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Largemouth Bass |
Michigan Bass Season
Public Process HistoryThis is about where the public
process began and how it initially evolved for those who want a historical
perspective of the recent events. |
Smallmouth Bass |
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This
page contains the MDNR bass season recommendation that surprised us
pleasantly in August 2005. Go to the main bass season action page (link at
left to read the final MDNR Fisheries Order). A summary of the steps we went
through leading up to this result follows (history). |
Our Scenario 8 –
Eventually this was the map followed by the MDNR with slight exceptions |
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MDNR Fisheries bass season recommendationsAfter
going through their recent evaluation of the bass season issue combining
public meeting comments, studies and survey comments, the MDNR announced they
will take the following recommendations to the Director and the Natural
Resources Commission (NRC): 1) Keep the existing catch-and-keep bass
season opener on the Saturday before Memorial Day, and the existing 3rd
Saturday in June opener on the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, Detroit River
system; 2) Catch-and-Immediate-Release (CIR) of bass
will be allowed statewide on all waters of the Lower Peninsula from the last
Saturday in April until the regular bass season openers, and from May 15
until the existing regular bass season opener in the Upper Peninsula. All
waters statewide include all inland lakes, rivers and streams, and the Great
Lakes and connecting waters. Exceptions would be existing special regulation
lakes and areas to be spelled out in the regulations. 3) Eliminate the special April 1 opening on
the 6 test bass lakes so they will now open at the same time as other Lower
Peninsula lakes since these lakes are no longer being studied. - A monitoring and assessment protocol
will be implemented to evaluate the new regulations structure. - A fisheries order will implement the
new regulations with a 5-year sunset clause although any serious concerns
could be addressed before the 5 years are up. - Special regulations areas such as the
Beaver Island Archipeligo and the Sylvania Tract are still under review. The
MDNR agreed to review the CIR season for the lower Great Lakes since the main
concern for the initial start date is to match existing pike, trout and
walleye season openers, and these Great Lakes waters are open all year. MDNR
fisheries leadership will announce their recommendations on this suggestion
later this fall. This is looking positive so far with the Law Division
appearing to have no issue with this change. Now that the MDNR fisheries has announced their initial
recommendations, the next steps in this process are: - Input
from this coolwater external committee are considered (from the 8/23 mtg); - Post
card data received back from anglers who did not respond to the mail survey
are analyzed; - A
final report is written which will be presented to the Director and NRC; - Fisheries
leadership provides their recommendations for information to the NRC at the
September 8, 2005 meeting in Houghton, MI; - The recommendations are presented for public input and review at the October NRC meeting in Lansing; - Action
is taken on the recommendations at the November NRC meeting; - The
final outcome goes to the MDNR Director as Fisheries Order 215 for signature
to enact; - The
new fisheries order would go into effect April 1, 2006. The MDNR also announced they are going to a 2-year fishing guide effective 2006 as a cost-saving move, so there would be no further changes to fishing regulations until 2008. This was a factor in the final decision fish division made regarding the bass season issue, and why it was importance the change could go directly to the Director as a fisheries order instead of requiring legislation that would probably delay any change until 2008. Dave
Borgeson announced he was confident the Michigan United Conservation Clubs
(MUCC) would support these recommendations. The coolwater external committee
was unanimously supportive of the recommendations. Ron Spitler and I are
acquiring the support of the various bass angler groups in Michigan, and
informing BASS and other organizations also. First
of all, now that you see the outcome of this long and challenging process, I
want to make a few comments. Ron Spitler was extremely instrumental, with his
over 30 years of fisheries experience, knowledge of the MDNR and irrefutable
expertise on the subject making a huge difference in the final outcome of the
MDNR fisheries recommendation. Ron was able to work with BASS biologist and
Conservation Manager Chris Horton, and on his own collecting data and studies
that had a measurable impact on the MDNR decision. Ron's impact was
significant. Thank you Ron. Anthony
Adams of ABA also was very instrumental in many ways, especially in
single-handedly pulling off the important set of successful bass meetings we
anglers had last year to develop our plan and spearhead our movement.
