A proposal to restrict some fishing tournaments is drawing complaints from the Wisconsin Bass Federation. The Department of Natural Resources is proposing several rules to help regulate fishing tournaments. Wisconsin Bass Federation President Mike Hofmann says most won't affect their events. But members are worried about a proposal to ban catch and release tournaments during July and August. Hofmann says the proposed ban is an overreaction to two large fish-kills that coincided with major tournaments. He says the DNR is ignoring the many other tournaments that go on that time of year that have not killed hundreds of fish.
Hofmann says the proposed ban could seriously hurt recreational fishing events across the state, because it will prevent tournaments from even taking place during a major part of the season. The DNR is holding a series of hearings on the proposed rules, starting later this month.