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The Michigan DNR Commission finalized several regulations impacting the 2015-2016 fishing season at itsmeeting on April 9.
Changes include a year-round Catch-and-immediate-release (CIR) fishing for bass statewide (unless otherwise closed to fishing). Please refer to the printed fishing guide for waters closed to fishing.
Other changes are:
- Lake Huron lake trout and splake regulations: MH-1 and MH-2 lake trout and splake regulations have changed from season of May 1 - Sept. 30 to Jan. 1 - Sept. 30 to align all of Lake Huron into one season.
- Lake Michigan lake trout regulations: MM-1, MM-2, MM-3 and MM-4 have changed to the following ñ minimum size limit shall be 15 inches and the maximum size limit shall be 27 inches, except the daily possession limit shall not include more than one (1) lake trout at 34 inches or greater. In MM-5, MM-6, MM-7 and MM-8 the minimum size limit has been changed to 15 inches. In MM-1, MM-2, MM-3, MM-4 and MM-5, the lake trout daily possession limit has been reduced from three (3) to two (2).
- Inland Trout and Salmon Regulations: Regulations affecting brook trout minimum size limits have changed, and there is a new regulation creating the Upper Peninsula's Brook Trout Restoration Areas.
- New hook restrictions: Changes are now in place to protect against salmon snagging in some waters.
Due to the Natural Resources Commission's temporary loss of regulatory authority, several regulations were not determined in time for the start of the 2015-2016 angling year (April 1) and consequently were not printed in the hard-copy version of the Michigan Fishing Guide. However, there are several areas of the guide that have an orange star to indicate that changes possibly would be forthcoming.
To view all of the change details, click here.
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(Provided by Indiana DNR)
Dan Rostecki with record whitefish (photo by Mary Beck Ryba)Dan Rostecki didnt catch what he was after while fishing from the Michigan City pier last Saturday, but he did haul in a state-record lake whitefish instead.
I was out there brown trout fishing on the bottom and thought I had one, Rostecki said. It ended up being a whitefish. Its the first one Ive ever caught. It was really, really a bonus.
A record bonus no less.
DNR State Record Fish Program coordinator Jamie Smyth certified the record catch on Monday. Rostecki will receive a certificate and patch from the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife as recognition of the record.
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(Provided by Michigan DNR)
Record drum caught from Gun Lake (Michigan DNR photo)The Michigan DNR confirmed a new state record last month for freshwater drum. This record marks the first one caught in 2015.
A fish caught by Mark Leep of Middleville, Mich., on Gun Lake in Barry County Saturday, Jan. 24, at 4:30 p.m. beat the state record for freshwater drum. Leep was spearing. The fish weighed 28.61 pounds and measured 34.02 inches.
Kregg Smith, a DNR fisheries biologist in Plainwell, verified the record.
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New fishing licenses required April 1Both Indiana and Michigan remind anglers that a new fishing license season begins Wednesday, April 1, which coincides with the new regulation cycle. All 2014 fishing licenses are good through March 31, 2015.
Indiana offers the following options:
- Resident annual $17
- Non-resident annual $35
- Trout/Salmon stamp $11
- One-day fishing (includes trout/salmon) $9
- Seven-day fishing (non-residents only) $20
- Senior annual fishing (residents only) $3
- Senior fish for life (residents only) $17
- Resident annual fishing/hunting $25.
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Hook n' Look's Perspective on Michigan's Proposed Bass Regulations 215.15
Hook n' Look's Perspective on Michigan's Proposed Bass Regulations 215.15
Although we havent received official word from the DNR, the Michigan Natural Resources Commission rejected a proposal night that would haven opened the bass season to year-round catch and release and permit pre-registered tournaments after April 30 and prior to the traditional bass opener.
For details of the original proposal, click here.
The DNRs proposal triggered a controversial debate over allowing tournaments to be held five weeks earlier than what they are now. Liberalizing the tournament season has been strongly supported by the Michigan B.A.S.S. Federation Nation while adamantly opposed by others.
The commissioners announced at Thursday nights public meeting that it had agreed to reject the Fisheries Division proposal before opening the floor to public debate. Nonetheless, the public was permitted to voice its opinions, of which there were many.
Michigan angler Kim Stricker, producer of Hook n Look television show, may have had an influential hand in the commissioners decision. Prior to the meeting, he provided each of the commissioners a video of his perspective on the impacts of early bass fishing on Lake St. Clair which has been a centerpiece of the debate. (See video above)