MADISON, Wis. — New regulations will go into effect on numerous northern water bodies for the 2022 fishing season, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources said.

The walleye regulation for multiple water bodies in the Flambeau River, South Fork Flambeau River and Elk River watersheds in Ashland, Iron, Price, Rusk, Sawyer and Vilas counties will switch to the standard walleye regulation for the Ceded Territory in northern Wisconsin.

Anglers may keep a daily bag limit of three walleye at least 15 inches but less than 20 inches, or they can keep two walleye 15 to 20 inches and one over 24 inches. The change will be in effect for the May 7 fishing season opener.

“Over the past 15 years, we have observed a decline in walleye populations in these waters,” said Jeff Scheirer, DNR fisheries biologist.

This regulation aims to protect the young walleye that most of these populations are still producing, but at much lower rates than in the past. The new regulation will allow anglers to harvest adult walleye while protecting young walleye until they mature.

“The current rule that allows anglers to keep three walleye of any length, but only one over 14 inches, is no longer the proper fit for populations with dwindling recruitment,” Scheirer said. “If the population rebounds and the new regulation helps more walleye mature into adults, we can reassess whether this new regulation is still needed down the road.”

Waterbodies changing to this regulation include:

— Big Falls Flowage (Rusk County)

— Crowley Flowage (Price County)

— Dairyland Reservoir (Rusk County)

— Elk River (entire) (Price County)

— Flambeau River, including waters of the North Fork Flambeau River, between Turtle-Flambeau Dam and Thornapple Flowage Dam (Ashland, Iron, Price, Rusk and Sawyer counties)

— Grassy Lake (Price County)

— Lac Sault Dore (Price County)

–Ladysmith Flowage (Rusk County)

–Lower Park Falls Flowage (Price County)

–Phillips Chain (Duroy, Elk, Long, Wilson lakes and connecting waters combined) (Price County)

–Pike Lake Chain (Amik, Pike, Round, Turner lakes and connecting waters combined) (Price and Vilas counties)

— Pixley Flowage (Price County)

— Solberg Lake (Price County)

–South Fork Flambeau River (Price, Rusk and Sawyer counties)

–Thornapple Flowage (Rusk County)

–Upper Park Falls Flowage (Price County)

The Ceded Territory standard walleye regulation will also apply to Escanaba Lake, a research lake in Vilas County that is part of the Northern Highland Fishery Research Area. Moving to the Ceded Territory regulation from the previous regulation of a 28-inch minimum length limit and a daily bag limit of one will allow DNR scientists to test the effects of the Ceded Territory regulation on this local walleye population while providing additional opportunities for anglers to catch walleye.

However, the DNR will establish an annual quota in pounds of walleye for Escanaba Lake, limiting angler harvest. The season will open on June 11.

Additional fishing regulations will go into effect for other lakes, rivers and streams within northern Wisconsin. The complete list is available on the DNR’s Fishing Regulations webpage.