The WLBA was founded in 2016. Originally it was a small group of business owners located in multiple lakeshore communities and since has grown into a statewide organiztion. We began with one goal in mind. “Keep the heritage of Lake Michigans salmon and trout fishery not only to exist, but thrive”. In 2016 the WDNR was recommending a 62% cut in chinook salmon stocking. Our belief was that this would have decimated not only the economy surrounding the fishery, but also the future of the fishery itself. In response we hired representatives to work on our behalf at a legislative level. Ultimately this proved to be the right choice as that 62% cut did not happen. We quickly realized that this was the path to get things done. From that day forward and on behalf of all the lakeshore communities and the fishery itself, we decided that it was time to start making some changes in our fishery in order to make the fishery thrive! We now have a great working relationship with the WDNR and together have made some remarkable changes that all point to a bright future!

What we have accomplished

1. The WLBA stopped the 62% chinook stocking cuts in 2016
2. The WLBA sought after a change in lake trout stocking and harvest for sportfishermen.

Both were accomplished as lake trout stocking is the lowest it has ever been and fishermen are now allowed to harvest 5 per day with no closed season. This was pivotal as lake trout have been showing a steady increase in natural reproduction. Reduction in lake trout stocking  would also prove to be important in future salmon stocking allocations.

3. Worked with other outdoor groups throughout the state to craft a new aquaculture bill that would allow Wisconsin at least for Lake Michigan be able to get eggs from other states if our hatcheries fell short. This also proved itself a worthy. Over the last number of years we had to do this. This bill had many facets to it and all were positive for our Lake Michigan fishery.
4. Worked with the WDNR to create a partnership with privately owned hatcheries. What we wanted to do is have a back-up plan if our state hatcheries fell short. We are proud to say that 50,000 privately raised steelhead were released into the Root River in Racine in 2019. Proving that it could be done at a high level with a quality fish.
5. The WLBA was 100% responsible for the new Brook Trout initiative. This was in response for a need to stock a native species. The state is now stocking 50,000 brook trout yearly offering mostly shore anglers great opportunities to catch these beautiful fish.
6. The WLBA was instrumental in bringing back Skamania stocking to Wisconsin waters.
7. Let’s not forget the covid years, where the WLBA along with Hunter Nation filed a brief allowing everyone that worked in the outdoors continue to do so as they were not considered essential workers.
8. Ultimately all of the steps we had taken lead to a new thought process within the WDNR. We are proud to say that what we did eventually lead to possibly our biggest accomplishment. In 2020 and for the first time since 2008 we received significant increases in stocking. On the top of the list was chinook. At the time 810,000 chinook were being stocked. We pushed and pushed and ultimately we were given 1.2 Million fingerlings and then up to 1.4 million in 2023. In summation we essentially went from taking stocking cuts in 2016 to significant increases in 2020.

We work for the betterment of the fishery PERIOD!