The results from the Conservation Congress Resolutions are in. My resolution passed in Vernon County, looks like Pete the Catfisherman’s did, too!

Awesome! Glad Crawford County voted on it, too.

I looked up the bill this morning, looks like it failed to come up for a vote in the legislative session on March 28th, which means it failed.

But that doesn’t mean there wasn’t support for it, only that it it didn’t get picked up for voting. I contacted a State Senator’s office yesterday, and was told that it could easily be reintroduced and voted on again.

I presented my resolution last night, not sure how it went. I’ll post the results when I know.

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.

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.

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

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!

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.