An identification image for steelhead is shown on Michigan's online Inland Trout and Salmon Regulations map. (Michigan Department of Natural Resources)

Spring Hearing questions and results are now available, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Wisconsin Conservation Congress.

More than 6,800 people responded to the 2026 Spring Hearing questionnaire either in person April 13 or online April 13-15. The results and questions are now available at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/about/wcc/springhearing.

A total of 44 items were included in this year’s questionnaire.

Statewide, a proposal to increase hunting, fishing, and trapping license fees by 25% was supported, while a proposal for a 75% increase was rejected. Any changes in license fees would require legislative action.

“The Conservation Congress is proud to offer this opportunity for the public to share their ideas on how to responsibly manage Wisconsin’s natural resources for present and future generations,” said Rob Bohmann, WCC chair. “This year, we saw a variety of ideas presented as citizen resolutions from members of the public as well as considerable participation and feedback on the advisory questions presented both in-person and online.”

The annual Spring Hearing is an opportunity for the public to provide input on a wide array of natural resources-related advisory questions presented by the DNR and the WCC. It also gives Wisconsinites the opportunity to provide input on resolutions that members of the public submitted.

Results from the public input will be considered by the Conservation Congress at its annual convention in May and will be forwarded to the DNR and Natural Resources Board in June.

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The Marinette County, Wis., motorized recreational trail system reopened Friday to authorized vehicles. Conditions now exist that can support motorized traffic without damage to the trail, said Ryan Bourassa, county forestry administrator.

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With Michigan’s trout season entering its second weekend, the DNR reminds anglers that a new, interactive Inland Trout and Salmon Regulations map is available to check the regulations for the areas where you plan to fish. Find the map online at Michigan.gov/FishingMaps or in the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app.

The DNR reported this Upper Peninsula activity:

Little Bay de Noc: Smallmouth bass anglers reported good-sized fish and fair fishing. Anglers reported that the sun’s high position in the sky during the late morning into afternoon hours was favorable for smallmouth. Yellow perch anglers reported mixed results, with the majority having trouble getting enough satisfactory bites. However, anglers reported catching a few and seeing some schools on sonar units.

Marquette: Steelhead finally started moving back up the rivers. There were a few more coho salmon caught out on the break wall and near the Shiras power plant. A few brown trout and steelhead were also caught on the breakwall this week.

The Carp River produced a few more steelhead. If fishing around the mouth was not productive, anglers moved further up the river; a few fish were reported past the prison and near the Marquette Mountain area.

In the bay, the coho bite heated up significantly this week, with the average per boat increasing from three last week to six. There was also an increase in fish size, with several 20-inch coho salmon caught while trolling shallow water. There were many brown trout caught while trolling around the Chocolay River mouth to Whetstone Creek.

Munising: The boat launch was open and boat anglers were successful targeting coho salmon trolling the bay. Boat anglers have also reported a few nice sized rainbow trout and splake. Anglers fishing off the Anna River mouth have been picking up a few coho salmon and rainbow trout with spawn and casting spoons working the best.

Keweenaw Bay: Anglers reported fair numbers of coho salmon with an occasional steelhead being caught when trolling stickbaits and spoons in the upper portion of the water column. Whitefish anglers and those jigging for lake trout reported a slow bite.

Traverse Bay/Portage Entry: Anglers reported fair fishing when trolling spoons and body baits for both lake trout and brown trout nearshore. Anglers also reported the occasional coho salmon being caught. Shore anglers reported slow fishing.

Ontonagon/Silver City/Union Bay: Angler reports showed catches of coho salmon, brown trout, and steelhead. These fish were primarily caught by those trolling in shallow waters. Shore anglers fishing Union Bay also had some luck catching a mix of the same species.

Grand Marais: The coho salmon bite was excellent for boat anglers trolling West and East of the break wall with the occasional rainbow trout caught as well.

Manistique: Steelhead anglers that batted the high water had limited success. One or two bites per trip was common. Anglers used beads or spawn.

St. Ignace: Over last weekend, smelt dippers obtained their limits at the Carp River mouth.