New fishing regulations in effect

Plus: Devil's Lake, beloved Pelican died, new Ice Age Trail community

Author

Forrest Koslowski
April 09, 2026

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This week’s weekly:

🏞️ Devil's Lake gets 100 more acres to roam

🕊️ Beloved Lake Superior pelican has died

🥾 Cumberland-Barronett named Ice Age Trail Community

🎣 STORY OF THE WEEK: New fishing regulations in effect

🏞️ Devil's Lake gets 100 more acres to roam LINK

  • The Wisconsin DNR just finalized a deal to permanently protect 100 acres at Devil's Lake State Park, expanding Wisconsin's most-visited park after The Conservation Fund swooped in last year to save the parcel from development.

  • The land had been one of the largest privately owned chunks inside the park, and the acquisition was made possible through the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program — the same program responsible for protecting countless acres across the state.

  • With nearly 2.3 million visitors in 2025 and a possible future segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail in the works, this expansion means even more quartzite bluffs, lake views, and elbow room at Wisconsin's most-loved state park.

🕊️ Beloved Lake Superior pelican has died LINK

  • Gitche, the American white pelican that captured Ashland's heart after lingering on Chequamegon Bay long past fall migration, has died from gunshot wounds while undergoing treatment at the Raptor Education Group in Antigo.

  • An exam revealed Gitche had been shot by two different firearms, with fragments of both lead and steel shot in her body — the lead poisoning caused liver failure, and a gunshot to the abdomen led to sepsis that ultimately overwhelmed her.

  • American white pelicans are federally protected, and the DNR's investigation into the shooting is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact the DNR — a $2,500 reward has been offered for tips leading to an arrest.

🥾 Cumberland-Barronett named Ice Age Trail Community LINK

  • Cumberland-Barronett has officially joined the network of nearly 30 Ice Age Trail Communities along the 1,200-mile National Scenic Trail, with a ribbon-cutting set for May 2 at Timberland Hills Trails as part of the Outdoor Expo.

  • The area provides access to eight Ice Age Trail segments within a 15-mile radius, joining Rice Lake and Weyerhaeuser as Barron and Rusk County communities that earned the designation in recent years.

  • Launched in 2016, the program helps communities use the trail as an economic and social engine, promoting them as hiker destinations and weaving local towns into the trail experience itself. Couple-two-tree more reasons to lace up the boots.

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🎣  STORY OF THE WEEK: New fishing regulations in effect LINK

There is a specific kind of magic in Wisconsin when the ice finally clears and the "clink" of a lure hitting the water replaces the sound of a snowblower.

The 2026-2027 season is right around the corner, and whether you're chasing a trophy musky or just looking for a bucket of bluegills for a Friday night fry, the DNR has dropped some updates you’ll want to catch before you cast.

Key Changes:

  • Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 2—the official statewide opening day for inland fishing—but if you’re a trout enthusiast, you can actually get a head start since that season kicks off early on April 4.

  • The DNR simplified the rules for our favorite "fish of ten thousand casts," so there's no more confusing Northern Zone split; the muskellunge season now opens statewide on May 2.

  • Before you launch the boat, make sure your paperwork is squared away ($20 for a solo license or $31 for a "date night" spousal pass) and remember to "drain and clean" to keep those pesky invasive species out of our 15,000 lakes.

The move toward simplicity is a breath of fresh air. We’ve all been there—staring at a map in the back of a truck, squinting to figure out if we’re technically in the "Northern Zone" for muskies. By unifying the inland opener, the DNR is making it easier to just focus on the fishing.

Beyond the rules, the opener is a great reminder of why we live here.

With 42,000 miles of streams and enough shoreline to keep you busy for a lifetime, there’s no excuse to stay on the couch. Just do your buddies (and the fish) a favor: check the new species-specific bag limits for your favorite lake on the Go Wild app.

The water is still going to be bracingly cold in May, so wear that life jacket and keep the invasive hitchhikers off your trailer.

Now get out 'der.

WISCAMPSIN WEEKLY POLL

Last Week's Trivia Check

We asked for the scientifically proven biological purpose of a turkey gobbler's "snood." This one completely fooled the flock! Only 23% of you got it right, while a leading 43% guessed that it acts as a sound resonator for their gobble.

The Correct Answer: Females use its length to judge his genetics and immune system health.

The Takeaway: While it looks ridiculous to us, the snood is the ultimate turkey status symbol. Scientific studies have proven that hens actively choose mates with the longest, most prominent snoods. A long, brightly colored snood directly correlates to a bird with high testosterone and a strong immune system that is highly resistant to parasites and disease!

This Week's Trivia

The ice is officially out, and the legendary Wisconsin "Walleye Run" is in full swing on rivers across the state. Die-hard anglers know the best time to catch these giants is in the dead of night, pitching jigs into the frigid currents because these predators have a massive advantage in low-light conditions.

The Walleye gets its name from its distinctive, cloudy, glassy-looking eyes. What specific anatomical feature causes this appearance and allows them to hunt flawlessly in the pitch dark?

Give it a gut check and click a response below:

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MEME OF THE WEEK 😆

A review from the trail… Appreciate the note neighbor

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