Anthony's persistence was felt throughout the process. Thanks Anthony. Bob
Gwizdz was heavily involved from the start getting information quickly out to
large number of anglers, and seeing clearly through the confusion and
challenges to where this could end up if followed wisely. Bob's articles were
great. Thanks Bob. Keep up your great work in reporting the outdoors to the
public. Other
media persons also had significant impact at important times. People such as
Louie Stout, Bill Parker and Kevin Elliott to name a few. I’m very sorry if I
left any names off here. I thank them all and especially want to point out
the supportive forum Bob Bauer gave us a number of times on his 97.1 FM radio
show. Thanks
also to the participation and counsel of all the folks at BASS HQ. They
helped all of us quite a bit and are continuing to help now and into the
future compiling tournament results and providing additional data and
counsel. Thanks Chris, Noreen and Bruce. The
support of MUCC is almost always necessary to get something like this
accomplished. It was enjoyable to have the MUCC in support of more bass
fishing opportunity. Other major
tournament group leaders also have done quite a bit, especially Russ Hirdes
at BBT, Jim Sprague at NBAA and of course Anthony Adams for ABA. Several
fishing/outdoor companies also had significant impact, particularly Randy
VanDam and D & R Sports along with Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's. Additionally,
there are way too many other people to thank everyone individually without writing
another longer 'book.' All of you who attended meetings, who spoke at
meetings, who posted your opinions and debated on the forums, submitted
written comments, obtained petition signatures and just kept the faith, thank
you so much. No single person or small group of persons could accomplish
something like this without the support and desires of the many. Thank you
all so much and I hope you all get special enjoyment next spring out of your
fishing. *** A
number of things came together to get our MDNR to come up with the
recommendations they put forward. I think considering them will help all of
us understand how we got to this point and why we should accept and promote
these recommendations. Survey
results were very important in this final outcome. Key among them were: - A
majority of respondents said they would accept more complex regs; - 58%
said they release 90-100% of their legal-sized bass; - >62%
said they supported early season CIR opportunities, and it was 50/50 on how
respondents felt about the importance of adding CIR opportunity - the MDNR
particularly felt this meant a majority of anglers would accept a spring CIR
season; - The
results of two questions asking about the importance of the existing opening
days and the willingness to give up the existing opening days showed the
majority of anglers were saying don't change opening day; - And,
additionally the MDNR interpreted the answers to question 18 about how much
more fishing you would do if there was a new CIR season as showing there
would not be a significantly risky increase in spring fishing since they felt
only 10% of respondents said they would fish many more days (44% said they
would fish the same, 23% said they would fish a few more days and 24% said
they would not fish then). A
copy of the complete bass season survey results in Adobe pdf format is
available here. The
MDNR considered only opening up CIR on 20-40 large lakes, but this would have
meant public meetings for each lake with the vocal involvement of lake
associations and other parties for each lake. Also, they would have to
develop a process to choose the lakes to include. It was felt this could take
1 to 2 years to complete. When added to the new 2-year fish digest schedule,
it would delay any change until 2008. The MDNR stated they do want to provide
additional fishing opportunities when they can. The
MDNR stressed they are not trying to fix something that is broke, but do want
to increase fishing opportunity without undue risk on the quality of fishing.
They define quality of fishing as health of the fish; numbers of fish in the
population; size of fish; simplicity/complexity of regulations and public
values towards catch-and-release fishing over nesting bass. Key
considerations were: what was the biology telling them about biological risk;
what was the social risk - what were anglers telling them; and keeping
regulations simple without compromising the quality of the
fisheries/resource. This last factor also leads into not making any decisions
without involving the law division's opinions, and ease/difficulty of
enforcement of proposed regulations. By
not changing the existing season opener, the need for legislation was
removed. The need for legislation could have meant a delay similar to other
possible proposals that along with the new 2-year fishing guide would have
delayed any change again until at least 2008. MDNR fisheries division feels
their recommendations above best meet all the needs identified by them and
supported by the majority input from anglers through all the methods used. *** But
we aren't done quite yet. We still have to positively support and smoothly
advance these recommendations through the rest of the process as detailed
above. We can all help smooth the way for approval and implementation of a
new CIR bass season in Michigan by our actions and support. I
know I want to start by commending the MDNR fisheries division for reaching
the conclusions that they did by looking at all the input and not making a
final recommendation until they had considered all the input from all the
anglers who cared enough to be involved. I believe that doors have been
thrown open that will help all of us, and more importantly, the bass fishery
in Michigan, long into the future. I commend the MDNR fisheries division for
showing they will put a new and increased emphasis on the importance of
Michigan's bass fishery to so many anglers. We
need to support these recommendations as the best possible outcome that we
could expect to receive. We need to meet the MDNR half way to get these
recommendations passed to benefit all bass anglers in Michigan, and to move
forward in a new era of bass management for our waters with improving
relationships between bass anglers and the MDNR. Other
positives coming out of this process and the August 23rd meeting
were promises from the MDNR that improved communication and cooperation will
be coming from the MDNR fisheries biologists with bass anglers and bass
tournament groups to investigate ways we can work together to protect and
improve bass fishing in Michigan. Jay Wesley, MDNR fish biologist from Plainwell
was outspoken on this issue. Ron Spitler and I also had a great discussion
with Mike Thomas (MDNR St. Clair station) after the meeting about looking
cooperatively into issues affecting the St. Clair system and bass. So
yes, I feel this is a big win-win for all of us, and we should support it
positively and wholeheartedly as an acceptable outcome we can all live with.
