IRON MOUNTAIN — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on Friday announced a new walleye slot limit on Clear and Katherine lakes in Oneida County and Anvil and Laura lakes in Vilas County.

The new regulation for all four lakes is an 18-inch minimum length for walleye, and fish from 22 to 28 inches may not be kept. The daily bag limit is one walleye.

Katherine Lake also received a new bass regulation of no minimum length on bass with a daily bag limit of five largemouth and smallmouth bass in combination.

“These new regulations aim to help walleye rebound while continuing to provide harvest opportunities for both walleye and bass,” said John Kubisiak, DNR Treaty Fisheries Team Supervisor.

All four lakes are in the Wisconsin Ceded Territory, an area where sovereign nations of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians retain federally recognized harvest rights. In recognition of the declining walleye populations on these lakes, Lac du Flambeau reduced their harvest both in 2021 and 2022 to about half as many walleye as would have been allowed under the management system, Kubisiak said.

Wisconsin’s general inland fishing opener is May 7, but the harvest season for smallmouth bass in the northern zone doesn’t start until June 18.

Licensed anglers can take advantage of today’s trout opener statewide in Michigan. The U.P.’s walleye and northern pike possession seasons open May 15.

The Wisconsin DNR said many walleyes were caught on the Peshtigo River in southern Marinette County by shore anglers using stick baits. The Menominee River was also producing, with stick baits in bright colors working best.

The Michigan DNR reported these Upper Peninsula conditions:

Little Bay de Noc: Fishing activity remained limited, although some anglers were targeting perch and reported slow action. Anglers participating in the catch and release bass season on the Ford River had little success.

Manistique: Water levels on the Manistique River were starting to recede. Anglers reported seeing steelhead near the dam, although catch rates were minimal.

Keweenaw Bay/Huron Bay: The water was open. Some anglers got out on the water in small boats and canoes in between floats of ice. There were reports of smelt congregating near shore and especially near river mouths. Other anglers concentrated efforts on shore near river mouths targeting steelhead. For steelhead, try yarn flies and spawn.

Traverse Bays/ South Portage Canal Entry: The water was open at the South Portage canal launch. Anglers were trolling for salmon and trout mostly. Some shore anglers were also casting for panfish and pike but to no avail. With open water and less ice floats in the lake, anglers should try trolling and jigging.

Munising Bay: Boat ramps were in at Munising. Strong gusty 30 mph winds from the south blew the ice out of the bay, however there was still plenty of ice floating within the bay and out in the lake. Most of the ice bergs were big and not always visible, so use caution when boating. Anglers were catching coho with a few nice steelhead caught. Most of the steelhead observed were still fresh and not spawned out. Anglers were fishing primarily with spawn sacs and boats were just starting to troll or jig for coho. A few splake, whitefish and menominee were also caught.

Grand Marais: Anglers were able to use the boat launch. Ice was pretty much out of the harbor and blown out into the lake, however there were still large ice bergs floating. Boaters are advised to used caution. Boat fishing pressure was low due to ice out just happening and strong winds. Boats were doing great with limits of coho and rainbows.

Marquette: Anglers were having success catching steelhead in the Carp and Chocolay rivers. Anglers had success fishing off the mouth of the Carp River catching coho salmon. The ice was melted in the harbors, and boats should be able to launch. Anglers drifting spawn and beads were successful in the rivers. Anglers casting spawn out of the mouth of the Carp River were successful in catching coho.

Au Train: Anglers were having success catching steelhead and coho salmon out of the Rock River and the river mouth. They were drifting both spawn and beads.