By Louie Stout
Kudos to the Michiana Fishing League (MFL), a relatively young tournament circuit that is doing a good job of providing anglers with first-class experience on the local level.
The MFL has aggressively pursued quality sponsors, including Mishawaka retailer Academy Sports and Outdoors, and conducts a unique weigh-in that enhances angler experience. They have professional looking logos and other quality visuals to promote their circuit and make sure their sponsors get adequate display at their events.
One of the neat features is MFL uses is the “weighfish app,” a digital technology that allows anglers who download the App to track fish weights during the weigh-in from their smartphones. Once fish are locked in on the scales, the weight and team placement is posted instantly on the App.
When there was a bug in a weigh-in earlier this year, the group immediately invested in a high-end scale to ensure accuracy.
Here’s another example: After a recent MFL tournament on Gull Lake, where a handful of bass caught from deep water struggled to survive, the group immediately began looking at angler penalties for releasing fish that hadn’t been fizzed. Officials also plan to distribute laminated fizzing instructional cards.
And, from a Michiana Outdoors News standpoint, the group provides excellent information promptly after the event for us to share with website visitors.
“Our goal is to treat this tournament trail like the professional organization that these anglers deserve,” says Tournament Director Michael Smith.
For more information about the MFL, check out its Facebook Page.
Wake board bill passes
Indiana Governor Braun signed a bill earlier this year that prohibits wake boarding on public lakes from sunset to sunrise. It also prohibits wake boarding on lakes 300 acres.
It sure would be good to see Michigan consider similar regulations if not more to keep those boats that throw huge wakes that can cause serious problems for small boaters who are trying to fish.
What a shame
News that the Michigan United Conservation Clubs had to shut down due to financial issues was a major blow to sportsmen.
The organization has been effectively working for 90 years as a watchdog over the DNR and threats to hunting and fishing rights and regulations. Now there’s no one to hold political forces accountable.
Kentucky Big Bass Study
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife research says it has identified genetic markers within northern largemouth bass that links them to bigger fish.
Those findings are expected to allow biologists to screen adult fish in hatcheries for genetics and selectively breed bass with a higher likelihood of producing trophy fish. Researchers think that, eventually, those fish will reproduce with wild populations and increase overall size. Of course, all of that will take time.
Let’s hope that research and technique is shared with other state agencies who could experience similar success.