By Jim Jung
DNR Conservation Warden

Question: I fish exclusively for panfish in Oneida County and heard there are some rule changes on panfish bag limits. Where can I find those changes and will the boat landings and public access points be posted?

Answer: You are correct, beginning April 1, 2016; the DNR put experimental panfish regulations on nearly 100 lakes within Wisconsin. (Eight total waterbodies within Oneida County). DNR Fisheries will monitor these lakes for 10 years in an attempt to determine which specific rules are most effective at producing larger size panfish and if anglers continue to support these changes. The reduced panfish bag limits are posted at landings and public access points on those waterbodies and they are also found in the 2016-2017 WI Fishing Pamphlets under the, “County” listings.

More info on this study can be found at the following web sites: http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Fishing/Outreach/PanfishPlan.html and http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/documents/outreach/PanfishFactSheetMay15.pdf

The daily limits will take on one of the following forms:
25/10 – a total of 25 panfish may be kept per day but no more than 10 of any one species. (1) Carrol Lake, (2) Gilmore Lake, (3) Madeline Lake, (4) Moen Chain (including Moen, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Lakes and connecting water, combined)

Spawning season 15/5 – A total of 25 panfish may be kept per day except during May and June when a total of 15 panfish may be kept but no more than five of any one species. (5) Boom-Rhinelander chain (includes Rhinelander Flowage from Bridge Road downstream to the dam, Boom Lake, Bass Lake, Thunder Lake, and Lake Creek upstream to Forest Lane, combined)

15/5 – A total of 15 panfish may be kept per day but no more than five of any one species. (6) Indian Lake, (7) Oneida Lake, (8) Squaw Lake.