Walleye bag limits going up on several northern lakes, including some in region

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• Revised 2008-09 Walleye Bag Limits

Officials with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources are raising daily walleye bag limits on several lakes in the northern part of the state because of lower spearing harvest numbers this spring’s by six bands of the Chippewa Indians.

The new bag limits will go into effect on June 13 on 258 lakes, including several in the region.

“Increasing bag limits after the spring spearing season -- the time when Chippewa bands make most of their yearly harvest -- gives sport anglers more opportunities and more reasons to head north for a great day of fishing on Wisconsin waters while assuring that the tribes maintain their harvest rights,” said Matthew Frank, DNR secretary.

In the region, the bag limit on Tainter Lake in Dunn County is now three.

In Polk County the new limit on Balsam Lake is two, Bear Lake-5, Big Butternut-3, Big Round-2, Half Moon-3, Indianhead Flowage-5, N. Pipe-3, Sand-5 and Wapogasset-2.

In Chippewa County the new limit on Lake Wissota is 3, Chain-3, Holcombe Flowage-3, Long-3.

DNR officials say anglers should consult the 2008-09 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations, signs at boat landings, and the 2008-2009 Revised Ceded Territory Walleye Bag Limits pamphlet for lake-specific information.

An administrative rule passed by the state Natural Resources Board in 1998 allows the department to adjust initial bag limits annually to reflect actual spring spearing harvests and projected summer harvests.

Of the 152 lakes with bag limits less than five, one lake will have a bag limit of one walleye per day, 66 lakes will have a bag limit of two walleye per day, and 85 lakes will have a daily bag of three walleye per day.

The six Chippewa tribes together declared a harvest of 51,683 walleye for 2008 and had harvested 27,856 as of May 19, 2008.

Tags: northland, outdoors, fishing