Anglers' Club - Live Release Category - Sharing the experience by releasing the fish to fight again!

To be initiated into the Anglers' Club in the LIVE RELEASE category you must catch and release a fish that meets or exceeds the minimum length listed below, correctly complete the application form [PDF 29KB] and comply with the following rules:

Safely Releasing a Trout
DNR photo

The fish must be measured to nearest quarter inch from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail in the presence of one witness. The witness must attest to the measurement of the fish's length and the live release of the fish.
A clear photograph showing a close-up, side-view of the fish must accompany the completed application form. Photographs of released fish MUST be taken at the catch site (no exceptions).

Qualifying Species and Lengths

Species	Length (in inches)	Species	Length (in inches)
Lake sturgeon	65.0	Lake whitefish	24.0
Lake herring (cisco)	20.0	Coho salmon	30.0
Chinook salmon	40.0	Rainbow/Steelhead (GL)	36.0
Rainbow trout (inland)	24.0	Brown trout (GL)	33.0
Brown trout (inland)	24.0	Brook trout (GL)	20.0
Brook trout (inland)	16.0	Lake trout	34.0
Northern pike	40.0	Muskellunge	45.0
Tiger muskellunge	40.0	Bullhead (all species)	15.0
Channel catfish	30.0	Flathead catfish	40.0
Common carp	34.0	White sucker	20.0
White bass	17.0	Rock bass	12.0
Bluegill	12.0	Sunfish (all others)	11.0
Smallmouth bass	20.0	Largemouth bass	22.0
Crappie (white or black)	15.0	Yellow perch	15.0
Sauger	21.0	Walleye	29.0
Freshwater drum	28.0

For more information, contact:

Karl Scheidegger, Fisheries Biologist
(608) 267-9426

Last Revised: Tuesday February 19 2008