The Wisconsin Depart-ment of Natural Resources continues to boost natural fish populations through stocking to provide anglers with high quality and diverse fishing opportunities.
“From large lakes and rivers to small streams and ponds, Wisconsin has some of the most diverse fishing opportunities in the country,” said Justine Hasz, DNR Bureau of Fisheries Management Director. “The DNR is committed to maintaining and sustaining these fishing resources for the use and enjoyment of all anglers and are happy to announce the spring fish stocking numbers.”
Due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, the DNR made a variety of short-term management decisions earlier this spring to protect the health and safety of the public and DNR staff. As such, stocking operations have been altered to comply with public health guidelines.
Additional management decisions that were necessary to protect the public, DNR staff, and fishery resources include the temporary suspension of the following operations:
Stocking partnerships and collaborations (such as net pens in Lake Michigan).
Offshore stocking conducted on Lake Superior.
Stocking of urban and small ponds.
“The DNR realize some of these decisions impact partners and result in temporary changes to the way public trust resources are managed,” said Hasz. “However, it is believed these decisions are necessary to protect the most important resource which is staff and the public the DNR serves.”