunately, many people (like the legislators) still think of catfish as no different than carp.

Go to the Conservation Congress on April 9th to educate people on catfishing, and bring the issue up!

My 2 cents, it makes about as much sense as buying a baby a deer license .

TOC wrote:

Catfishing, and flathead fishing in particular are gaining in popularity… why screw it up? Unfortunately, many people (like the legislators) still think of catfish as no different than carp.

Well…now doesn’t that sound all to familiar? Just like the legislators over here in MN proposing the same damaging government overreach and backwards thinking with muskies.

MN bow fishermen are watching WI very closely right now.

It’s funny. The MN DNR is working to take catfish out of the “rough fish” catagory and split the two species into their own groups.

FYI both channels and flats come into the shallows at night (along with walleyes) and are very easy to target with a bow. Noodling wouldn’t be done on main channels, it would be a backwater activity.

I was surprised, once the reporter heard that I was against this bill, she didn’t want to talk with me.

I thought I posted the link to MO’s stance on noodling but I guess not.

Missouri Link

Wisconsin residents, contact your legislators, and Mr. Tiffany:

[email protected]
(608) 266-2509

Also, consider attending the Conservation Congress on April 9th. If you’re into the outdoors, it’s a good idea to go anyway, but it will also provide an opportunity to propose a resolution against the legislation:

https://dnr.wi.gov/about/wcc/springhearing.html

TOC wrote:

Wisconsin residents, contact your legislators, and Mr. Tiffany:

[email protected]
(608) 266-2509

Also, consider attending the Conservation Congress on April 9th. If you’re into the outdoors, it’s a good idea to go anyway, but it will also provide an opportunity to propose a resolution against the legislation:

https://dnr.wi.gov/about/wcc/springhearing.html

Is Tiffany a co-sponsor???

Mark

mbenson wrote:

Is Tiffany a co-sponsor???

He introduced the legislation. Others are supportive, too. I haven’t heard of any legislators opposing it yet.

Here’s roughly what I’m saying to my legislators when I call/email:

First, bowfishing and handfishing are two totally different practices, with different consequences, and if they are up for discussion, should be discussed individually, not lumped into the same law.

Second, particularly with bowfishing, the legislation is essentially relegating catfish to rough fish status (as the only fish available to bowfish are rough fish), something many of us lifelong catters have been fighting against.

With noodling, this is introducing something with no cultural history here, that can have damaging effects to the flathead catfish population. Noodling is essentially climbing into a catfish ‘nest’ and pulling out a huge male while it’s guarding eggs.

Catfishing is rising in popularity, precisely because people are learning that they are not rough fish, but a great game fish that is good eating. Why change that?

Basically, if the catfish is a game fish, treat it like one.

TOC wrote:

Catfishing is rising in popularity, precisely because people are learning that they are not rough fish, but a great game fish that is good eating. Why change that?

Basically, if the catfish is a game fish, treat it like one.

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To all you guys e-mailing. Include your full name, address, phone number with your e-mail. Otherwise why would they take you seriously?

This needs to be done on any e-mail you send them on any issue. They want (need) to know you are legit not just somebody blasting crap because you saw something on a web site, somewhere.

They have been studying the sturgeon in bago and the Fox River forever. They have strict limits and seasons.

Catfish? Not so much.