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Published: 09 September 2015

(Provided by Michigan DNR)

No changes for chumming and steelhead bag limit regulations.Michigan's fisheries staff recently discussed with the public restrictions on the amount of organic material that could be used as chum and a reduced steelhead possession limit on four West Michigan rivers.

Seven meetings were held across the state in July with approximately 275 participants in attendance. Comments also were received through phone and email.

The discussions were initiated after the DNR received requests from anglers and constituent groups to lower the steelhead possession limit on the Muskegon, Pere Marquette, Little Manistee and Big Manistee rivers. A three-fish daily possession limit for steelhead has been in place since 1989. Michigan boasts some of the best river steelhead fishing in the country.

Angler interviews conducted on these four rivers in the past indicated only 5 percent of anglers fishing for steelhead harvest the three-fish daily possession limit.

The DNR also recently received complaints related to excessive use of chum on select Lake Michigan rivers, especially the Muskegon River. The concern stems from lower catch rates for those who do not use chum.

The DNR does not consider chumming as a biological threat to fish populations in general.

"Based on our current understanding of these two specific issues, we do not recommend any regulatory changes at this time," said Nick Popoff, manager of the DNR's Aquatic Species and Regulatory Affairs Unit. "We appreciate the public's feedback regarding chumming and steelhead possession limits, as it helped us better understand angler concern related to these two issues and this conversation will undoubtedly continue."

Details

Published: 24 August 2015

It’s been a tough year for Lake Michigan anglers, and based on a recent conversation with Michigan fisheries biologist Jay Wesley, the fishery continues to deal with ecological changes that could affect future fishing.

Most anglers know, and Wesley acknowledged, that the king salmon population is lower than it’s been since the late 1980s. That impact was really felt this year.

It was done by design, since Michigan and other states slashed stocking rates two years ago in an attempt to reduce pressure on a diminishing alewife forage base.

Fish Mangers use stocking rates to maintain a balance between game fish and the forage base. That got out of whack when they discovered a few years ago that there was more natural reproduction in king salmon than previously realized. That was putting more mouths in the lake than the forage could support.

In fact, studies show that the natural reproduction of kings has dropped by as much as 14 percent since the stocking numbers have been reduced.

“That’s a good thing because it is giving our forage a chance to rebound,” said Wesley. “I’m optimistic the alewives will come back. We’re doing an assessment this fall to see how the 2015 alewife population is doing.”

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Details

Published: 01 May 2015

(Provided by Indiana DNR)

The Indiana DNR will extend trout fishing opportunities at five northern Indiana streams with additional trout stockings.

The streams are Pigeon River in Steuben and LaGrange counties, Turkey Creek in LaGrange County, Little Elkhart River in Elkhart County, Little Kankakee River 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 9-10 and May 23-24, which is Memorial Day weekend. The Little Kankakee River and Potato Creek will only be stocked for Memorial Day weekend.

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