Green Bay Smallmouth Bass
Fishing Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources held public meetings in 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2024 to engage stakeholders who have an interest in the smallmouth bass fishery in the waters of Green Bay and Lake Michigan. These meetings were structured to bring stakeholders together to discuss the status of the present fishery and its sustainability. These meetings, in part, resulted in a new rule that went into effect in 2020 creating a fish refuge in the Mink River which flows into Rowley’s Bay, Lake Michigan. In 2024, the DNR held meetings in Green Bay and Sturgeon Bay to update stakeholders with the latest smallmouth bass survey and research data and gather feedback on a proposed regulation change to expand the catch and release season. Gathering input from stakeholders is important to informing management of smallmouth bass as identified in the Lake Michigan Integrated Fisheries Management Plan, (Vision 1, Goal B, Objective 9).
During these meetings, stakeholders continued to raise concerns and provide feedback on the health of smallmouth bass populations in the waters surrounding Door County. Spring and early summer fishing continues to raise concerns due to intense fishing pressure on bedding smallmouth bass. Largemouth bass virus (LMBV) was isolated from several fish in 2021, although its role in producing these lesions and how the virus may affect smallmouth bass is uncertain (press release) and lesions similar to those observed in fish affected with LMBV continue to be observed. Large shifts in the Great Lakes ecosystem due to climate change and invasive species are believed to be major contributors to recent smallmouth bass declines and a recent research project studying smallmouth bass recruitment in Door County suggests environmental variables are the primary driver for nest success in several Door County smallmouth bass populations.
Public Meetings
Nov. 4 and 6, 2024
The Department hosted meetings in Green Bay and Sturgeon Bay. The meetings focused on updates to several issues discussed at previous meetings and to gather feedback on a proposed rule to extend the smallmouth bass catch-and-release season through the end of June to protect spawning bass. The two meetings were identical in the information presented but the discussions differed.
Meeting Video - Smallmouth Bass Management Nov. 4, 2024
Meeting Video - Smallmouth Bass Management Nov. 6, 2024
Presentation - Smallmouth Bass Management for Green Bay and Northern Lake Michigan
Oct. 13, 2020
The Department hosted the third meeting to discuss smallmouth bass management. This meeting focused on a variety of issues, but we expanded the scope to take comments on the fishery throughout Green Bay, instead of focusing only on Door County. This meeting included an update on tournament rules, the rule-making process and options, and an update on smallmouth bass juvenile recruitment. As in other meetings, there was a great deal of time spent taking comments and questions.
Meeting Video - Smallmouth Bass Information
Meeting Video - Fishing Tournament Overview
Meeting Video - Smallmouth Bass Green Bay Angler Information
Oct. 15, 2019
The Department hosted a second meeting to bring stakeholders together for a discussion of smallmouth bass management issues. The presentations focused on new results from a genetics study on smallmouth bass, a review of regulations in place for bass on all of the Great Lakes, and a report on survey results from the 2018 Rowley’s Bay survey.
Presentation - Genetic Analysis for Smallmouth Bass
Presentation - Smallmouth Bass Regulations in the Great Lakes
Presentation - Smallmouth Bass Populations Summary and Tournament Data for Door County
Oct. 18, 2017
The Department hosted the first meeting of its kind in Door County to discuss smallmouth bass management and issues. This meeting focused on an update on the most recent smallmouth bass surveys around Door County. The meeting also included a presentation on management around the Great Lakes for bass.