The way we live has changed dramatically over the years.
My grandparents were born before automobiles were introduced. My parents before television. Me before laptops and smartphones.
Your family history is no doubt similar.
But over the generations a few activities have persisted.
One is fishing.
My maternal grandparents fished with my mother on a creek that wound through their dairy farm near Berlin. They typically used a bamboo fly rod.
My mom in turn showed me and my siblings how to bait a hook and fish with cane poles on a pond in Mount Pleasant.
I continue to practice the craft – sometimes for recreation, sometimes to gather food – as often as possible.
It’s a significant part of what I consider a healthy, sustainable lifestyle.
The techniques and equipment have changed over time. But the activity is essentially the same.
Fishing links humans together and also connects them to nature.
In December I was part of an ice fishing outing on Green Bay that included three generations of the same family.
The women, Sharon Herlache Kugler of Algoma, Brenda Maier of Forestville and Kelsey Kornaus of Shoreview, Minnesota, were separated in age by about 60 years but had a common interest.
Kugler, 84, and a native of the Door Peninsula, told me she had been ice fishing the waters of Green Bay since she could walk.
“It was part of living here, part of what we all did,” Kugler said. “I loved it from the beginning.”
She, her daughter and granddaughter were grateful for the opportunity to share a day doing something they all loved – fishing.
Fishing has been part of human activities for at least 40,000 years, according to scientists who have studied the diets of early humans.
If history is any guide, it will be with us for a long time into the future, too.
In advance of Saturday’s recognition of National Go Fishing Day, here’s some Wisconsin fishing facts:
How popular is fishing?
Very. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources sold 1.43 million fishing licenses in 2021, including 360,981 to non-residents.
And the number of anglers is even higher because fishing licenses aren’t required of people age 15 and under.
Where can I fish in Wisconsin?
The state has more than 15,000 lakes and more than 12,600 rivers and streams, according to the Department of Natural Resources. The good news is Wisconsin law allows public access for fishing on all navigable waters in the state so no matter where you live there is fishing nearby.
The DNR maintains a database of fishing spots statewide, including those for shore fishing and with handicapped access.
What’s the most popular fish in Wisconsin?
The walleye is the most sought-after fish in Wisconsin, preferred by 63% of anglers in a 2020 DNR survey. Bluegill (50%), crappie (44%) and largemouth bass (33%) were the next most popular, respectively.
However panfish (a term encompassing bluegills, crappies, perch and sunfish) are the most caught and kept fish in Wisconsin. In a 2007 DNR survey anglers reported catching 57.7 million panfish; 25.7 million of the fish were kept.
By comparison, the next most commonly caught group of fish was bass (aggregate of largemouth and smallmouth) at 10.1 million. Less than 500,000 were kept.
What’s the state fish?
The official Wisconsin fish is the muskellunge. Commonly called the musky, it’s the largest member of the pike family in North America.
Muskellunge can grow to more than 5 feet in length and 60 pounds in weight.
According to the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in Hayward, the world record musky weighed 69 pounds, 11 ounces and was caught Oct. 20, 1949 by Louie Spray on the Chippewa Flowage near Hayward.
The International Game Fish Association, however, recognizes as the world record a 67 pound, 8 ounce musky caught July 24, 1949 by Cal Johnson on Lac Courte Oreilles near Hayward.
Debates about record fish aside, muskies are known for their mouthful of big and sharp teeth as well as the challenge they present to anglers. Another nickname for the musky is the “fish of 10,000 casts.”
What is the biggest fish in Wisconsin?
The largest fish in the Badger State is the lake sturgeon. The species can weigh more than 200 pounds and grow to more than 6 feet in length.
The heaviest sturgeon on record was a 212.2-pound fish speared in 2010 on Lake Winnebago.
Do I need a fishing license, what are the fishing regulations?
Anglers age 16 and over need to buy a Wisconsin fishing license. Anglers 15 and younger can fish for free.
How do I get a fishing license in Wisconsin?
Fishing licenses are sold at many retailers such as sporting goods stores, bait and tackle shops and large chain stores. They are also available online at gowild.wi.gov.
A resident, annual fishing license costs $20.
But an annual fishing license is just $5 for first-time buyers. Other varieties such as a 1-day license ($8) and a 2-day Great Lakes fishing ($14, includes the salmon and trout stamp) are also available.
When can I fish in Wisconsin?
Fishing opportunities for most species are available year-round and certain waters, including the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers and lakes Michigan and Superior, are always open.
The seasons for walleyes, northern pike and muskellunge close for at least a couple months in early spring to protect the fish during their typical spawning periods.
The general statewide game fish season opens annually on the first Saturday in May.
Always check the DNR fishing regulations before wetting a line.
Where can I fish for trout in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has hundreds of excellent trout streams, including in the northern forests and the Driftless Area of the southwest.
The DNR has designed the Trout Regulations & Opportunities User Tool (TROUT) to help trout anglers find places to fish. The TROUT application includes trout fishing regulations, classified trout waters, public land and DNR fishing easements.
Does fishing contribute to the economy?
Fishing is big business in Wisconsin. The state receives $1.5 billion annually from direct expenditures for fishing trip-related equipment and about $2.3 billion from fishing-related economic activity, according to the DNR.
In addition, the fishing industry provides about 21,500 people with fishing-related jobs each year in Wisconsin.
And since Wisconsin typically ranks in the Top 5 among states for non-resident license sales, fishing draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to the state each year.
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