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MDNR Report

Daily Lake Trout Possession Limit on Grand Traverse Bay Reduced for 2019Daily Lake Trout Possession Limit on Grand Traverse Bay Reduced for 2019Anglers fishing for lake trout in the waters of Grand Traverse Bay this year need to be aware of a new regulation now in effect. The Michigan Natural Resources Commission acted last week to reduce the daily possession limit of lake trout in these waters from two fish to one.

The lake trout season for the waters of the Management Unit MM-4 (covering the ports of Elk Rapids, Traverse City and Northport) runs Jan. 1 through Sept. 30. The previous daily possession limit was two fish with a 15-inch minimum size limit. Effective today, and for the rest of the 2019 season, the daily possession limit is one fish with a 15-inch minimum size limit.


MDNR Report

Cisco Gaining Popularity Among Lake Michigan AnglersCisco Gaining Popularity Among Lake Michigan AnglersAnglers fishing northern Lake Michigan are well known for targeting lake whitefish and lake trout - jigging off the bottom for them for eons.

But in the last decade a new fishery has emerged - and its one that's surprising a lot of people.

"The new thing in the area is cisco (formerly known as lake herring)," shared Heather Hettinger, a fisheries biologist based out of Traverse City. "Obviously these fish have been around forever but they used to not be very big in size. About 10 years ago anglers started catching much bigger fish - especially as the lake whitefish population numbers started to tick down."

During that time anglers started targeting cisco versus lake whitefish, with available locations to fish for them expanding as well.


IDNR Report

The DNR will stock additional rainbow trout into nine northern Indiana streams before Memorial Day weekend.

Exceptional survival of rainbow trout at Curtis Creek Trout Rearing Station allowed additional locations to be stocked and for some locations to get more fish than previously allocated.

Those streams are: Pigeon River in Steuben and LaGrange counties; Turkey Creek in LaGrange County; Little Elkhart River in Elkhart and LaGrange counties; Cobus Creek, Rowe-Eden Ditch and Solomon Creek in Elkhart County; Little Kankakee River and Slocum Ditch in LaPorte County; and Potato Creek in St. Joseph County.


IDNR Report

The DNR will stock additional rainbow trout into six northern Indiana streams in the upcoming weeks.

Those streams are: Pigeon River in Steuben County and at the LaGrange-Steuben county line, Turkey Creek in LaGrange County, Little Elkhart River in Elkhart County, Little Kankakee River and Slocum Ditch in LaPorte County, and Potato Creek in St. Joseph County.

Pigeon River, Turkey Creek and Little Elkhart River will be stocked for the weekend of May 12-13 and Memorial Day weekend, May 26-27.

Little Kankakee River, Potato Creek and Slocum Ditch will only be stocked for Memorial Day weekend.


MDNR Report

Michigan Relaxes Landing Net Rule for Fishing Steelhead in RiversMichigan Relaxes Landing Net Rule for Fishing Steelhead in RiversRecent legislation passed in Michigan has simplified fishing regulations for anglers, particularly those pursuing steelhead on the state’s rivers and streams in the spring. 

The legislation removed a net size restriction that has been in place for many years to protect spawning salmon from illegally being harvested. The restriction can be found on page 10 of the printed 2018 Michigan Fishing Guide, under Hand Nets. It reads: “During April, May and June, hand nets larger than 5 ½ feet in circumference or having a handle exceeding 14” may NOT be used or possessed on designated trout streams…." 

With the removal of this restriction, which immediately took effect, anglers now legally may use hand nets with handle lengths longer than 14 inches. The regulation created a safety issue for anglers fishing for steelhead from boats, as there was concern anglers would not be safe if they had to lean way over the side of their boat to net a steelhead with such a short net handle.  

Anglers still can only use hand nets to help land lawfully hooked fish, except under a few circumstances (which can be found on page 23 of the 2018 Michigan Fishing Guide). 

The 2018 Michigan Fishing Guide was printed prior to the passage of the legislation, so the net restriction on designated trout streams still is listed in the current guide available at license retailers, even though it will no longer be in effect or enforced. However, it has been removed from the online 2018 Michigan Fishing Guide, and will be removed from future versions.