SF 257 – Issuing permits for bass fishing events
SF 259 – Removing restriction on certain motorboats on Lake Macbride
FLOOR ACTION
SF 257 establishes guidelines for bass fishing tournaments and permitting for those events by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The minimum number of vessels for an event is six on public waters other than the Mississippi River. For Mississippi River events, the minimum number of vessels is 20, and there must be at least 40 participants. The Natural Resource Commission (NRC) will adopt rules, including:
- Establishing requirements for obtaining a permit for the event, including the weigh-in, handling and release of live bass
- Measuring and releasing bass from the vessel
- Number of bass allowed to be kept and being kept alive during the tournament
- Cleaning of vessels after the event to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species.
[3/1: 50-0]
SF 259 removes the restriction on the operation of motorboats with a motor of more than 10 horsepower on Lake Macbride between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The existing prohibition on the operation of boats at more than no-wake speeds would remain in place. Lake Macbride is currently the only public lake in the state with this restriction on the size of motors. This restriction has been in place for a number of years and is supported as a way to preserve the lake for sailing and other activities.
[3/1: 38-12 (Bisignano, Bolkcom, Boulton, Dvorsky, Hogg, Jochum, D. Johnson, Kinney, Mathis, Petersen, Quirmbach, Taylor “no”)]