A multi-year effort to study walleye populations in the Bay of Green Bay is continuing this spring, with impacts expected for anglers in Door and Kewaunee counties.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, in partnership with Walleyes for Tomorrow, will again tag thousands of walleyes as part of a reward-based study aimed at better understanding fishing pressure and harvest rates.

Biologists plan to tag up to 5,000 fish with yellow floy tags and about 400 fish with red reward tags across key spawning areas, including Sturgeon Bay and the Fox, Menominee, Oconto and Peshtigo rivers.

Wisconsin DNR Fisheries Biologist Jason Breggmann says the study is critical to managing one of the region’s most important fisheries.

“This tagging effort gives us a clearer picture of how many fish are being harvested and how anglers are using the fishery,” Breggmann said. “That information helps guide future management decisions to keep the walleye population healthy.”

The study, launched in 2024, asks anglers who catch tagged fish to report details such as tag number, location and whether the fish was kept or released.

“Every report we receive helps us better understand fish movement and survival,” Breggmann said. “Even if the fish is released, that information is valuable.”

Some fish will carry red tags labeled with a $100 reward, which anglers can claim by submitting verification either in person or with a photo of the tag along with the imprinted code. Anglers are encouraged to report all walleyes caught with any color?floy ?tag to the DNR via email to?DNRFHGBFish@wisconsin.gov or 920-662-5411. You can also mail reports to the DNR Green Bay Service Center.

All state fishing regulations remain in effect and anglers are encouraged to leave tags on released fish and practice responsible catch-and-release.

For more information, please visit the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website.