This is your WCQM Daily News Roundup for 98Q Country 98.3 FM and Trail Mix 103.1 FM and 980 AM WPFD in Dark Falls.
Now a look at Northwoods News, I'm Maddie Schaefer. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is reminding
anglers statewide that the 2026-2027 General Inland Fishing Season opens on May 2nd.
We have quite a few larger fishing regulation changes this year and wanted to make sure that all of
her anglers out there are aware of those changes. That's DNR Fisheries Management Bureau Director,
Justine Has, who discussed the new regulations at a recent hearing. The Inland trout season opened
April 4th with new county regulations in effect. According to the DNR, some counties now
have a five-fish daily bag limit with no minimum size, while others still follow special rules,
including an 8-inch minimum. The muskallunge season has also been updated. The season
used to open on separate dates for Northern and Southern waters, a split season dating back to
the early 1980s to manage harvest levels. The muskie season now opens on May 2nd on all
Inland waters of the state.
Back in the late 70s, early 80s, we were seeing upwards of 66,000 muskies being harvested
annually. That number has drastically changed in recent years to a combination of factors,
so things like having higher length limits on our water bodies, and also the changes in
muskie angling and the attitudes towards the muskie fisheries, where the ethic of this fishery
is really now based on catch and release.
Today, only a few hundred muskies are harvested annually, showing how regulations and catch and
release practices have helped protect the fish while still giving anglers a full season
to enjoy. Additionally, a new catch and release season for lake sturgeon runs from June 6th
through March 7th, 2027 on 18 designated waters, and over 100 lakes now have updated
panfish rules, including limits on specific species. Before heading out, anglers are
encouraged to review the new fishing regulations for their favorite waters. You can find the full
list of changes, including trout, muskie, sturgeon, and panfish rules on the DNR's website.
For Northwood's News, I'm Maddie Schaefer.
With civic media news, I'm Terry Miller. A Dane County judge says Wisconsin's Justice
Department must turn over the names of all law enforcement officers in the state.
The ruling rejects the state's effort to keep the list private. The case centers on whether
the public should be able to see who is serving as a police officer, and whether that could
help spot officers who move from agency to agency after misconduct.
State officials said releasing the records could endanger undercover officers and create safety
concerns. While the news organizations behind the lawsuit said those fears were too vague.
The ruling is being praised by transparency advocates and criticized by police groups.
State Senator André Jacques will leave his northeastern Wisconsin seat at the end of this
term, becoming the latest Republican Senator to retire. He has served in the Senate since
2018 and previously spent four terms in the assembly. His exit brings the number of GOP
Senate retirements this year to six. Wisconsin's US Senators have come to an agreement.
They're sending two names to the White House to fill top federal prosecutor jobs in the
state. Democrat Tammy Baldwin and Republican Ron Johnson recommended Peter Smysig for the
Eastern District and Chadwick Algerzma for the Western District. The picks came from a bipartisan
nominating commission set up to find qualified candidates. Both Senators say the nominees have strong
experience and should enforce the law fairly. The final decision now rests with President Trump.
And the search is on for the next leader of UW-Madison University officials have named
a 23-member committee to help find the school's next chancellor and leaders say the goal is to pick
someone who can build on the university's research, teaching, and public service work. Officials say
the new chancellor will need full board approval. More news can be found at civicmedia.us.
The Brewers take on the Nationals. Hi, I'm Mike Clemens with Sports, Baseball,
the Brewers in Washington, DC tonight, opening a three-game weekend series against the Nationals.
They're crew able to win their home series with a 13-to-1 victory over the Diamondbacks yesterday.
But more trouble for right-hander Brandon Woodruff, who had to exit the game in the second inning.
He couldn't throw a fastball above 86 miles an hour. Usually he's in the mid 90s, Pat Murphy after the game.
We've seen it where he came down as well. He's down early and then it climbs. We were waiting to see in the
second inning if it climbed, but it was down as low as it's ever been. Maybe some rest. Hopefully,
you know, he's solid and there's no injury there. That would be awful. But I think he'll be down for a while.
I don't. I'm not going to say right now before any of these tests get done or that type of thing,
but it seems like something he's going to be able to work through.
NFL, the Packers, beginning their rookie mini-camp this weekend. New draft picks and undrafted free ages,
arriving yesterday in Green Bay, with sports on Mike Clemens.
We have some of the nicest weather of the week, rolling in just in time for the weekend.
Today, mostly sunny with a high in the upper 40s to near 50 this afternoon. Tonight, partly cloudy, definitely frosty with a low in the mid 20s tomorrow.
Mostly sunny with a high in the upper 50s to near 60. I'm meteorologist Sean Cable.
That's your WCQM and WPFP daily news roundup from Civic Media. Subscribe to this podcast on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you find your podcasts.
Find more news at 98QCountry.com or trailmix.fm