I hope you agree. |
-- Turning
Point? Bob Gwizdz:
Survey helps DNR ‘get it’ -- Informative: Kevin Elliott: DNR considering new bass regulations -- Great
article! Chris
Horton: Spawn fishing a personal choice, not biological… -- Great
article! Bob
Gwizdz: DNR just doesn't get it… -- MDNR Public Meeting
Report – What you can expect |
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Although the actual process to change our Michigan bass season
by adding more legal catch-and-release opportunity really started back in
1986, the real movement began shortly before the MDNR released the infamous
SALBRC report. This commentary was in response to that inauspicious
beginning. Thankfully, it appears there will be a much happier ending...
HistoryWay
back in 1987, the Michigan BASS Chapter Federation started a process with the
MDNR and other parties to liberalize our Michigan bass season so bass anglers
could enjoy more fishing opportunity in Michigan with all the benefits that
come with increased fishing. Initially, we began with our 6-lake test
catch-and-immediate-release bass season beginning in 1989. The MDNR study on
that season was actually published in 1993 after being finished in 1992. It
stated that we could add more lakes even on a conservative path. The study
and my commentary are posted on my bass biology section here. Sixteen
years later, we still have the same 6 test lakes, Kent, Pontiac, Cass,
Holloway, Muskegon and Hardy Dam open to legal catch-and-immediate-release
from April 1 until the Saturday of Memorial weekend and despite being the
only 6 legal lakes in Michigan all that time, they all still have bass in
them to catch. Some have even increased in their smallmouth bass output
during that time (Holloway and Kent). Finally,
our MDNR has decided to act after quite a bit of pressure from bass anglers
who travel to and read about all the other states (43 now) who have legal
year-round bass fishing for their anglers. Unfortunately, our MDNR is once
again taking the overly conservative approach by only using parts of a few
studies done in a few Northern locations and combining their proposed changes
with an opportunity to limit bass tournaments by pushing several scenarios
that actually reduce some of our bass fishing opportunity. The full 53-page
Smallmouth And Largemouth Bass Regulations Committee (SALBRC) PDF document
released in April 2004 after a long time in secret development is available here. |
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Additional
information can be found by clicking on the Bass Biology & Management
logo above and at the following web sites: Bass Biology
& Management Forum Lake St. Clair.net Bass Season Forum |
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There
are 7 scenarios including scenario 3 that claims to leave the bass season as
it is now. The MDNR is apparently pushing hard for one of only 4 of the scenarios
even though they claim to want to let Michigan anglers decide what ‘risk’
they are willing to accept. Their push includes scenarios 3, 4, 5, and 6
only. They seem to be attempting to keep Michigan anglers from wanting any of
the other scenarios and even left out one obvious one. Here are the 7 scenarios in summary the MDNR has
printed in their SALBRC bass report: Scenario 1: Possession from January 1
through March 15; Closed season from March 16 until the last Saturday in
April; Then possession through December 31. Scenario 2:
Catch-and-Immediate-Release from January 1 until the Saturday preceding
Memorial Day; Then possession through December 31 (this is the proposal I’ve
personally been working for since 1987). Scenario 3: Status Quo – Closed from
January 1 until the Saturday preceding Memorial Day; Then possession through
December 31. This is the present regulation where it is illegal to take or
attempt to take bass during the closed season. Scenario 4: Possession from January 1
through March 15; Closed March 16 until the last Saturday in April (lower
peninsula) or May 15 (upper peninsula); Catch-and Immediate-Release from the
last Saturday in April (LP) or May 15 (UP) until the 3rd Saturday
in June; Possession from the 3rd Saturday in June through December
31. Scenario 5:
Catch-and-Immediate-Release from January 1 through March 15; Closed March 16
until the last Saturday in April (lower peninsula) or May 15 (upper
peninsula); Catch-and Immediate-Release from the last Saturday in April (LP)
or May 15 (UP) until the 3rd Saturday in June; Possession from the
3rd Saturday in June through December 31. Scenario 6: Closed January 1 to the
last Saturday in April; Catch-and Immediate-Release from the last Saturday in
April (LP) or May 15 (UP) until the 3rd Saturday in June;
Possession from the 3rd Saturday in June through December 31. Scenario 7: Closed January 1 through July 14; Possession from July 15 through
December 31. *** Scenario
