MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources plans to update its Walleye Management Plan for the first time in more than 20 years. 

The Plan dictates everything the DNR does related to Walleye from stocking, habitat work and fishing regulations. It's last update was in 1998.

“A lot has changed in that span of time,” said Max Wolter, a DNR fisheries biologist and co-leader of the Wisconsin Walleye Management Team. “We know a lot more about walleye than we did then through research, we're stocking walleye differently, so it's a good time to kind of check back in and make sure that our plan matches some of the challenges that walleye face today.”

Wolter said walleye reproduction has been decreasing in Wisconsin for a few decades. A UW-Madison study in 2019 showed that the species was being over-harvested based on current conditions in many parts of the state. 

“Some of the recent challenges that walleye populations face are definitely a strong reason why we are updating this plan,” Wolter said.

Wolter said the DNR isn't considering specific changes yet, instead they are waiting to see how the ongoing public comment period plays out.

Wally Banfi, a fish pro and guide who works at Wilderness Fish and Game in Sauk City, said more people are fishing now — particularly with a significant bump in liscense sales in 2020.

“So this is putting more pressure on the fish” Banfi said. “So there's more anglers fishing and more fish being kept. So this is something we've got to look at.”

Banfi said modern fishing technologies also make it easier for any angler to catch walleye, and keep catching them. He said he'd like to see more restrictions on the number of walleye anglers can keep or more size limits.

“I'm in favor of some smaller bag limits,” Banfi said. “Like for walleye for instance, a lot of lakes have a 5 limit, but it's probably time to decrease it to a 3 limit on many of the lakes due to over-harvest.”

The DNR is currently taking public comment online and in virtual meetings from fishing stakeholders like anglers, guides, resort owners, and lake associations.

Wolter said the public comment process is going well. Walleye are a popular fish both for Wisconsinites and out-of-state anglers visiting the state. The DNR estimates 1.8 million hours are spent fishing for walleye in the state.

“If you're looking at all the individual fish species in Wisconsin Walleye are the most targeted by anglers,” Wolter said.

Walleye fishing also happens on Wisconsin's largest and smallest waters — and all sizes between the two. The DNR plans to take public comment through the end of February. Then they will work on a draft and open that plan up for public comment before ultimately submitting new regulations to the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board. They hope to have new regulations by the end of 2021.

“This plan's going to try to capture all of that diversity and make sure that we're providing strategies that are going to work everywhere,” Wolter said. “Whether you're out on a couple million acres of water on green bay or 200 acres of water on some secret lake in northern Wisconsin.”