TRIBAL HEAD MAULSON CLAIMS SPEARERS NEED MORE FISH.
3-19-2012
Smaller, two-walleye bag limits for non-tribal sport anglers on many northern Wisconsin lakes is likely in 2012 after an impasse in negotiations between the DNR and the Lac du Flambeau band of Chippewa Indians.
A strong response from DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp including background to the impasse came across the OWO wire Friday and is posted on this website under “Inland Fishing”. The impasse included the tribe not communicating with the DNR by Thursday’s deadline to declare the number of fish tribes intend to spear during the looming spawning season.
“The appearance of a negotiating tactic of surprise is very troubling to me,” Stepp said. “It truly unfortunate we have come to this impasse but it’s my responsibility to put the state’s fishery first.”
According to the DNR release, this year, two days before their annual harvest declaration was due, the Lac du Flambeau brought new issues to the negotiation table. They wanted to reopen the 30-year-old court order to allow some leeway in taking larger fish.
“They needed more fish,” Stepp states. “They wanted to harvest additional lakes at a two walleye per day bag limit for sport anglers and proposed harvesting some lakes as a pilot at rates higher than current population safeguards allow (Read Full Response).”