7 is extremely restrictive – it would make Michigan the most restrictive bass
season anywhere. Luckily, no one really wants that one. I’m not even sure why
they bothered putting it in their report other than to confuse people and
make them think it had any validity at all. I think it was a mistake to put
it in because it may demonstrate to some anglers just how over the top our
MDNR can be when it comes to not allowing more fishing opportunity. Almost
no one is asking for a longer possession season than we have right now. There
is very little demand, if any, for a January-February ice-fishing bass season
as described in scenario 1. It seems to have been put in to have something
different to oppose the other scenarios against. Scenario
2 is the simplest option in my mind, which is why I’ve pushed for it. Leave
the present possession bass season as is. It’s been working for decades, and
just make it legal to catch bass the rest of the year as long as you
immediately release them. That removes the finger-pointing and a CO having to
determine if someone meant to catch the bass or not even though that person
releases the bass. Incidental and technically illegal targeting of spring
bass has been going on at many of our lakes for over 20 years. The demand is
there and our bass fishing is better than ever anyway. Scenario
3 changes nothing. We get no additional bass fishing opportunities even
though our own studies show we can have more bass fishing. It is not clear if
we would even keep our 6 existing spring bass lakes. They have been re-approved
every 5 years since 1989, but there are no guarantees that will continue. It
is not a good idea to continue to push more anglers who want spring bass
fishing to either break the law or crowd on to only 6 lakes either. Scenarios
4, 5 and 6 all take away our present traditional Memorial weekend opener and
move it all the way back to the 3rd Saturday in June despite
studies showing that is definitely necessary. We actually have a 1987 MDNR
study on Lake St. Clair saying it does not need any more spawn protection
than any other lake in Michigan that opens on Memorial weekend, so I really
question why they now feel the need to do the exact opposite and move the
rest of the state to the late June St. Clair opener their own study says
isn’t necessary. You
would be able to catch-and-release bass under these scenarios from Memorial
weekend, but if you caught a trophy on the weekend so many anglers look
forward to and vacation on, you would not be able to keep it. You could also
not have any fresh bass to eat if that is your tradition as it is with some
bass anglers. Of course, regular bass tournaments that have been held during
those weeks for decades would now not be allowed. The main point is that the
MDNR should not be taking ANY fishing opportunity away without good cause,
and the existing studies and practices of many other states including several
surrounding us is that this change is not justified. We
would also lose the April 1 to the last Saturday in April portion of the
catch-and-release season we’ve had for 16 years on the test lakes because the
MDNR feels the need to not allow anglers out on lakes where pike, walleye and
trout might be closed. Again despite even our own studies showing more lakes
could be added to the existing season, not to take away more opportunity. Two
other reasons I feel this position is flawed are: 1) that the majority of
anglers are decent anglers who do not keep gamefish out of season and they
should not lose major fishing opportunity of a month just because a few bad
anglers might try to keep fish out of season – an easy enforcement - anyone
who keeps a fish out of season is a lawbreaker and should be punished and/or
reported by other anglers – just catching a fish and releasing it is much
more gray and subject to many negative problems; 2) not allowing
catch-and-release bass fishing until the last Saturday in April does not
address the major issue on Lake St. Clair where anglers can legally fish for
walleye and pike all year so many anglers will be out on that lake in early
April catching bass whether they mean to or not – it does not resolve that
enforcement issue Oh.
The one obvious scenario they left out – why not at least suggest legal
catch-and-release from April 1 until Memorial weekend and then leave the
existing bass season as is. If the MDNR really wants to let the bass anglers
tell them how much ‘risk’ they are willing to accept, they should have
considered more scenarios that are not at the extreme ends such as 1 and 7. I
will continue to push for what is scenario 2 at the moment, but better
compromise options might have made this process easier on everyone. Let the
anglers fish. Worry about problems only if they actually ever happen. Top |
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