Updates and Corrections to the Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations, 2009-2010

Since the Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations, 2009-2010 was printed, there have been several updates and corrections that anglers should know about:

Updates:

A recent bill officially restored the season structure for bass and musky and eliminated the early-season barbless hook requirement in the Northern Bass Zone. This bill was initiated and adopted in response to a statutory change in the 2007 budget bill which would have created an early musky catch-and-release season and required anglers to use barbless hooks during that season and the early bass catch-and-release season.

The northern zone musky season opens Saturday, May 23. No person may actively fish for musky before that date in waters north of US Highway 10. The southern zone musky season opens Saturday, May 2.

The largemouth and smallmouth bass season opens Saturday, May 2. In the northern zone, anglers may fish for bass but must release all bass that they catch until June 20. Anglers are no longer restricted to barbless hooks or artificial lures (i.e., live bait is permissible for bass fishing). In the southern zone, anglers may harvest bass beginning May 2